At a Glance
- Tasks: Join our Finance Graduate Scheme and gain hands-on experience across various finance functions.
- Company: Mitchells & Butlers, a leading hospitality business with iconic brands.
- Benefits: £30,000 starting salary, annual bonus, 26 days holiday, and discounts at our venues.
- Other info: Limited places available; apply early to secure your spot!
- Why this job: Accelerate your finance career while making a real impact in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: 2:1 degree and ABB at A Level or equivalent qualifications required.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 30000 £ per year.
Start Date: October 2027
Number of Places on Offer: 1
Entry Criteria - To apply you'll need:
- To have achieved, or be on track to achieve, at least a 2:1 degree.
- ABB at A Level (or equivalent qualifications).
- To live within a reasonable commuting distance of our Retail Support Centre in Birmingham as the scheme will be placed here.
Ready to accelerate your Finance career? Hello! We're Mitchells & Butlers – one of the UK's leading hospitality businesses, with over 1,750 pubs, bars and restaurants across 19 iconic brands. Our Finance teams play a vital role in supporting performance, enabling growth and helping our brands thrive.
Our Commercial Finance Graduate Scheme is designed for graduates who want more than a typical first job. It's a three-year opportunity to build a broad understanding of Finance and the wider business, gain hands-on experience across different areas and work towards a professional accounting qualification of your choice – CIMA or ACCA.
This year, we're looking for just one exceptional Finance graduate to join us. We're looking for someone with the curiosity, resilience and drive to stand out from the crowd and become one of our future Finance leaders.
Why Mitchells & Butlers? We're a people-first business, and our Finance teams are at the heart of how we make good commercial decisions. From your first day, you'll be surrounded by supportive colleagues, approachable leaders and a graduate community who want to see you succeed.
You'll never be 'just the graduate.' You'll be trusted to contribute, encouraged to share your ideas and supported to develop through meaningful experiences that make a genuine difference to our business.
Along the way you'll experience the breadth of one of the UK's biggest hospitality businesses, working across different Finance teams, brands and business challenges. From reporting and performance to pricing, property, procurement and guest insights, you'll see how Finance helps shape the decisions that keep our business financially sound.
Who thrives on this scheme? From the outset, you'll be trusted with meaningful work, contributing to live projects that influence our financial performance and wider business. We'll expect you to think commercially, ask great questions, build relationships and take ownership of your development.
The scheme is fast-paced and challenging. You'll be stretched, supported and encouraged to step outside your comfort zone, because that's where the biggest learning happens. You'll thrive if you are:
- Ambitious and motivated to build a career in Finance.
- Curious, analytical and always looking to learn.
- Resilient when faced with new challenges.
- Commercially aware and interested in how businesses succeed through strong financial management.
- Someone who enjoys working collaboratively, solving problems and making a positive impact.
If that sounds like you, we'll give you everything you need to build an incredible Finance career.
Commercial Finance Graduate Scheme Overview
Our three-year Finance Graduate Programme is designed to develop future Finance leaders with a strong understanding of how financial insight drives business performance across Mitchells & Butlers. You'll gain hands-on experience supporting some of the UK's most recognisable pub, bar and restaurant brands, working alongside operations and marketing teams to help shape business decisions.
While studying towards a professional accounting qualification (CIMA or ACCA), you'll learn how Finance and Pricing influences strategy, improves profitability and supports growth across a large multi-site hospitality business.
Throughout the programme you'll develop expertise in:
- Commercial performance analysis and reporting
- Budgeting, forecasting and financial planning
- Business partnering with Operations and Marketing teams
- Understanding customer, brand and channel performance
- Pricing and promotion planning and performance analysis
Your journey will involve a number of placements, both within Finance and other departments. Every placement has a real business purpose. You'll work on meaningful projects and see first-hand how Finance helps drive commercial success across our brands.
By the end of the scheme, you'll have developed the technical expertise, commercial acumen and business partnering skills required to build a successful career in Finance at Mitchells & Butlers.
Your placements include:
- Induction (Week 1)
- Pub, Bar or Restaurant placement (Weeks 2–3)
- Various short placements throughout the M&B Brand Finance function (Months 2–12)
- End of year review (Month 13)
- Further placements throughout the M&B Brand Finance function and other departments (Months 13–25)
- End of year review (Month 26), followed by placements within Finance and other departments (Months 26–36)
This variety is one of the things that makes our scheme unique. You'll experience multiple brands, different business functions and a breadth of commercial opportunities, while building towards your professional accounting qualification.
We'll invest in your success. We know that exceptional graduates become exceptional leaders through the right balance of challenge and support. Throughout the programme you'll have:
- A dedicated line manager.
- A placement manager for every rotation.
- A graduate buddy.
- Access to our wider graduate community.
- Structured development workshops designed to enhance your skills and develop your leadership capabilities.
Our managers won't expect you to know everything, but they will expect you to bring energy, curiosity and a willingness to learn. In return, they'll coach, challenge and support you every step of the way.
By the end of the programme, you'll have built the confidence, commercial awareness, practical Finance experience and professional qualification progress to launch your career with Mitchells & Butlers.
As the programme is offered on a fixed-term contract, we'll support you in thinking about your next step throughout your time with us. Where permanent Finance opportunities become available, you'll be encouraged to start applying for roles that are right for you, with the aim of securing a permanent position and continuing your career with Mitchells & Butlers.
