Register Your Interest - Finance Graduate Scheme 2027

Spend 2 years on our Finance Graduate scheme and learn all about periodic management accounting activities including balance sheet reconciliations, variance analysis and reporting. Throughout independent working, you’ll learn how to excel in high pressured environment and learn all about the processes our Finance teams work with to keep our business going.

If understanding how you impact the wider business matters to you.

You matter to us.

What you’ll be doing

Get involved in business, partnering with non-finance teams, as well as learning the main principles of finance including management accounting, project accounting, business planning and helping to produce a business case. Learn about business policy and regulations, the accounting processes, finance systems, finance reporting and accounts payable and receivable. You’ll also complete your certificate level of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) qualification and sit your first professional exam with CIMA.

The first 4 months will be based at Milton Keynes, completing mini placements in specialist finance teams. The following 3 months will be spent in Manchester with the Accounting Services and the Shared Services teams, where you’ll learn about transactional accounting, before returning to Milton Keynes to complete a six-month corporate placement.

In the second year, you’ll spend time in one of our regional offices including Scotland and Wales. You’ll use the experience you’ve gained from projects, the understanding of transactional accounting and the knowledge of policies and procedures to add real value to the business areas you’ll be working in.

Who you are matters

You’ll need at least a 2:1 in any degree subject. A-level Maths is desirable but not essential. We’re more interested in you aligning with our values and behaviours, having a curiosity for numbers, and a keenness to succeed.

We look for people with an analytical mind and a flair for financial planning. You’ll be enthusiastic about your work, enjoy collaborating with others and have the skills and ability to communicate with a variety of different audiences.

What you’ll get out of it

Due to the experience you’ll get on the scheme, graduates are often in demand to complete high-profile projects for senior leaders. There could be opportunities to develop your knowledge through external secondments. At the end of your 2-year scheme, you would be eligible for Finance Business Partner roles, earning a salary in the range of £43,588 – £49,037.

Throughout the scheme, you’ll complete the government’s level 7 apprentice programme and receive Associate status with the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA). Once qualified, you’ll be designated as Associate Chartered Management Accountant (ACMA) and Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA).

Our scheme has been recognised by CIMA for outstanding exam performance with graduates often securing top ten positions in the world. Past graduates have gone on to become members of the Finance Talent Development programme to further their own professional development.

About Network Rail

We are Network Rail. We matter to millions. We design stations, we repair tracks, we code software, we do finance, we do much more than you think.

As one of our graduates you’ll enjoy immense variety and gain unrivalled experience across a range of roles, projects, and types of work. You’ll have the opportunity to immerse yourself in all aspects of our industry and either find out where your interests and talents lie or further develop your career in an area you’re already passionate about.

The scale and scope of our organisation and the opportunities we offer is huge. But despite our size, you’ll find we work as a close, supportive team. And as one of many graduates on our scheme, you’ll not only be able to define your own career direction, you’ll also be able to share your growing experience and knowledge with our wider network of graduates - potentially building friendships and professional relationships that will last a lifetime.

We view our graduates as our future. So, whether you’re interested in a career in Civil, Mechanical or Electrical Engineering or Business, you’ll find that everyone, at every level is happy to offer you their time, support, and advice. Because we want you to succeed. That’s also why we offer amazing access to training, development, and further qualifications. All you have to do is ask us. And if we can help you to advance your knowledge and your career, we will.

Choose a graduate career with us and you’re choosing a career with real meaning. You’ll be part of a large and growing UK organisation that genuinely cares about its people and the world around us. We’re driven by service, not profit. And we want to create a safe and sustainable future for everyone. We matter to millions.

Join us and you could too.

Register Your Interest

To be the first to know once applications open, register your interest today!