Join our three-year finance programme and you’ll experience four 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 high profile projects. 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 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 four nine-month rotations across six accounting teams.
You’ll be helping to control the accounting ledger, balance sheet and P&L.
You may support the delivery of annual reports and accounts, or the maintenance of accounting policies.
You’ll help generate budgets and forecasts and support 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’ll give you all the professional support you need to become ACCA qualified, including broad financial experience, paid study leave and a strong support network. You’ll also be working for a company that is a Platinum ACCA Approved Employer!
You’ll also 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.
And 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. From your future career at Hastings Direct, to where to get a coffee!
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
In my first month at Hastings Direct as a Finance graduate, the highlight has been my role in the Financial Planning & Analysis team within the Management Reporting and Planning function. Working on the Board report has been a standout experience, allowing me to collaborate with experienced professionals and learn to present complex financial data clearly.
The inclusive culture and focus on work-life balance make Hastings a pleasant place to work. If you're passionate about finance and want to kickstart your career in a supportive and dynamic environment, Hastings Direct is worth considering – it’s given me a smooth transition into the corporate world. I'm excited about the growth opportunities ahead and contributing to the company's success.
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.
Choose the right programme for you, then just answer a couple of basic application questions and attach your CV.
We’ll review your application to see if you have what we’re looking for.
Your chance to show us how you evaluate, reason and conceptualise, spot patterns, solve problems and use your numerical skills to draw conclusions.
An interview covering why you want to join us, with some technical questions.
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 3 years.
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 three 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 at either Bexhill, Leicester or London.
We will advise you of the scheduled dates for your programme nearer the time so that you can keep the date free.
Each programme will start in September 2024.
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 insurer?
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 ranked 4th in the Inclusive Top 50 UK Employers List 2023/24?
Are you ready for a future with Hastings Direct?
Recruitment for our 2025 programmes will open on 8 January 2025.
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