Finance Graduate Development Programme 2024

We are WSP - Join us and make your career future ready!

What if you could embrace your curiosity in a culture that celebrates different perspectives?

With us, you can.

In today’s world it’s important to work for a company that has clear purpose, giving back to communities and supporting what is truly important in the world.

When considering a career move its vital to work for a business that is aligned to your values and goals, a place where you can belong. See what WSP stands for in 2023 and beyond…

We are a leading global engineering and professional services firm committed to creating a sustainable future for our communities and the environment. We value our people and our reputation. Having a diverse and robust workforce enables us to look for answers, not problems, and we pride ourselves on offering clients clever, imaginative, future-facing solutions. We believe in the power of effective communication, and we encourage you to participate and contribute to the success of our projects and initiatives.

Join us at WSP, not just to build a career, but to sculpt a legacy, champion growth, and thrive within a community that values your potential. The journey starts here, and the possibilities are endless.

Our Finance team is an integral part of the business, achieving best-in-class performance and control through a breadth of specialty Finance Functions. With a finance lens, we help develop, track and communicate progress on an agenda that maximises long-term shareholder value creation.

We are looking for graduates to join our Finance team in our Leeds office.

Our Graduate development programme is a 3-year programme designed to provide you with both professional skills and specialist technical development opportunity. The programme is supported by our senior leadership team and tailored to give you support, guidance and development opportunities you need to help you work towards Professional Qualification. This includes but not limited to training in;

• Team specific technical skills
• Project management
• Influential communication
• Collaborative working
• Continuous improvement
• Career development…and lots more!

Our comprehensive Finance Graduate programme will provide practical development and learning through 6 ‘experience secondments’ across Finance Functions such as Business Finance, Credit Control, Management Accounts and Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A). As part of the role, you actively will be involved in end-to-end projects to develop your understanding of all financial functions which play an integral part in delivering our strategy. Final stage International secondment opportunities are also available.

As a Finance Graduate you will benefit from dedicated tuition days with an external training partner as you study towards the highly regarded Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) or the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) qualification.

• You’ll be graduating in 2024 or you may have recently graduated with at least a 2:1 in a Master’s or Bachelor’s degree. We are able to accept candidates from a broad range of degree backgrounds for this role however you will need to demonstrate an aptitude for working with numbers and a keen interest in a career in accountancy and finance.
• You'll have a minimum of a grade 6 in GCSE Maths and English (or equivalent grade/ qualification)
• You’ll be looking to start work in September 2024
• You’ll ideally have less than two years relevant experience
• You’ll be passionate with the curiosity and creativity to solve problems
• You’ll want to stretch and inspire us, speaking up about any new ideas you have
• You’ll want to throw yourself in from day one and put your studies into practice
• You’ll have excellent communication skills
• You’ll enjoy working in a team environment, sharing ideas and collaborating with colleagues
• You’ll have confidence to work under pressure with the ability to prioritise and plan effectively

Please note behavioural assessment results (also referred to as game based assessment) at WSP are valid for a period of 12 months, if you have completed an assessment within this timeframe and been unsuccessful we will not be able to consider your application.

Early applications are recommended, and we reserve the right to close this vacancy prior to the advertised closing date.

Our Culture

Be you, be happy - we strive to have a friendly and inclusive culture which respects and maximises the contribution individuals can bring to WSP. We recognise the benefits that people with varying backgrounds and experiences can contribute to both our culture and the way we innovate when delivering our projects. We have a number of colleague networks, that everyone is invited to join, including our LGBTQ+ group (VIBE), CREED (Championing Racial Equality and Ethnic Diversity) as well as WSP Connect (visible and non-visible disabilities) and our Gender Balance Group. All groups work with the business to ensure we continue to promote the right environment to enable all employees to reach their full potential and to ensure we create a culture of Belonging@WSP.

Here at WSP we positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy or maternity/paternity. We will interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria, providing there is a relevant opportunity on our 2022 Graduate Development Programme that matches the discipline and location preferences provided at application.

We also offer our Professional Growth Network (PGN) which is a networking group run by early career professionals for early career professionals. It helps to grow your network of contacts across the UK business as well as providing you with opportunities for extra experience to support you in achieving chartered status or other professional accreditations.

As well as rewarding you with competitive pay, WSP offers standard benefits including 25 days annual leave, pension schemes, life assurance, personal accident cover and paid professional subscriptions, and some not so standard benefits as part of our flexible benefits scheme – so if you would like to hop on a new bike (cycle to work scheme) or thrill the family with your Lego building skills (Discount at Legoland Windsor) – WSP can help!

How long does the process take?

You'll receive an email acknowledging receipt of your application within 48 hours of submission. We work hard to match you to the most suitable roles in our business and the recruitment process can vary depending on the role and team you are matched to. Most applications are progressed to assessment centre within 2-3 months but it’s good to know that the whole process can last up to 6 months in total. We will aim to keep you informed throughout the time that your application is being considered however, due to the volume of applications received, we are not able to respond to individual requests for status updates

Work-life balance?

WSP recognises that work is only one part of your life and making time for other things is important – whether that’s for your families, friends, or yourself.

Our hybrid working policy allows the flexibility to work from the comfort of your own home as well as collaborating in our contemporary offices across the UK.

Inclusivity & Diversity?

We want our people to achieve rewarding careers, bringing their whole selves to work. We celebrate integrity and treat people with respect, supporting each other and embracing diversity to create a culture of inclusion and belonging at WSP.

Our employee resource groups VIBE (LGBTQ+ employees), CREED (Championing Racial Equality and Ethnic Diversity) and our Gender Balance Group, in tandem with WSP’s Neurodiverse Community Group, WSP Connect Group (visible and non-visible disabilities) help us promote the right environment for you to reach your full potential.

Health & Wellbeing?

We are committed to supporting our people, giving you the tools to make improvements to your health and wellbeing through our Thrive programme.

We have an Employee Assist Programme and Med24, which gives you and your family unrestricted telephone access to an NHS doctor where you can call day or night or have a face-to-face video consultation.

Flex your time?

For improved work life balance, WSP offers the “WSP Hour” which enables you to take one hour per day to do as you wish and make up the time earlier or later that day. You also have the option to flex your bank holiday entitlement to suit you.

Please note WSP reserves the right to close the vacancy before the advertised closing date.