Operations Graduate Programme – Northern Ireland – September 2027 intake

EY UK; Belfast City District; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

EY UK offers a two-year graduate programme in Belfast that blends operational insight and technology to drive client value. You’ll work across deal stages—from due diligence to integration—and develop practical recommendations with real impact.

You’ll pursue the CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting (CIMA CBA) and gain exposure to sectors such as Private Equity, Technology, Media & Telecom, and Consumer, Health, Sciences and Wellbeing.

Qualifications

• Collaboration with project teams, clients and stakeholders to deliver value.
• Clear communication of insights and actionable recommendations.
• Analytical thinking to assess operational performance and identify value opportunities.
• Ownership and proactive contribution to engagements and learning.

Responsibilities

• Gaining exposure to the deal/investment engine, including diligence, valuation, stakeholders, bidder meetings, and negotiations.
• Supporting sector work across Private Equity; Technology, Media & Telecom; Consumer, Health, Sciences & Wellbeing.
• Assisting with wider practice development tasks, from recruitment to learning and development.
• Identifying opportunities to realise incremental value within client engagements.

Skills

Collaboration

Communication

Analytical thinking

Ownership and proactivity

Education

CIMA CBA

Job description

Combine operational insight and technology to unlock client value.

Programme overview

We work with corporate and private equity clients on a diverse range of projects, from pre-deal analysis and due diligence (operational, carve-out and synergy) to integration and divestiture planning and execution, value creation and operational turnaround. You’ll work across every stage of a transaction, tackling real business challenges and using the latest technology to develop solutions that make an impact before, during and after a deal.

Along the way, you’ll build a broad range of skills and experience, helping you shape your future with confidence, while working towards the recognised Chartered Institute of Management Accountants Certificate in Business Accounting (CIMA CBA) qualification.

Core skills for success

• Collaboration - working closely with project teams, clients and stakeholders to deliver solutions across complex transactions and transformations.
• Communication - presenting insights clearly and translating complex operational findings into practical actions for clients and investors.
• Analytical thinking - assessing operational performance, identifying value creation opportunities and developing evidence-based recommendations for clients.
• Ownership and proactivity - contributing to engagements and practice development, and taking responsibility for key workstreams.

What you will be doing

• Gaining exposure to the deal/investment “engine” including the diligence process, valuation process, stakeholders involved, bidder meetings and the deal negotiation process.
• Supporting one of the many sectors we engage with on a daily basis, such as Private Equity; Technology, Media and Telecom and Consumer, Health, Sciences and Wellbeing.
• Assisting with wider practice development tasks from recruitment through to learning and development.
• Supporting improvement in businesses, identifying opportunities to realise incremental value.

Key programme facts

• Programme length
  Two years
• Professional qualification
  CIMA CBA
• Salary
  Competitive
• Start date
  September 2027