We’re 1st Central, a market-leading insurance company utilising smart data and technology at pace. Rapid growth has been based on giving our 1.4 million customers exactly what they want: great value insurance with an excellent service. And that’s the same for our colleagues too; we won Insurance Employer of the Year at the British Insurance Awards 2024 and our Glassdoor score is pretty mega too!
Ambitious team players can make their mark here…sound like you? You'll fit right in. We currently have an exciting opportunity for a Graduate to join our Finance team in Haywards Heath, West Sussex.
Joining us on this 3-year scheme, you'll tackle exciting challenges and gain valuable, hands-on experience right from the start. You'll undertake rotations within a wide range of Finance disciplines such as: Financial Accounts, Financial Planning & Analysis, Tax, Commercial Finance, Finance Business Partnering and Operations.
You'll study towards, and successfully achieve, a professional Accountancy Qualification during the scheme, we're talking ACA, ACCA or CIMA. From managing daily accounting tasks to handling quarterly, monthly, and year-end responsibilities, you’ll dive deep into the intricacies of financial management. Plus, you’ll gain insight into the bigger picture, learning how 1st Central stays on top of its financial health.
To be eligible for this role, you'll need to:
- Hold a degree qualification - it doesn’t have to be in maths or finance, you just need to have a real interest in numbers, finance and accounting!
- Be prepared to work and study simultaneously to achieve relevant professional qualifications - we're talking ACA, ACCA or CIMA
- Be self-motivated and enthusiastic, with an organised and pro-active approach - you'll fit right in
- Have the right to work in the UK for the duration of the 3-year programme. Sponsorship cannot be provided.
We're big on hybrid working and love to mix it up, you'll spend most of your time working from home, with 1 day a week in the office, it's great for collaboration and your learning! But if you prefer to be in the office more, that's good with us too.
What's involved:
- Drives self-development including the achievement of a professional accounting qualification.
- Develop all-round knowledge of a leading UK financial function, including:
- Assisting with the production of technical and non-technical accounts, including the preparation of monthly management accounts for P&L, balance sheet and cashflows.
- Performing key reconciliations across the balance sheet and cashflow transactions, investigation of reconciliation deficiencies, ensuring appropriate escalation and business engagement is achieved.
- Timely preparation of key schedules, returns and submissions required for direct and indirect tax.
- Supporting the annual, quarterly, and monthly timetables and process to create and monitor the expenses annual 5 Year financial plan, annual budget, quarterly forecasts, and monthly variance analysis.
- Providing financial support and challenge as part of the Business Partnering Team for areas across the business, including cost benefit analysis for initiatives and reporting on financial performance for entity Managers, Boards and Committees.
- Assisting with the production of models and estimates to assess the risks faced by the business to calculate capital requirements, reserving estimates to pay future claims liabilities, cash levels required to meet ongoing liabilities and dividend payments.
- Assisting the Finance Operations Shared Services centre to ensure transactional processing is delivered within SLA’s.
- Supporting the ongoing review and continuous improvement of financial controls, including investigations, review and recommendations for control strengthening activities.
- Work towards a permanent accounting professional or technical expert role within the company.
- Responsibility for maintaining department risk registers (as applicable), providing evidence and commentary for controls, updates for Mitigation Actions and maintaining control matrices and attestations. Also, to ensure that your employees are aware of their responsibility to identify and report risk.
- Comply with the requirements, and act in accordance with, the Group Code of Conduct and Fitness and Propriety policies at all times.
- Ensure compliance with Company Policies, Values and guidelines and other relevant standards/ regulations at all times, including compliance with the Senior Managers Certification Regime (SMCR) Conduct Rules
Experience, skills and qualifications:
- Minimum 2:1 degree in a numerate or business discipline is preferred
- MS Office tools (in particular Excel)
- Communication skills, both verbal and written
- Time management and organisation skills
- Analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to adopt a logical approach to solving problems
- Numerical skills
- Understanding of motor insurance products and the motor insurance industry after appropriate training
- Understanding of the business objectives and operations
Behaviours
- Logical thinker with solid reasoning ability
- Self-motivated and enthusiastic, with an organised and pro-active approach
- Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team
- A flexible approach and positive attitude
- Emphasis on attention to detail and accuracy
- Strives to drive business improvements to contribute to the success of the business
Click on apply, we can’t wait to hear from you!
Closing date for applications: 10th April 2026
What can we do for you?
People first. Always. We’re passionate about our colleagues and know the best people deserve an extraordinary working environment. We owe it to them so that’s what we offer. Our workplaces are energetic, inspirational, supportive. To get a taste of the advantages you’ll enjoy, take a look at all our perks in full here.
Intrigued? Our Talent team can tell you everything you need to know about what we want and what we’re offering, so feel free to get in touch.
