Finance Graduate Scheme

Spend 2 years on our Finance Graduate scheme and learn all about periodic management accounting activities including balance sheet reconciliations, variance analysis and reporting. Throughout independent working, you’ll learn how to excel in high pressured environment and learn all about the processes our Finance teams work with to keep our business going.

If understanding how you impact the wider business matters to you.
You matter to us.

Succeeding matters.

What you’ll be doing

Get involved in business, partnering with finance and non-finance teams, as well as learning the main principles of finance including management accounting, project accounting, business planning, reporting, analysis, and helping to produce business cases. Learn about business policy and regulations, the accounting processes, finance systems, finance reporting and accounts payable and receivable.

The first 4 months will be based at Milton Keynes, completing mini placements in specialist finance teams. The following 3 months will be spent in Manchester with the Accounting Services and the Shared Services teams, where you’ll learn about transactional accounting, before returning to Milton Keynes to complete a six-month corporate placement. You’ll also complete your certificate level of the CIMA qualification and start studying for the CIMA professional level.

In the second year, you’ll spend time in one of our regional offices in England, Scotland and Wales. You’ll use the experience you’ve gained from projects, the understanding of transactional accounting and the knowledge of policies and procedures to add real value to the business areas you’ll be working in.

Who you are matters

You’ll need at least a 2:1 in any degree subject. A-level Maths is desirable but not essential. We’re more interested in you aligning with our values and behaviours, having a curiosity for numbers, and a keenness to succeed.

We look for people with an analytical mind and a flair for financial planning. You’ll be enthusiastic about your work, enjoy collaborating with others and have the skills and ability to communicate with a variety of different audiences.

What you’ll get out of it

Due to the experience, you’ll get on the scheme, graduates are often in demand to complete high-profile projects for senior leaders. There could be opportunities to develop your knowledge through external secondments. Your first salary increase will take place upon completion of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) certificate modules in December 2025. At the end of your 2-year scheme, you would be eligible for Finance Business Partner roles, earning a salary in the range of £43,588 – £51,719.

Once qualified, you’ll be designated as Associate Chartered Management Accountant (ACMA) and Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA).

Our scheme has been recognised by CIMA for outstanding exam performance with graduates often securing top ten positions in the world. Past graduates have gone on to become members of the Industry Finance Talent Development programmes to further their own professional development, with some of them now in senior leadership roles in the rail industry.

We matter to millions. You could too.