2026 Finance Apprentice – Level 2 Accountant Assistant, with progression to Level 3 Assistant Accountant and Level 4 Professional Accountant
Start Date: 07 September 2026
Salary:£24,000 per annum
Location: Belfast
Employee type: Permanent
Working Schedule: Monday – Friday, 37 hours a week (8 hours Monday – Thursday, 5 hours Friday)
What the role has to offer:
* Earn while you learn
* Job specific training experience
* Recognised qualifications
* Permanent role from day one
* Tuition fees for university or approved training providers are fully covered
* Great opportunity to gain experience and further your career in Finance
* Operate in a visible role with an opportunity to add value from the early stages
Responsibilities
* Liaising with various stakeholders to understand, challenge and report the overheads and headcount of the business
* Providing accurate, timely and reliable overhead and cost information, and analysis to senior management
* Utilising Thales tools to develop internal reporting and ensure consistency across the UK
* Supporting cost centre reviews
* Assisting in the budgeting cycle where required
* Managing data cleanse activities including balance sheet reconciliation
* Supporting projects in maintaining forecast invoicing dates and improving cash forecasting
* Supporting Project Managers and Business Controllers in timely cost transfers
* Assisting in Project Closure activities
* Ad hoc tasks, reporting and analysis as required by Financial Controller/Director
* Supporting preparation and distribution of monthly financial results, ensuring tight deadlines are achieved
* Supporting monthly overhead, headcount and Direct Labour Utilisation (DLU) reviews
* Supporting the preparation and review of monthly Cost By Nature (CBN) and Functional Cost Report (FCR) reports, including commentary and analysis as may be requested by Group, UK or business management
* Support the overhead Multi-Year Budget (MYB) process
* Support the overhead reforecasting process
* Provide information on headcount evolution
* Provide specific analytical reports to cost centre managers
* Support the preparation and posting of journal vouchers, including accruals, prepayments, corrections etc.
Apprentice Programme
Apprentices will start by enrolling onto a Level 2 Accountant Assistant Apprenticeship with our award‑winning training partner, The Apprentice Academy. Delivered via a virtual delivery model over 15 months, the apprenticeship will introduce you to day‑to‑day accounting activities and will help you to build the competence to deliver these successfully. On completion of the programme, you will achieve an AAT Level 2 Diploma in Accounting.
Following completion of the Level 2, you will be supported to progress onto the Level 3 Assistant Accountant Apprenticeship (18 months) and the Level 4 Professional Accountant Apprenticeship (17 months) to achieve your AAT qualifications.
Requirements
* 5 GCSEs 9-4 (A-C), including English and Maths
Benefits
* 201 hours annual leave (plus a company day and bank holidays)
* Company Pension
* Health Care Cash Plan
* Life Insurance
* Discount Portal
* Performance‑related pay uplifts
* 80 Hours Volunteering (first two years)
Security Clearance
This role requires Security Clearance (SC). If you do not currently hold SC, you will need to undergo, achieve, and maintain SC Clearance prior to commencing employment. The successful applicant must possess the permanent right to work in the UK and will be required to go through Government security clearance at BPSS Level and to obtain full Security Clearance (SC) in line with the United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) requirements.
To be eligible for full SC, you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 years. As part of the vetting process you will be asked to provide evidence of your identity, eligibility to work in the UK, time spent abroad over the last 5 years, as well as employment and/or educational history.
Closing Date
Our applications will close at 11:59pm on Thursday 12 February 2026. We will be in contact by the end of February 2026 with details of next steps.
PLEASE NOTE THAT ROLES MAY CLOSE EARLIER THAN THE ADVERTISED DEADLINE IF WE RECEIVE A HIGH NUMER OF APPLICATIONS. WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO APPLY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO AVOID MISSING OUT ON THIS OPPORTUNITY.
Equal Opportunities
Thales is an equal opportunities employer and diversity and inclusion are integral to the success of Thales.
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