2027 Finance Apprentice

Thales; Henstridge; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 26,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Earn while you learn

Hands-on training

Professional qualification

Permanent role from day one

Tuition fees paid

Hybrid working

Job summary

Thales is offering a 2027 Finance Apprenticeship in Templecombe, UK. The role provides hands-on finance experience, progression to Level 3, and a permanent role on completion. Start date 6 September 2027, salary £24,000 per year, 37 hours weekly, Monday to Friday.

You will work across finance activities, learn budgeting, forecasting, reporting, and accounting processes, and develop skills with real responsibilities in a high-profile company.

Qualifications

• 5 GCSEs grade 9-4 (A-C) to include English and Maths
• Permanent right to work in the UK with BPSS/security checks
• Successful completion of Level 2 before Level 3 progression

Responsibilities

• Support finance teams with day-to-day tasks and projects
• Help resolve timesheet and labour booking queries
• Assist with monthly financial reports
• Support cost, overhead and headcount reporting
• Assist with budgeting, forecasting and reforecasting
• Maintain accurate financial records and reconciliations
• Support project finance activities and journal work
• Produce reports and perform data analysis

Education

GCSEs English & Maths

Job description

Location: Templecombe, 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 Apprenticeship with progression to Level 3 Finance Apprenticeship

Start Date: 6 September 2027

Salary: £24,000 per annum

Employee type: Permanent

Location: Templecombe

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 Templecombe. 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 programmes need to be completed for the 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)

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.

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 - .

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.