Graduate Corporate Finance Associate

Ballards LLP; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

ACA training

Real client experience

Mentoring

Hybrid working

25 days holiday

Pension

Life assurance

Employee Assistance Programme

Electric Car scheme

Cycle to Work

Job summary

Ballards' Birmingham-based Graduate Corporate Finance Associate programme offers hands-on experience from day one, supporting live deals across buy-side and sell-side work while working towards ACA qualification.

You’ll develop skills in financial analysis, valuations, modelling, due diligence, and client communication within a supportive, collaborative team that values initiative and commercial judgement.

Qualifications

• Analytical, commercially curious and comfortable with financial information.
• Strong numerical and analytical skills with attention to detail.
• Willingness to learn and develop throughout the ACA training programme.

Responsibilities

• Support live corporate finance projects across a range of clients and sectors.
• Learn how transactions work from initial analysis and financial due diligence through to deal execution.
• Analyse financial information and develop understanding of valuations, modelling, working capital, net debt and cash flow.
• Assist in preparation of reports, presentations and deal materials, building confidence with clients and target management teams.
• Develop technical and commercial judgement while learning from experienced Corporate Finance professionals.

Skills

Analytical skills

Numerical ability

Commercial awareness

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Ownership & initiative

Education

2:1 degree in any discipline

Tools

Excel

Job description

Ballards

TAX | AUDIT | CONSULTANCY

Graduate Corporate Finance Associate - 2027

Understand the deal. Analyse the numbers. Build your commercial career.

Location

Birmingham (Occasional Meetings in Worcester)

Programme

Three-year Graduate Programme

Qualification

Fully funded ACA training contract

If you’re curious about what drives deals, investment and business growth, Corporate Finance puts you close to the decisions that shape businesses.

At Ballards, you’ll support real corporate finance projects from day one. You’ll learn how to analyse financial information, understand business performance and contribute to lower mid-market transactions, including buy-side and sell-side work, while working towards your ACA qualification.

What you’ll do

• Support live corporate finance projects across a range of clients and sectors.
• Learn how transactions work, from initial analysis and financial due diligence through to deal execution.
• Analyse financial information and build your understanding of valuations, financial modelling, working capital, net debt and cash flow.
• Support the preparation of reports, presentations and deal materials, and build confidence working with clients and target management teams.
• Develop your technical and commercial judgement while learning from experienced Corporate Finance professionals.

What you’ll get

• Fully funded ACA professional training and study support
• Real client experience from day one
• Mentoring, feedback and structured career development
• Flexible hybrid working
• 25 days’ holiday plus bank holidays
• Pension, life assurance and Employee Assistance Programme
• Electric Car and Cycle to Work schemes

Who we’re looking for

You don’t need previous Corporate Finance experience. We’re looking for graduates who are analytical, commercially curious, comfortable working with financial information and ready to learn.

You’ll be working towards, or have recently achieved, a minimum 2:1 degree in any discipline. You’ll bring strong numerical and analytical skills, attention to detail, good communication and the confidence to ask questions and take ownership of your development.

It’s about who you become along the way.

You’ll join a supportive, collaborative environment where your ideas are valued, your development is guided and your responsibility grows with you.

Ready to move your career forward?

If you want a graduate role where you can gain real transaction experience, become professionally qualified and build commercial understanding in a deal-driven environment, we’d love to hear from you.