Early Talent
Salary £35,000 (per annum)
Starts September 2025
Duration 2 years
Qualifications required Already obtained or are on course to achieve a 2:1 degree
Our customers expect their money to be well managed. We help our colleagues to make clear decisions while developing the right long-term financial strategy.
We tie together all of the Group’s financial activity so we can make, spend and invest money wisely. We manage our balance sheet, report on our financial performance, and make sure we’re making the right decisions for our customers.
Every area of our business is different – they each need their own skillsets, their own challenges, their own nuances. What better way to find out what working in a business area is like, than from the people who already work there?
See what Anouska thinks about their experience in Finance.
Speaker: Anouska Hodac-Nichols
Tell us about Finance
Anouska: So at a high level, finance is essentially tying together all of the groups’ financial activities and helping the bank make, spend and invest money more wisely.
What does the Finance function bring to the bank and our customers?
Anouska: One of our roles in finance is to drive better and smarter insights, and also to support the risk culture, which obviously has positive impacts through the business, and then flowing through to the service that the customer sees at the end.
What do you find most challenging about Finance?
Anouska: So we have to kind of make a brand new network within the area that we’re in, we might be exposed to different technologies, a different franchise focus, so there really is this really steep learning curve when you join a new placement, but I’d also say that’s also one of the really exciting parts about the graduate scheme.
What do you find most exciting about Finance?
Anouska: What I find most exciting about working in the finance function, it’s just the amount of exposure the graduates get to different areas of the bank through working with different finance teams. So currently in my retail banking finance placement, I’m getting great level of exposure to the different services and products offered by the retail bank, and actually understanding how the group makes money day to day.
Are you the sort of person who likes to use your analytical skills to see how we use data to make decisions to improve what matters most to our customers and investors? Are you interested in developing your relationship management skills with people across all levels of the bank? Do you want to find out about how we help our stakeholders manage their business, and support them in planning for the future? Our Finance Graduate programme could be your perfect match.
This is your chance to gain up to date knowledge on the ever-changing financial services environment, and to take part in our external reporting activities, providing insights and analysis to help with business decisions.
You’ll need to be within reasonable commuting distance to the location you apply to – all our Finance colleagues need to be in the office at least twice a week. During your programme, in addition to having 3 rotations lasting 9 months each in Edinburgh or London, you’ll undertake a 9 month placement in Manchester to broaden your experience across the various Finance teams.
Your go-to person for support and guidance during your first six months. They’ll be readily available to answer questions, provide advice and help you connect with peers.
They’ll be with you across your graduate journey, providing guidance, feedback and support to help you achieve your goals and develop your skills.
They’ll work alongside you to set your goals, offer feedback and support your growth.
Your graduate colleagues are on the journey with you and there will be plenty of opportunities to connect and support each other.
Over three years, you’ll develop a deep understanding of how the bank is run, while completing an industry recognised qualification – ICAS. After three years, you’ll have gained excellent relationship management skills, honed by managing multiple stakeholders from a range of businesses.
To get an idea of where this programme could lead, previous graduates have gone on to roles in Finance such as:
Find a role that’s right for you
A work scenarios assessment
A problem solving, numerical and reasoning skills assessment
Record your response to questions about experience and potential
A full day of virtual activities
Feedback on the outcome of your application
Explore our step by step application guide for top tips and advice to support your success.
We all bring our own uniqueness to work, and why shouldn’t we. We’re encouraged to do so. Meet our colleagues and find out a little more about the people you could be working with.
