Join our three-year finance programme and you’ll experience three varied rotations, supporting different accounting teams and developing your core finance skills. It’s a great way to understand the commercial complexity of our work and gain a clear idea of which financial area you want to continue your career in.
You’ll gain a full range of experience on a series of projects, along with developing the core skills expected of a finance professional. These might include preparing financial information for the Board, working with senior managers to develop budgets and forecasts or supporting the delivery of Hastings’ project portfolio and business developments. At the same time, you’ll have all the support you need to gain your ACCA qualification and develop into one of our future financial leaders.
Where you’ll be based
We’re committed to hybrid working, so you’ll need to be able to work in our Bexhill or London office at least eight days a month with the option and flexibility of working from home on other days.
We understand that your first graduate role should be more than just a job. Starting your career at Hastings Direct gives you the chance to make your mark in an ambitious, rapidly growing and digitally driven business. A company that genuinely cares about you as an individual, respects your opinions and listens to your ideas. One where you can make a positive difference, because you’re encouraged to look for growth opportunities and achieve your full potential.
We aim to give you the experience and technical knowledge to progress your career. We’ll provide you with a nurturing and challenging environment to help expand your horizons, develop new skills and make new connections.
Most of all, you’ll find all the support you need, from people at every level, so you can fulfil your ambitions. From managers who are approachable and supportive, to colleagues who are always ready to help each other out. In short, you’ll have all you need to launch a successful career.
On the Finance Graduate Programme, you’ll build your specialist knowledge and expertise in three 12-month rotations across six accounting teams.
You’ll be helping to control the accounting ledger, and balance sheet, posting journals, recording transactions and reconciliations.
Supporting on the delivery of our group statutory annual and interim reports to the shareholder along with annual accounts. Focusing also on our accounting policies and liaising with our auditors.
You’ll help generate budgets and forecasts for our Finance Business Partners, supporting decision making by providing insightful financial analysis.
You’ll be helping to produce monthly board reports to support strategic forecasting and planning.
You’ll help ensure the Group is tax compliant.
Modelling core financial outputs, scenarios and benefits cases.
We are proud to be a Platinum ACCA Approved Employer in Trainee Development, which means the ACCA recognises the learning opportunities we provide colleagues working towards their qualification.
This approval gives you access to a special exemption process that means we can support you with a simplified process for your qualification.
We’re also Platinum ACCA Approved in Professional Development – showing our commitment to continuing your professional development once qualified.
And there’s much more! You’ll be enrolled on our early careers development programme, providing you with a suite of bespoke sessions which develop the strengths we know graduates need to be successful at Hastings Direct. You’ll also have the opportunity to network and meet others in graduate programmes across the business. Our inclusive, supportive culture means you’ll have a strong support network around you. From leaders to mentors, buddies to our Early Careers team, you’ll always have someone you can talk to about anything.
We look for a combination of technical and personal skills, so you'll need:
Qualifications
A degree, achieved in the last three years in any discipline (Finance, Business or Accounting would be advantageous)
Interests
Passion for finance and numbers
Enthusiasm and drive to develop your skillset
Skills
Commercial acumen and problem solving skills
Self-awareness, you’re clear on your strengths and development areas and can build a well-recognised personal brand around your strengths
Agility and ability to multi-task
Able to challenge the norm, consider a range of views and drive and embed change
Can lead on deliverables and take ownership of outputs
Behaviours
Ability to connect at all levels and work collaboratively
Contribute to the conversation – be it with your peers or senior stakeholders
Able to absorb knowledge and apply it in a meaningful way
Within my first couple of months at Hastings Direct, I have been working in the Financial Planning & Analysis team. A key experience for me is working on the Board report, this allows me exposure to all areas of the business, collaboration with key stakeholders, but also learning how to present complex financial data in a clear and effective way.
As part of the finance graduate programme, I am also fortunate enough to be enrolled in studying towards my ACCA Level 7 qualification. This enables me to build on my understanding from prior studies, and the opportunity to apply these skills in real life situations, supporting my professional development.
After each stage, we’ll let you know if you’ve made it to the next one and what to expect. If you haven’t, we’ll be happy to give you feedback.
Select the appropriate programme on our careers site. Click apply, create an account, answer the required questions, and submit your CV.
After completing your application, you’ll receive a link to our online assessment. The assessments vary by programme and will focus on your cognitive ability and role fit.
We will review your application and assessment results to ensure you meet the criteria for moving to the next stage.
The activity will depend on the programme. It aims to understand your practical knowledge and skills through an online video interview, technical assessment, or both.
From producing case studies and giving presentations, to group and role-specific tasks, this is your chance to shine.
If you’re successful, we’ll offer you a place on one of our programmes and call you to talk through the details.
Absolutely! If you meet our eligibility requirements, everyone is welcome. We suggest that you also speak with your Leader to help support with your application.
Unfortunately, we are currently unable to sponsor visas for our graduate programmes. You will be asked to provide evidence of your right to work in the UK during the selection process, and you must maintain and be able to demonstrate your right to work throughout the duration of your employment with the Company.
If you do have immigration permission (e.g. a graduate visa), this visa must cover you for the two or three-year programme and you’ll need to provide evidence of your course completion from your university before your starting date.
Yes, however throughout the recruitment process we may give you the advice that you're better suited to another programme - we always have your best interests at heart.
Yes, if you can demonstrate your suitability for the role through relevant work experience, projects or modules throughout your degree or additional skills and interests.
Yes – age is just a number although we do ask that applicants have graduated within the past two years or are due to graduate this academic year.
Yes, so long as you meet the minimum requirements for the programme you’d like to apply to, and we do ask that applicants have graduated within the past two years.
This will depend on the programme you are joining. We do typically ask that you are within commutable distance to one of our offices so you benefit from in-person support when you join, further information on which office can be found within the job advert.
We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible. We can make adjustments and offer support throughout the recruitment process to ensure that you have the best chance of success. Furthermore, if you are made an offer, we can then discuss with you the adjustments you might need to get on with the job and develop your career.
Please refer to the recruitment process to find out more about the different stages during the recruitment process which will help you identify whether you will need any support or adjustments at any stage. Please contact us to discuss any support you may require at recruitmentteam@hastingsdirect.com.
Adjustments vary depending on the specific needs or circumstances of the individual and the best way to identify the most suitable adjustments is for us to speak with you, which will allow us to determine what adjustments would be most appropriate.
Examples can include additional time, breaks, adjustable font sizes and subtitles on videos.
Please contact us to discuss any support you may require at recruitmentteam@hastingsdirect.com.
We’ve moved back to face-to-face assessment centres. You’ll be asked to attend an in-person assessment centre, in one of our offices in either Bexhill (East Sussex) or Leicester.
We will advise you of the scheduled dates for your programme nearer the time so that you can keep the date free.
Our early careers programmes start in September each year.
If you have immigration permission that will allow you to complete your two or three year programme, you must provide evidence of your course completion from your university before your starting date.
Are you ready for a graduate programme with a fast growing, digitally-focused insurance company? A business with huge ambitions to be the UK’s best and biggest digital insurance provider?
An organisation that focuses on profitable growth that’s truly sustainable, by doing the right thing for colleagues, customers, the community and the company – our 4Cs? Somewhere that celebrates openness and diversity by encouraging you to be yourself? And was named the UK’s #1 Best Big Company to Work for 2024?
Are you ready for a future with Hastings Direct?
Applications for our 2025 intake has now closed – keep an eye out for our 2026 recruitment campaign!
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