Finance Apprenticeship Programme 2027 - Milton Keynes

Howden Group; Milton Keynes; Hybrid; GBP 21,000 - 25,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

£23,000 salary

Generous pension

25 days annual leave

Fully funded professional qualific­—?

18-month development programme

Hybrid working

Job summary

Howden Group in Milton Keynes invites applicants to join our Finance Operations apprentice programme starting September 2027. You will begin with an induction and then join the Finance Operations team, gradually taking on more responsibility as you develop technical knowledge and professional skills through the 18-month programme.

You'll learn to manage employee expenses, review claims, set up suppliers, and support supplier payments while earning a recognised qualification.

Qualifications

• Confident working with numbers and understanding finance basics.
• Able to follow clear processes and manage deadlines.
• Attention to detail and accuracy in tasks.
• Curiosity to learn and accept feedback.

Responsibilities

• Learn how employee expenses are managed and review submissions.
• Check expense claims against company rules for accuracy.
• Support corporate credit card costs and ensure proper approvals.
• Review supplier invoices and help prepare them for payment.
• Help set up new suppliers with due diligence checks.
• Maintain clear expenses records and respond to employee questions.
• Escalate missing information to the Accounts Payable Manager.

Skills

Confident working with numbers

Organised

Detail oriented

Manage multiple tasks

Clear written and verbal communication

Willing to learn and accept feedback

Education

Level 3 Accountancy apprenticeship

GCSE English grade C/4

GCSE Maths grade B/5

Job description

Who are we? Howden is a global insurance group with employee ownership at its heart. Together, we have pushed the boundaries of insurance. We are united by a shared passion and no-limits mindset, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of 24,000 employees spanning over 56 countries. People join Howden for many different reasons, but they stay for the same one: our culture. It's what sets us apart, and the reason our employees have been turning down headhunters for years. Whatever your priorities – work / life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering – you'll find like-minded people driving change at Howden.

Finance Apprenticeship Programme 2027

Please read before submitting: You may only apply to one apprenticeship programme for our 2027 intake. Submitting duplicate applications will result in them not being considered.

Location: Milton Keynes

Start date: September 2027

Salary: £23,000

Duration: You'll join us in a permanent role from day one while completing an 18-month development programme.

Structure: You're expected to work in the office at least 3-4 days per week and must live within a commutable distance.

Qualification: Level 3 Accountancy apprenticeship

Finance Apprenticeship Programme Play a Key Role in How Money Moves Through a Business Ready to earn, learn and launch your career? This is more than your first job. You'll gain real experience, work towards a recognised qualification and build skills that will shape your future. Our Finance Operations team helps keep Howden’s Retail business running smoothly. From checking employee expenses and managing corporate card costs to processing invoices and supporting supplier payments, the team makes sure money is handled accurately and payments are completed at the right time. You'll work with colleagues across the business, gaining a valuable understanding of how a finance function operates while building practical skills that you can use throughout your career. You'll join Howden on a permanent role and complete an 18-month development programme designed to develop your technical knowledge, professional skills and confidence to kick start your career.

What you’ll be doing?

You will begin with a structured induction before joining our Finance Operations team, where you will work alongside experienced colleagues and gradually take on more responsibility.

During the programme, you'll:

• Learn how employee expenses are managed and use our expense claim system to review submissions.
• Check expense claims against company rules, making sure information is accurate and costs are in line with expectations.
• Support the management of corporate credit card costs and check that the correct approvals are in place.
• Review invoices from suppliers and help prepare them for payment.
• Help set up new suppliers by completing due diligence checks, including confirming accurate bank and business details.
• Use your attention to detail to maintain clear and accurate expenses records and documentation.
• Respond to questions from employees and work with teams across the business, including colleagues responsible for payments.
• Spot missing information or mistakes and elevate any issues to the Accounts Payable Manager.

Who are we looking for?

• Confident working with numbers and interested in understanding how finance works.
• Organised and comfortable following clear processes.
• Detail oriented and able to complete your tasks with a high level of accuracy and actively spotting mistakes or missing information.
• Able to manage different tasks and meet regular deadlines.
• Able to articulate your ideas clearly, both in writing and verbally.
• Curious, willing to learn and open to feedback.

To be eligible for our apprenticeship

• Have the full and unrestricted right to work in the UK.
• Have lived permanently in the UK for the last 3 years.
• Have achieved a grade C/4 in GCSE English and B/5 in GCSE Maths.
• Not already hold a qualification that significantly overlaps with the content of this apprenticeship.

You’ll also benefit from:

• £23,000 and a generous pension scheme.
• Completing fully funded professional qualifications relevant for your role.
• Structured learning and development through our 18-month apprenticeship development programme.
• 25 days' annual leave, plus bank holidays.
• Access to discounted personal health policies, wellbeing support and a range of employee benefits and insurance products.

Reasonable adjustments

We're committed to providing reasonable accommodations at Howden to ensure that our positions align well with your needs. Besides the usual adjustments such as software, IT, and office setups, we can also accommodate other changes such as flexible hours* or hybrid working*. If you're excited by this role but have some doubts about whether it's the right fit for you, send us your application – if your profile fits the role’s criteria, we will be in touch to assist in helping to get you set up with any reasonable adjustments you may require. *Not all positions can accommodate changes to working hours or locations. Reach out to your Recruitment Partner if you want to know more.

Permanent Howden began in 1994, as just three people and a dog. Now there are 23,000 of us, and we're a leading global insurance group, managing $37bn of premiums for our clients. Our largest shareholder group is us – the people who work in the business – supported by three long-term, minority growth-equity partners who share our vision to build a business to last, one that will never be sold. The owner's mindset is something that's embedded in our culture; our people readily take ownership of their decisions, their actions, and their outputs. They're invested in every sense. And we all know that by working together to drive the business forward, everyone will benefit from the extraordinary results we can achieve.