2026 Finance Apprentice - Level 2 Accountant Assistant, with progression to Level 3 Assistant Accoun

Thales; Belfast; On-site; GBP 24,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology company is offering a Finance Apprentice position in Belfast, starting September 2026. This is a permanent role with the opportunity to progress through levels of accounting qualifications while receiving full tuition support. Candidates should have 5 GCSEs, including English and Maths, and a proactive nature. Benefits include annual leave, pension, and health care cash plan.

Benefits

Annual leave of 201 hours

Company Pension

Health Care Cash Plan

Life Insurance

Discount Portal

Performance-related pay uplifts

80 Hours Volunteering

Qualifications

• Passion for accounting and finance.
• Motivation to learn and develop skills during the apprenticeship.

Responsibilities

• Liaising with stakeholders to report overheads and headcount.
• Providing accurate cost information to senior management.
• Supporting budgeting cycles.

Skills

Attention to detail

Proactiveness

Effective communication

Education

5 GCSE's 9-4 (A-C), including English and Maths

Job description

Location: Belfast, United Kingdom

In fast changing markets, customers worldwide rely on Thales. Thales is a business where brilliant people from all over the world come together to share ideas and inspire each other. In aerospace, transportation, defence, security and space, our architects design innovative solutions that make our tomorrow's possible.

Together we offer fantastic opportunities for committed employees to learn and develop their career with us. At Thales UK, we research, develop, and supply technology and services that impact the lives of millions of people each day to make life better, and keep us safer. We innovate across the major industries of Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space. Your health and well‑being matters to us and that's why we offer you the flexibility to do what's important to you; whether that's part time hours, job sharing, home working, or the ability to flex your start and finish times. Where possible, we support a working pattern that suits your lifestyle and helps you reach your ambitions.

2026 Finance Apprentice - Level 2 Accountant Assistant, with progression to Level 3 Assistant Accountant and Level 4 Professional Accountant

Start Date: 07 September 2026

Salary: £24,000 per annum

Location: Belfast

Employee type: Permanent

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 corporate team based in Belfast. This role is a rare chance for a highly motivated individual to take on a role that has excellent career progression opportunities within Thales.

What the role has to offer:

• Earn while you learn
• Job specific training experience
• Recognised qualifications
• Permanent role from day one
• Tuition fees for university or approved training providers are fully covered
• Great opportunity to gain experience and further your career in Finance
• Operate in a visible role with an opportunity to add value from the early stages

We have an exciting opportunity to join a Finance Apprenticeship within our UK business. We have opportunities within Corporate and our Thales UK business lines.

You can expect to be involved in a wide range of activities, gaining significant exposure to the business and building a broad professional network. Key responsibilities will vary depending on which team you are sitting within, but may include:

• Liaising with various stakeholders to understand, challenge and report the overheads and headcount of the business
• Providing accurate, timely and reliable overhead and cost information, and analysis to senior management
• Utilising Thales tools to develop internal reporting and ensure consistency across the UK
• Supporting cost centre reviews
• Assisting in the budgeting cycle where required
• Managing data cleanse activities including balance sheet reconciliation
• Supporting projects in maintaining forecast invoicing dates and improving cash forecasting
• Supporting Project Managers and Business Controllers in timely cost transfers
• Assisting in Project Closure activities
• Ad hoc tasks, reporting and analysis as required by Financial Controller/Director
• Supporting preparation and distribution of monthly financial results, ensuring tight deadlines are achieved
• Supporting monthly overhead, headcount and Direct Labour Utilisation (DLU) reviews
• Supporting the preparation and review of monthly Cost By Nature (CBN) and Functional Cost Report (FCR) reports, including commentary and analysis as may be requested by Group, UK or business management
• Support the overhead Multi-Year Budget (MYB) process
• Support the overhead reforecasting process
• Provide information on headcount evolution
• Provide specific analytical reports to cost centre managers
• Support the preparation and posting of journal vouchers, including accruals, prepayments, corrections etc.

Apprentice Programme

Apprentices will start by enrolling onto a Level 2 Accountant Assistant Apprenticeship with our award‑winning training partner, The Apprentice Academy. Delivered via a virtual delivery model over 15 months, the apprenticeship will introduce you to day‑to‑day accounting activities and will help you to build the competence to deliver these successfully. On completion of the programme, you will achieve an AAT Level 2 Diploma in Accounting.

Following completion of the Level 2, you will be supported to progress onto the Level 3 Assistant Accountant Apprenticeship (18 months) and the Level 4 Professional Accountant Apprenticeship (17 months) to achieve your AAT qualifications.

Requirements:

• 5 GCSE's 9-4 (A-C), including English and Maths

Benefits

• 201 hours annual leave (plus a company day and bank holidays)
• Company Pension
• Health Care Cash Plan
• Life Insurance
• Discount Portal
• Performance‑related pay uplifts
• 80 Hours Volunteering (first two years)

Please note, assessment centres for shortlisted candidates will be held between February - May 2026. Induction week for all Graduates and Apprentices will take place from Monday 7 September - Friday 11 September 2026.

Closing date:

Our applications will close at 11.59pm on Thursday 12 February 2026, this is the only time we will be accepting applications this year. Please note, we will be in contact by the end of February 2026 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.

Recruitment Process

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

Security & Eligibility

Due to the nature of the work that we do at Thales, all of our roles are subject to security restrictions.

All successful candidates must possess the permanent right to work in the UK, and will be required to go through Government security clearance at BPSS Level and to obtain full Security Clearance (SC) in line with the United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) requirements below, prior to starting with us.

This role requires Security Clearance (SC). It would be advantageous if currently held, however, if not currently held, it is a requirement that the successful applicant undergo, achieve, and maintain SC Clearance prior to commencing employment. Please visit the UKSV website for further guidance.

To be eligible for full SC, you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 years. As part of the vetting process you will be asked to provide evidence of your identity, eligibility to work in the UK, time spent abroad over the last 5 years, as well as employment and / or educational 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/nationa...

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

In line with Thales' Baseline Security requirements, candidates will be asked to provide evidence of identity, eligibility to work in the UK and employment and/or education history for up to three years. Some vacancies may require full Security Clearance which can require further evidence to be provided. For further details of the evidence required to apply for Baseline and Security Clearance please refer to the Defence Business Services National Security Vetting (DBS NSV) Agency.

At Thales we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 80,000 employees in 68 countries our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad, in their existing areas of expertise or by branching out into new fields. Together we believe that embracing flexibility is a smarter way of working.

Thales UK is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier‑free recruitment process. We will provide reasonable adjustments and support to ensure neuro‑diverse applicants or those with a disability or long‑term condition can be their best during the recruitment process. To request an adjustment, if you need this job advert in an alternative format or if you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Resourcing Ops for mid to senior roles, or the Early Careers Team for graduate and apprentice roles.

Great journeys start here, apply now!