Graduate Finance Management (Cognate Degree)

WATES; Leatherhead; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading construction and property maintenance company in the UK seeks a Finance Management Trainee for a 2-year program in Leatherhead. You'll develop essential finance skills across various areas, including Financial Accounts and Treasury. Candidates should be on track to graduate with a relevant degree and possess strong problem-solving and time management skills. Benefits include mentorship, competitive salary, and private medical insurance.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Private medical insurance

Car allowance

Health & wellness programme

26 days holiday + bank holidays

Mentoring and support from industry experts

Qualifications

• Be on track to graduate in 2026 or earlier with a cognate degree.
• Working towards or have achieved a minimum 2:2 classification.

Responsibilities

• Provide quality financial analysis that drives decision-making.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory financial standards.
• Gain hands-on experience across key financial departments.
• Build knowledge and skills in financial reporting and forecasting.

Skills

Passion for the built environment

Problem-solving ability

Good time management

Education

Cognate degree

Job description

Overview

The Vacancy
As a Finance Management Trainee at Wates, you’ll be at the heart of our business, developing essential skills and building a strong foundation for your future in finance. You’ll gain comprehensive experience across all areas of finance, including Financial Accounts, Treasury, Tax, Internal Audit, Finance Systems, and Business Reporting/Management Accounts. Our finance team plays a critical role in providing high-quality financial analytics and external reporting, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, and partnering cross-functionally to support business decision-making.

Responsibilities

• Partner with different functions across the business to provide quality financial analysis that drives decision-making.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory financial standards through external reporting.
• Gain hands-on experience across key financial departments, such as Treasury, Tax, Internal Audit, and Management Accounts.
• Build your knowledge and skills in financial reporting, forecasting, and analytics through structured rotations across finance teams.

About you

To be successful on the programme you’ll:

• Be passionate about a career in the built environment.
• Be excited to learn and develop new skills.
• Have a curious nature.
• Be reliable and professional.
• Be a problem solver with the ability to think logically.
• Possess good time management skills.
• Prioritise your work to meet agreed deadlines.
• Able and willing to travel to other Wates office locations (e.g. London) when required.

Eligibility criteria

To be considered for this opportunity, you must:

• Be on track to graduate in 2026 or earlier with a cognate* degree.
• Be working towards or have achieved a minimum 2:2 classification.

*Cognate degree is one that relates directly to the role you’re applying for.

Locations

• Leatherhead

Programme duration

This is a 2-year graduate programme offering hands-on experience, structured development, and placements across different teams.

What’s in it for you?

Our Trainee Management Programme offers placement opportunities across various departments, technical and behavioural development, including support through relevant qualifications and a host of additional benefits. We provide the foundation skills, knowledge and experience you’ll need to build a long-term, successful career.

In addition, we offer:

• Mentoring, support, and training by industry experts.
• Structured learning plan (a combination of technical and behavioural development).
• Competitive salary.
• Private medical insurance.
• Car allowance / company car scheme.
• Health & wellness programme.
• 26 days holiday + bank holidays.
• For cognate degree trainees: Opportunity to work towards chartered status with a recognised professional body.

We have nearly 200 talented Trainees currently completing our Trainee Management Programme, providing amazing opportunities to build a network, collaborate and share learning with your peers. Kickstart your journey and apply now!

We value authenticity and encourage you to complete your application without the use of AI tools. This helps us gain a genuine understanding of your individual strengths, experiences, and potential.

Applications for this role close at midday on Tuesday 25 November 2025.

This date may be brought forward or extended in line with the number of applications we receive. We’re only able to accept the first application we receive. Any additional applications will be automatically withdrawn.

Work for Wates

Wates is one of the UK’s leading family-owned development, building and property maintenance companies. Founded over 125 years ago, we have a proud legacy in the built environment.

We are driven by our purpose, ‘reimagining places for people to thrive’ and our three promises:

• Thriving places – working with customers, partners and communities to create places that are more sustainable, inclusive, and full of opportunity.
• Thriving planet – protecting nature and taking action on climate change by collaborating and innovating with our partners.
• Thriving people – creating opportunities and relationships so that everyone who works for and with us feels included, invested in and treated with care.

We are proud to be recognised as Gold Investors in People and as a Disability Confident employer. We also ensure that our recruitment processes do not treat anyone less favourably due to an offending background.