Finance Apprentice – Level 2 Accountant Assistant, Level 3 Assistant

2026 Finance Apprentice – Level 2 Accountant Assistant, with progression to Level 3 Assistant Accountant and Level 4 Professional Accountant

Thales – Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

Start Date:

07 September 2026
Salary: £24,000 per annum
Employee type:
Permanent
Working

Schedule:

Monday – Friday, 37 hours a week (8 hours Monday – Thursday, 5 hours Friday)

Your role is an apprentice position that will provide you with a structured learning path and hands‑on experience in finance. You will be part of a corporate team based in Belfast and will gain exposure to a wide range of finance activities, developing a broad professional network.

• Liaising with stakeholders to understand, challenge and report overheads and headcount.
• Providing accurate, timely and reliable overhead and cost information and analysis to senior management.
• Utilising Thales tools to develop internal reporting and ensure consistency across the UK.
• Supporting cost‑centre reviews.
• Assisting in the budgeting cycle where required.
• Managing data cleanse activities including balance sheet reconciliation.
• Supporting projects in maintaining forecast invoicing dates and improving cash forecasting.
• Supporting Project Managers and Business Controllers in timely cost transfers.
• Assisting in Project Closure activities.
• Ad hoc tasks, reporting and analysis as required by the Financial Controller/Director.
• Supporting preparation and distribution of monthly financial results, ensuring tight deadlines are achieved.
• Supporting monthly overhead, headcount and Direct Labour Utilisation (DLU) reviews.
• Supporting the preparation and review of monthly Cost By Nature (CBN) and Functional Cost Report (FCR) reports.
• Support the overhead Multi‑Year Budget (MYB) process.
• Support the overhead reforecasting process.
• Provide information on headcount evolution.
• Provide specific analytical reports to cost‑centre managers.
• Support the preparation and posting of journal vouchers, including accruals, prepayments and corrections.

Apprentices start at Level 2 Accountant Assistant with The Apprentice Academy. Over 15 months they will learn day‑to‑day accounting activities and, upon completion, achieve an AAT Level 2 Diploma in Accounting. After Level 2 they will progress to Level 3 Assistant Accountant (18 months) and Level 4 Professional Accountant (17 months) to attain further AAT qualifications.

• 5 GCSEs at grades 9–4 (A–C), including English and Maths.

• 201 hours annual leave (plus a company day and bank holidays).
• Company Pension.
• Health Care Cash Plan.
• Life Insurance.
• Discount Portal.
• Performance‑related pay uplifts.
• 80 hours of volunteering in the first two years.

All roles are subject to security restrictions. Successful candidates must possess permanent right to work in the UK and will undergo Government security clearance at BPSS Level and obtain full Security Clearance (SC) under UKSV requirements before starting. Prior SC clearance is advantageous but not necessary; it will be required prior to commencement.

Applications close  pm on Thursday 12 February 2026. Roles may close earlier if a high volume of applications is received. Applications will be reviewed in February 2026 with further steps communicated thereafter.

Thales is an equal opportunities employer. Diversity and inclusion are integral to the success of Thales.

Thales employs 80,000 staff across 68 countries. Our mobility policy supports career development at home and abroad.

Not Applicable

Full-time

Accounting/Auditing and Finance

Aviation and Aerospace Component Manufacturing and Defense and Space Manufacturing