Finance Apprentice

Location: Crawley, United Kingdom

Thales is a global technology leader with more than 83,000 employees on five continents. With over 7,500 people in the UK, operating across defence, space, aerospace, and digital security, we help build a future we can all trust. Thales supports the security and stability of our nation by providing extraordinary technology to our customers, as well as delivering social value to the UK with our products and services.

2027 Finance Apprentice - Level 2 Finance Assistant Apprenticeship with progression to Level 3 Assistant Accountant Apprenticeship

Start Date: 6 September 2027

Salary: £24,000 per annum

Employee type: Permanent

Location: Crawley

Working Schedule: Monday – Friday, 37 hours a week (8 hours Monday – Thursday, 5 hours Friday)

Are you an individual who is proactive with a passion for getting into the detail? We have an exciting opportunity to join our finance team based in Crawley. This role is a rare chance for a highly motivated individual to take on a role that has excellent career progression opportunities within Thales.

Benefits of the programme:

• Earn while you learn with a competitive salary
• Gain hands-on, job-specific training and real-world experience
• Achieve a recognised professional qualification
• Secure a permanent role from day one

• Have your tuition fees fully paid

• Build valuable experience and develop your career in Finance
• Work in a high-profile role where you can make a real impact from the start
• Learn from experienced professionals and develop skills that will support your long-term career growth

About the Role

As a Finance Apprentice, you'll support a variety of finance activities across the business while gaining hands-on experience in a professional environment.

Your responsibilities may include:

• Supporting finance teams with day-to-day tasks and projects.
• Helping resolve timesheet and labour booking queries.

• Supporting the preparation and distribution of monthly financial reports.
• Assisting with cost, overhead and headcount reporting.
• Supporting budget planning, forecasting and reforecasting activities.
• Assisting with cost centre reviews and management reporting.
• Helping maintain accurate financial records and reconciliations.
• Supporting project finance activities, including cost transfers and project closures.
• Assisting with financial journals, accruals, prepayments and corrections.
• Supporting ad hoc finance projects and business activities as required.

• Producing reports and carrying out data analysis.
• Completing other finance-related tasks as required.

What You Will Learn

During the apprenticeship, you'll develop a strong understanding of finance processes, systems, and business operations.

You will learn:

• Financial reporting and analysis
• Budgeting and forecasting processes
• Cost management and overhead reporting
• Balance sheet reconciliations and financial controls
• Cash flow forecasting and invoice management
• Using business finance systems and reporting tools
• Understanding how finance supports business performance and decision-making
• Working with stakeholders across different areas of the organisation
• Interpreting and presenting financial data to management
• Planning, organisation and problem-solving within a professional finance environment

This apprenticeship will provide a strong foundation in finance while helping you build the skills and experience needed for a successful career in the industry.

Apprenticeship Programme

As part of this apprenticeship, you will:

• Study towards a Level 2 Accounts Assistant Apprenticeship (12 months), followed by a Level 3 Assistant Accountant (15 months)
• Complete your training with The Apprentice Academy, our lead training provider
• Learn through a virtual training programme
• Gain knowledge and skills in everyday accounting and finance activities
• Develop the confidence and competence to carry out finance tasks successfully
• Achieve an AAT Level 2 Foundation Certificate in Accounting and a Level 3 Advanced Diploma in Accounting upon successful completion

Please note that you will need to pass the Level 2 apprenticeship, before being able to progress onto the Level 3. Both Level 2 and Level 3 are required for this role.

Entry Requirements

To apply, you will need:

GCSEs

• 5 GCSEs grade 9-4 (A-C) to include English and Maths

Benefits

·         Competitive salary of £24,000 per annum

·         Performance-related pay uplifts

·         Holiday entitlement of 201 hours a year (plus a company day and bank holidays)

·         Contributory Company Pension

·         Health Care Cash Plan

·         Hybrid/flexible working options

·         Employee assistance programme

·         Learning and development support

·         Employee discounts and wellbeing initiatives

·         Life Cover

·         80 Hours Volunteering per year (first two years)

Thales Apprentice Recruitment Process

1.      Apply Online - submit your application online to register your interest.  You only need to register for one role as you will have the opportunity to apply for additional roles at the full application stage.

2.      Upload Your CV

3.      Check your emails for the invitation to apply – this will come from [email protected]

4.      Complete Your Application – follow the link provided in the email to complete your application.  You can apply for one primary role and up to 3 additional roles.

5.      Complete Online Tests - undertake the online assessments designed to evaluate your suitability for the role.

6.      Virtual Assessment Centre - candidates who progress from the online assessment stage will attend a virtual assessment centre, which will include group exercises, and competency-based interviews.

7.      Job Offer – successful candidates who perform well throughout the recruitment process will receive a job offer from Thales.

For further information about our Future Talent recruitment process, including hints and tips, or to connect with a member of the Future Talent Team, a Graduate, or an Apprentice, please visit Thales Future Talent - Connectr.

Please note, assessment centres for shortlisted candidates will be held between February - May 2027.  Induction week for all Graduate and Apprentices will take place from Monday 6 September - Friday 10 September 2027.

Closing date: Our applications will close at 11.59pm on Wednesday 17 February 2027, this is the only time we will be accepting applications this year. Please note, we will be in contact by the end of February 2027 with details of next steps.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ROLES MAY CLOSE EARLIER THAN THE ADVERTISED DEADLINE IF WE RECEIVE A HIGH NUMER OF APPLICATIONS.  WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO APPLY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO AVOID MISSING OUT ON THIS OPPORTUNITY.

Because of the work we do at Thales, all roles are subject to security requirements.

To be considered for this position, you must have the permanent right to work in the UK and be able to successfully complete and maintain UK Government security checks, including Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) screening and Security Clearance (SC), which is a government background check, before starting employment.

To be eligible for SC clearance, you will typically need to have lived in the UK continuously for the last five years. As part of the vetting process, you will be asked to provide evidence of your identity, right to work in the UK, any time spent overseas during the last five years, and your employment and/or education history.

For further details of the evidence required to apply for security clearance please follow this link - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/national-security-vetting-clearance-levels.

Thales is an equal opportunities employer and diversity, and inclusion are integral to the success of Thales.

At Thales, we ensure equal opportunities, pay and working conditions for all. The benefits we offer include private medical insurance, buying or selling annual leave, cycle to work schemes, employee discounts, paid volunteering day, stocks and shares, annual bonus and much more depending on the role. Read more about our benefits here.
 

We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued for who they are and the unique strengths they bring. Discover more about our programmes, employee networks, wellbeing policies, and inclusive features here.

If this role isn’t quite right for you, we encourage you to join our talent community where your details will be shared with our recruitment teams for other potential opportunities. Join the Talent Community here.

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