Finance Internship - (12M Placement)

United Utilities; Clayton-le-Woods; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

United Utilities is offering a 12-month Finance Placement to develop technical accounting and business skills within a high-performing team. You will work on financial reporting, planning and analysis, with mentors to guide your progress.

Ideally you are on track for a 2:1 degree and have strong communication, collaboration and MS Office skills. This paid placement provides real responsibility and a potential graduate offer on completion.

Qualifications

• On track for a minimum of a 2:1 degree and undertaking a placement year during studies.
• Excellent written and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence across stakeholder groups.
• Highly computer literate and proficient in Microsoft Office applications.
• Able to work flexibly across a range of tasks and meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Reporting: prepare business unit financial statements, management reports and regulatory reports; provide commentary on performance vs budget.
• Performance measurement: develop financial plans, budgets and forecasts with stakeholders.
• Financial analysis: monitor variances and KPIs; analyse data to support decisions.
• Spend control reporting: refresh reports and conduct variance analysis ahead of meetings.
• Record to Report: maintain records, post journals, reconcile accounts.
• Planning, Budget, Forecasting: CBP/ LBE budgeting and forecasting; consolidate and challenge cost drivers.
• General: collaborate with Finance team to improve ways of working; handle ad-hoc requests.

Skills

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Computer literacy

Education

2:1 degree expectation

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

About us

Every day, we deliver one of life's most essential services to millions of people across the North West. From providing safe, high-quality drinking water to protecting the environment and supporting thriving communities, the work we do matters. We're now in the second year of our £16.5 billion investment programme, one of the largest transformation programmes in our history. It's an exciting time to join us as we improve our services, enhance environmental performance, embrace innovation and create a more sustainable future for generations to come.

There's more to us than just great water. We are where purpose flows.

What can you expect as an Intern within our Finance Team?

On our 12-month Finance Placement, you'll gain valuable hands-on experience while developing both your technical expertise and professional skills. Working within a high-performing finance team of over 120 colleagues, you'll take on graduate-level responsibilities and build your understanding of how finance supports United Utilities in delivering essential services to seven million customers across the North West. You'll gain exposure to areas such as financial accounting, management accounting and business decision-making, with increasing responsibility as your confidence and experience grow. Throughout your placement, you'll be supported by experienced mentors and managers who will help you achieve your development goals and build a strong foundation for your future career.

What you’ll be getting stuck into day to day:

Performance measurement & reporting

• Reporting: Preparing business unit financial statements, management reports and regulatory reports. Providing commentary on actual and forecasted financial performance against budget
• Performance measurement: Collaborating with business units to develop financial plans, budgets, and forecasts. This includes analysing historical financial data, identifying trends, and making projections to support strategic decision-making
• Financial analysis: Monitoring and investigating variances in actuals / forecast (LBE) against budget and financial KPIs
• Spend control reporting: Refresh report and conduct variance analysis on key discretionary spend areas ahead of Executive Performance Meetings.

Record to Report

• Financial recordkeeping: Maintaining accurate financial records, including posting journal entries, updating ledgers and reconciling accounts
• Period-end close: Performing various period-end close activities including posting journals, performing reconciliations, adjusting accruals and preparing control accounts
• Audit support: Supporting external audits by providing necessary financial information and assisting auditors in their review

Planning, Budget, Forecasting

• Budgeting (CBP) / Forecasting (LBE): Engaging with budget holders, consolidation of ZBB templates, central review and challenge of cost driver assumptions and efficiency plans and ensuring alignment with overall organisational goals and strategies
• Stakeholder collaboration: Working closely with budget holders to gather financial information and align with business strategies

General

• Work collaboratively with the Business Partnering Team to achieve common goals
• To ensure continuous improvement by generating imaginative ideas for better ways of working
• Ad-hoc requests as necessary

What you’ll bring to the team:

• You will be on track for a minimum of a 2:1 in your degree and undertaking a placement year during your studies at university.
• You should possess excellent written and interpersonal skills and have the ability to communicate and influence across multiple stakeholder groups.
• You must be highly computer literate and be proficient in Microsoft Office applications.
• You should be able to be comfortable working flexibly across a range of tasks and activities to deadlines, be able to prioritise your time.

You should possess the resilience and willpower to succeed in a commercial environment.

Why join United Utilities as an intern?

By joining us on our internship programme, you'll not only get first-class training and support, but we'll also provide you with an in-depth understanding of your business area so you can develop the skills you need to progress your career, while making a real contribution to the communities we serve.

You might enter our organisation as an intern, but one thing's for sure: if you perform well, you may well be leaving with a graduate offer before you've even returned to university.

We know that delivering a great service starts with supporting you, our people. That's why we offer a range of benefits designed to help you thrive both at work and outside of it.

Salary of at least £25,950 per annum (pro rata)

26 days annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rata)

Our commitment to opportunity for all

We're committed to creating a workplace where you feel you can belong and can succeed. Our colleague networks play an important role in this, these are;

GeneQ – supporting gender equality, parents and carers

Multi-Cultural & Faith

LGBTQ+

Armed Forces

Ability – supporting colleagues with disabilities and long-term health conditions

We recommend that you are open and honest with us throughout the process and make us aware of any reasonable adjustments you may require.

Based on current immigration guidelines this role is not eligible for visa sponsorship

Due to the length of the programme being 12 months maximum you will be engaged on a fixed term contract.