Graduate finance jobs

Financial services are one of the main drivers of the UK economy, with accounting and finance graduate jobs available across a range of sectors - get the lowdown on the areas you can go into, the salaries on offer and where to find opportunities

What are finance graduate jobs?

As financial services are in such high demand, banks, insurers, and businesses in all sectors seek graduates with the right finance skills and certifications to fill key roles. These include those with a degree or expertise in key areas such as accounting, business intelligence, or data analytics.

Accountancy, banking and finance is a vast and highly regulated field, with plenty of opportunity for development and progression for those willing to study professional qualifications.

What areas of finance can I work in?

Employment opportunities can be grouped into the following five fields.

Accounting jobs

Vital to the running of any company, those involved in accountancy will analyse financial records and provide reliable information. Whether you'd like to work on the financial or management accounting side, you can specialise in a number of areas.

Discover the steps you need to take to become an accountant and consider taking a recognised accounting course.

Another option is to secure an accounting apprenticeship.

Banking and finance jobs

The sector's biggest employers, banks and building societies enable individuals and businesses to manage their money and access products such as loans and mortgages.

Financial planning jobs focus on providing advisory services and supporting people and organisations in planning their financial futures.

Investment companies' key functions include performance measurement, investment support, risk assessment, data management, trading, and stockbroking.

Regarding graduate banking jobs, you could work in a front, middle or back-office role, providing products and services to clients.

Explore the top UK banking apprenticeships.

Insurance roles

Employees in this area work closely with other professionals, including doctors, lawyers and fire officers, to gather evidence, assess risk and resolve claims against insurance policies.

As an insurance professional, you'll manage the potential financial risks posed to companies and individuals. There are many insurance products and types, so various roles are on offer.

Pensions careers

Pensions professionals research the likely performance of funds and look to mitigate financial risk and liability for their clients.

The effective management of wealth, pensions, and other financial products is imperative for those responsible for safeguarding the financial futures of their clients, employees, and investors.

Employee benefits consultant
Pensions manager
Pensions consultant
Pensions technician

Tax jobs

Tax affects all individuals and businesses, and it's often regarded as a subset of accounting. Due to an endless stream of new legislation, it never stands still. Therefore, developing an in-depth knowledge of the subject is important when pursuing a tax career.

Tax specialists can either work as advisers to their employer's clients or take up governmental positions.

Why work in finance?

Graduates working in accountancy, banking and finance professions can expect:

to work long hours in a fast-paced and high-pressure office environment
salaries to increase rapidly if you gain professional qualifications
substantial bonuses
good opportunities for progression
employee benefits, including joining-up bonuses, private healthcare, pension plans, and sports club membership.

Which financial skills do employers want?

Graduate recruiters in the finance sector typically require candidates with:

a logical mindset
a real interest in finance
attention to detail and accuracy
self-confidence
the ability to work under pressure.

Finance professionals are also expected to develop a digital mindset and be ready to learn, unlearn and relearn to thrive in a rapidly changing business world.

According to the Hays UK Salary & Recruiting Trends 2023 guide, 90% of the accountancy and finance employers questioned had experienced skills shortages within the past year.

Communication and interpersonal skills (63%) were the top soft skills employers needed, showing that financial ability alone isn't sufficient to forge a successful career in the industry. Over half (52%) also wanted their finance staff to be able to adopt change. See the skills recruiters are looking for.

Robert Half's 2025 Finance Salary Guide revealed that over half (52%) of finance and accounting recruitment managers plan to hire permanent staff, with a further 40% looking for people to work on specific projects.

Accounting, financial control, and reporting professionals were found to be the most in-demand roles, followed by those with automation, business intelligence tools, and data analytics skills.

How much do finance graduates get paid?

According to High Fliers' The Graduate Market in 2024, recruiters featured in The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers offer average starting salaries of:

£35,000 in banking and finance
£37,500 in accounting and professional services
£55,000 in investment banking.

Investment bankers are among the highest-paying finance jobs - so discover how to get into investment banking.

How do I get a graduate job in finance?

This will depend on the specialist role and the working environment. Companies will generally accept applications from graduates with degrees in subjects spanning a range of disciplines. However, you'll still be expected to demonstrate high-level numerical and analytical skills.

Most large employers running graduate schemes and work placements will ask for a 2:1 or above and may also specify a certain number of UCAS points or minimum grades at A-level.

Vocational finance qualifications in areas such as tax and investment management may be viewed by recruiters as more important than a degree. It's important to know that these recognised awards can often be gained once you're working in the industry, either through part-time study or distance learning.

For a career in accountancy, you may be looking to work within a company's finance department or provide financial services to clients. One route to take is to seek a training contract with an employer while you study for an appropriate accounting qualification.

Dedicated finance graduate schemes offer a clear pathway into various finance careers, with many placements resulting in permanent positions. They can also sometimes provide an opportunity to gain a recognised professional qualification from an awarding body such as the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA).

While larger finance employers, including retail banks such as Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds, and the NatWest Group, typically take graduates on to gain valuable experience across their main business functions, graduate jobs are available at the local level.

Opportunities for finance specialists exist across other job sectors, with the following brands taking on graduates through entry-level jobs and graduate schemes:

Boots
Centrica
Nestlé
Network Rail
Tesco
Virgin Media O2.

Consider how to get a job.

Where can I find graduate finance jobs?

You'll find details on the main graduate employers' websites, with vacancies also advertised by specialist recruitment agencies. You can also try applying for work speculatively, especially with SMEs.

It's also worth making the most of your university's student services by attending careers fairs, either virtually or in person, and discussing your options with advisers.

If you're a university student, you could consider a finance internship, typically available during the summer months, to get relevant experience.

Alternatively, securing an accounting or banking apprenticeship after leaving school or college would enable you to study for a recognised qualification (up to degree or Masters level at Levels 6/7) while entering the world of work and earning a wage.

Find out more

Get an overview of the UK’s financial sector.
Discover what you can do with a degree in accounting and finance.
Read about applying for jobs.