Finance and Accounting Graduate Programme

St. James's Place (SJP) is a leading Wealth Management company which works in partnership to plan, grow and protect our clients' financial futures. We deliver personalised, face‑to‑face financial advice to our clients, who trust us to manage their money to reach their goals.

The Finance and Accounting Graduate Programme within our Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Function is a three‑year programme and offers an excellent grounding in the fundamental principles of Finance and Accounting whilst studying for your Accountancy qualification (either ACA or ACCA). Based in our offices in Cirencester, you will rotate across the Function supporting our qualified Accountants and experienced Finance professionals having exposure to multiple core areas within the Division.

This is a fantastic opportunity to gain exposure to the breadth of all aspects of Finance in one of the UK's largest wealth management organisations before specialising later in your career. All graduate positions are offered on a permanent contract. Upon successful completion of the programme, individuals continue in their roles within the organisation, equipped with the experience and insight gained throughout the Graduate Programme.

• Rotation across Finance including Financial Insights (FP&A), Reporting, Expense Business Partnering, Group Tax, Treasury and Partner Finance.
• Preparation of complex working papers.
• Involvement in key projects for the Division.
• Involvement in preparation and delivery of core deliveries for the Division, including budget considerations, business partnering, management and financial accounts, tax returns.
• Partake in relevant monthly entity review meetings ("pre RtN") and preparation of numbers as required.
• Understanding and appreciation of financial controls.
• Identify efficiencies in processes and assist in implementing change.
• Support ad-hoc projects and investigations as required.
• Assist in the timely and accurate delivery of reporting, directly impacting the SJP Group and reporting to external regulators.
• Challenge and develop key processes and delivering improvements driving efficiencies.

• Recent graduate in a finance or accounting‑related degree subject with a strong desire to become a qualified accountant.
• Strong awareness of finance terminology and application.
• Ability to communicate accounting principles/judgements to a non‑accountant.
• Interest in the external environment relevant to the company.
• Competent in Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint.
• Demonstrates good understanding of each relevant entity and how it interacts with the wider Group.
• Challenges processes and outcomes and suggests improvements and remedies, taking a lead in implementation.
• Applies judgement and escalates/questions as appropriate.
• Strong communication and written skills.
• Good time management and organisational skills.
• Develops relationships across departments/third parties.
• Works independently on assigned tasks.
• Manages own workload and deliverables.
• Proactively seeks out opportunities/development.
• Ability to self‑review work.

You’ll be required in the office at least three days per week and may be required to travel to our other offices around the UK or to our third‑party outsource provider offices also in the UK. The majority of our Finance Function is based in Cirencester, Gloucestershire where you will be expected to be based for the bulk of your time. To be eligible for this vacancy, all candidates must have the right to work in the UK. Because this programme is due to last for three years, if your right to work is based on a Visa that will expire before the end of the programme, it may not be possible to employ you in the role. At present this programme does not meet the minimum salary thresholds required for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship under the UK Home Office guidelines. As a result, we are unable to accept applications from those requiring visa sponsorship in order to complete the programme.