Finance Apprentice

Natures Way Foods; Chichester; On-site; GBP 17,000 - 21,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Study support

Rotation through finance

Dedicated mentor

Career path in finance

Team culture

Pension match

Health cash plan

Cycle to work

Flexible pay frequency

Online GP

Employee assistance programme

Job summary

Nature's Way Foods is launching a Finance Apprenticeship in Chichester to provide hands-on experience in Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable while studying for an AAT qualification. You will rotate through the finance function, gain real responsibility from day one, and be mentored throughout the programme.

The scheme offers fully funded study support, progression reviews, and a clear path to a long-term career in finance within a growing FMCG business.

Qualifications

• A-Levels or equivalent, ideally including a numerate subject.
• Strong numerical accuracy and attention to detail.
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Excel and Office.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills.
• A genuine interest in building a career in finance/accounting.
• Well organised, able to manage deadlines and prioritise a varied workload.
• A proactive, curious approach and willingness to learn.
• Comfortable working as part of a team and building relationships across departments.
• Some prior exposure to a finance or administrative environment (e.g. part-time work).
• Experience with accounting or ERP software.
• Interest in the food manufacturing/FMCG sector.

Responsibilities

• Deliver accurate, timely transactional processing within controls and deadlines.
• Build relationships with suppliers, customers, and internal stakeholders.
• Maintain data integrity within finance systems (ERP).
• Identify and help resolve discrepancies, escalate as needed.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of finance processes and controls.
• Complete apprenticeship coursework and off-the-job training hours.

Skills

Numerical accuracy

Attention to detail

Excel proficiency

Communication skills

Teamwork

Organisational skills

Willingness to learn

Interpersonal collaboration

Finance exposure

ERP software experience

Interest in FMCG/food

Education

A-Levels or equivalent

Tools

Excel

ERP software

Job description

Finance Apprentice | Chichester | Launch Your Career in Finance

If you join us as a Finance Apprentice, you'll gain hands‑on experience in Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable, learning the fundamentals of finance in a fast‑paced business with a turnover of over £400m. As you grow in confidence, you'll have the opportunity to explore other areas of finance, including management accounting, reporting, and financial planning.

We'll also support you in studying for your AAT qualification (Level 2/3), giving you dedicated study time, expert guidance, and real‑world experience every step of the way.

If you're keen to join a friendly team, learn, grow, and build a long‑term career in finance, we'd love to hear from you.

What you get from us

• Fully funded study support towards a recognised accounting qualification, including study leave
• A structured, supportive rotation through the finance function with real responsibility from day one
• A dedicated workplace mentor and regular progress reviews
• The opportunity to build a long‑term career in finance within a growing food manufacturing business
• A collaborative, down‑to‑earth finance team culture
• Employer matched pension
• Health cash plan
• Cycle to work scheme
• Flexibility in pay frequency each month
• Access to online GP
• Employee assistance programme

How we'll support your growth

Phase 1 - Accounts Payable & Accounts Receivable (approx. first 9-12 months)

• Process supplier invoices, matching to purchase orders and delivery notes, and resolving queries
• Prepare supplier payment runs and support day‑to‑day cash management
• Reconcile supplier statements and maintain accurate vendor records
• Raise sales invoices and credit notes, ensuring accuracy against customer contracts and pricing
• Monitor the sales ledger, chase outstanding debt, and support credit control activity
• Perform bank and ledger reconciliations
• Respond to internal and external queries from suppliers, customers, and colleagues
• Support month‑end AP/AR close activities, including accruals and prepayments

Phase 2 - Rotation into wider finance (indicative, subject to business need)

• Management accounts: assisting with journal postings, balance sheet reconciliations, and variance analysis
• FP&A: supporting budgeting, forecasting, and reporting cycles, including exposure to departmental and consolidated reporting
• Fixed assets / capex: assisting with capex tracking and asset register maintenance
• Exposure to audit support activity and basic technical accounting under guidance

Phase 3 - Specialisation and qualification

• Building towards a defined role within the finance team aligned to the apprentice's strengths and interests
• Completing the apprenticeship qualification, including end‑point assessment

Your Key Responsibilities

• Deliver accurate, timely transactional processing within agreed controls and deadlines
• Build strong working relationships with suppliers, customers, and internal stakeholders across the business
• Maintain data integrity within the finance systems (e.g. accounting/ERP system)
• Identify and help resolve discrepancies, escalating where appropriate
• Contribute to continuous improvement of finance processes and controlsComplete apprenticeship coursework, assignments, and off‑the‑job training hours as required
• Adhere to NWF's policies, including data confidentiality and financial controls

Skills & Experience

• A-Levels or equivalent, ideally including a numerate subject
• Strong numerical accuracy and attention to detail
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Excel and Office
• Clear written and verbal communication skills
• A genuine interest in building a career in finance/accounting
• Well organised, able to manage deadlines and prioritise a varied workload
• A proactive, curious approach and willingness to learn
• Comfortable working as part of a team and building relationships across departments
• Some prior exposure to a finance or administrative environment (e.g. part‑time work, work experience)
• Experience with accounting or ERP software
• Interest in the food manufacturing/FMCG sector

Nature's Way Foods is the leading manufacturer of prepared salads, coleslaw and food-to-go for retailers and QSR, and as such we work closely with farmers across Europe. But there's lots more to us than the products we make.

Our culture is inclusive, and our people are diverse spanning 39 different languages. We operate four manufacturing facilities capable of producing over 326m units per year. It is an exciting time to join Nature's Way Foods as we are growing rapidly and there are genuine opportunities to progress within the organisation.

At Nature's Way Food, we believe that diversity and inclusion are key to driving innovation and achieving excellence. We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to reach their full potential. We are dedicated to building a diverse team that reflects the communities we serve and the world we live in.

Join us in our mission to create a more inclusive and fairer world. Together, we can become best at fresh.