2027 Finance Apprentice

thales; Crawley; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 26,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Hybrid/flexible working options

Health Care Cash Plan

Contributory Pension

Learning and development support

Employee discounts

Life Cover

Volunteering opportunities

Job summary

Thales is a global technology leader based in Crawley, United Kingdom. They are offering a 2027 Finance Apprentice role with a structured progression to Level 3, starting 6 September 2027. The program blends hands-on finance work with formal training, leading to a permanent role within the team.

The apprenticeship provides a competitive salary of £24,000 per year, a 37-hour workweek, and hybrid/flexible working options, with clear career progression in finance at Thales.

Qualifications

• GCSEs with English and Maths at grades 9–4.

Responsibilities

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

Job description

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)