Finance
CIMA Finance Programme
Induction
You’ll start the programme with a week long introduction to the business – and to the people you’ll be doing business with. These include our managers and directors, as well as your buddy: someone who’s already been through the programme and can help you on your own journey.
Customer insight project
Your first big project will focus on our customers, and for good reason. They’re central to everything we do. We’ll team you up with other graduates, and give you a challenging customer issue to investigate. You’ll need to plan your approach as a team, manage your time and get to the heart of the issue. Then comes the hard bit: identifying recommendations and presenting to senior managers. This isn’t a paper exercise. We’d like to see ideas we can use to improve the business.
Business projects
Three years might seem like a long time, but it’s thorough – and you can be sure it will fly by. We’ll give you a grounding in the systems and processes found in any large finance function, as well as practical experience of the ‘tools’ of the trade, including software packages. And you’ll learn and develop on a succession of assignments, in a range of teams and departments, each designed to use your learning in a real-life setting. These will include hands-on involvement in some of our key change initiatives, where you’ll learn to manage people and projects. Along the way you’ll discover where your interests lie, and you’ll have the chance to develop your career in a number of directions, including financial and management accounting, internal audit and process... to name just a few areas!
“I’ve just changed projects, so last month I was organising exhibitions for Funeralcare and this month I’m going through spreadsheets in Food relating to our new workforce management system. This approach means that you get contacts in the departments you’ve worked in, which invariably come in handy for your next project.”
Caroline Rodgers
Learning and development reviews
Learning is constant, and so we make sure we review your performance and progress continually. After each project we’ll talk, reflect and plan the next steps, helping you to focus on your development and boost your career.
Management Development Programmes
Starting with feedback from your assessment centre, your development path will draw together every aspect of your learning. You will undertake a structured development programme covering everything from commercial awareness to leadership skills. Essentially, they will give you everything you'll need to take the business forward. You’ll have a wide range of support including a mentor, a personal development plan and all the support we can offer to enable you to drive your career.
Support for your Qualification
We'll support you at every stage of this 3 year Programme, doing everything we can to help you pass your exams and gain CIMA accreditation. As well as practical experience, we’ll give you study leave for exams, and pay for all books, materials and expenses.
Business Role
When you’ve finished the course, you’ll have the skills, confidence and qualifications you need to start the next phase of your career: as a manager in one of our finance teams. By now, you’ll have your own ideas of the sort of work you prefer, and there’s sure to be the perfect opening waiting for you.