Hear from one of our graduates:
“M&B was a really approachable scheme; it was something where I could be really interested in finance, but I could relate to food and drink. Within the finance team, there are a lot of elements which I get to branch out into. I have experienced reporting, including sales and volumes performance, and Pricing, including the pricing cycle and menu development in my first year, and I'm excited to explore more.”
The scheme has given me the opportunity to understand how Finance supports a hospitality business while building my confidence and experience across different areas of the function. What I love most is the variety. You get to explore different parts of Finance, work with people across the business and see how the numbers connect to the decisions we make every day. Abbie, Finance Graduate
Benefits:
- £30,000 starting salary – a great start to your career.
- Annual bonus scheme – be rewarded for your success.
- 26 days’ holiday – plus the option to buy up to three additional weeks.
- Company pension – helping you plan for the future.
- 33% discount across all Mitchells & Butlers brands – enjoy more of what you love for less.
- 33% off Innkeeper’s Collection stays – great getaways at a great price.
- Extra 20% discount for up to five friends or family members – share the perks with those closest to you.
Ready to challenge yourself? If you're looking for an easy transition from university, this probably isn't the scheme for you. But if you're excited by taking on real responsibility, learning from experienced Finance professionals, building relationships across a diverse business and accelerating your career from day one, we'd love to hear from you.
Apply through our careers website to complete your online application. Our recruitment process includes:
- Online Application
- Initial Video Assessment
- Teams Interview with a Recruiter
- Online Psychometric Profile
- Final Stage interview with Senior Leaders
The small print: Our graduate schemes are incredibly popular and attract applications from high-calibre graduates across the UK. Places are limited, with just one place available on our Finance Graduate Scheme, so competition is high. Applications may close early once we've received sufficient interest.
If you're ready to challenge yourself, make an impact and begin your journey towards becoming one of our future Finance leaders, we'd love to hear from you. Applications close Monday 21st September.
Graduate in Birmingham employer: Finance
At Pan Pacific London, we pride ourselves on fostering a close-knit and supportive work culture that prioritises employee wellbeing and development. As a Payroll Administrator, you will enjoy a range of benefits including enhanced maternity and paternity policies, access to mental health support, and opportunities for career progression within our prestigious hotel group, all while working in the vibrant heart of London.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Graduate in Birmingham
✨Tap into Campus Networks
If you're still in uni, don’t forget to engage with your campus's career services and attend finance-related events. Banks often do presentations and recruitment drives on campus, so put yourself out there and make use of these opportunities to show off your passion for the field.
✨Get Certified
Consider pursuing relevant certifications like the CFA or ACCA while you’re job hunting. They not only beef up your CV but also connect you with professional bodies which can lead to networking opportunities and even job openings in banking and financial services.
✨Connect on Professional Platforms
Join finance-focused groups on platforms like LinkedIn and engage in discussions. This can really help you stand out from the crowd, allowing potential employers to see your knowledge and interest in industry trends. Plus, you might stumble upon job postings shared exclusively within the group.
✨Apply Directly and Be Proactive
Don’t shy away from reaching out directly to firms like Finance. Use their websites and apply through them, but also consider following up with a polite email to express your enthusiasm. Being proactive can make a huge difference in getting noticed in the competitive financial services sector.
We think you need these skills to ace Graduate in Birmingham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Numbers!:In the banking and financial services world, quantifiable achievements are key. Make sure your CV highlights your grades in relevant subjects, any financial certifications you hold, and specific projects where you've delivered measurable results. Employers love to see how your skills translate into real-world success.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Role:When applying for a full-time position, your cover letter should make a direct connection between your experience and the job description. Don't just state your enthusiasm for finance—dive into how your background in banking or financial analysis sets you apart. Let your passion shine through while being specific about what you can bring to Finance.
Include Relevant Financial Software Experience:If you've worked with financial modelling tools or software like Excel, SAP, or specific analytical tools during your studies or internships, bring that up! Highlighting your proficiency can really make your application pop and show you're ready to hit the ground running in a full-time role.
Research and Reflect:Before hitting that 'apply' button on Finance's website, do a little digging. Look up their recent projects, values, and culture. Reflecting their ethos in your application can make a huge difference and show you’re genuinely interested in being part of the team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Finance
✨Brush Up on Financial Analysis Skills
Make sure you're well-versed in financial concepts and analytical techniques relevant to banking and financial services. Get comfortable with tools like Excel for modelling or financial forecasting, as technical questions in this area are common during interviews with Finance.
✨Prepare for Case Studies
Expect to tackle case studies that demonstrate your problem-solving skills in real-world banking scenarios. Familiarise yourself with the types of problems you might face—think risk assessments or investment evaluations—and be ready to articulate your thought process clearly.
✨Show Your Passion for Finance
Since this is a full-time position, employers at Finance will be keen to see your genuine interest in finance. Be prepared to discuss recent industry trends or news articles that excite you, showcasing your enthusiasm and engagement with the field.
✨Network with Industry Professionals
Before your interview, reach out to current or former Finance employees on platforms like LinkedIn. They'll offer unique insights into the company's culture and the interview process, which can give us a delightful edge in showcasing a good fit for the team.
