M&G plc
Finance Analyst Apprentice
At M&G our purpose is to help people manage and grow their savings and investments, responsibly. As a business, we are continuing to take steps towards a sustainable future, delivering better long-term solutions for our customers and clients and identifying new opportunities to make a positive impact for our environment and communities. To help us achieve our vision we’re looking for exceptional people who live our values of care and integrity and who can inspire others; embrace change; deliver results and keep it simple.
We will consider flexible working arrangements for any of our roles and also offer work place accommodations to ensure you have what you need to effectively deliver in your role.
The Role:
We are looking for a numerically talented and highly motivated apprentice who is interested in pursuing an accounting career within the insurance industry
The successful applicant will primarily support the day to day running of the accounting team within the Insurance Centre of Excellence. The team is responsible for production of quarterly financial reporting on various metrics and annual accounts and regulatory reports.
We are also responsible for end to end oversight of various providers of financial data required to manage the financial position of two insurance companies. Excellent controls are a vital part of financial reporting and you will help maintain process and control documentation. The team is also involved in various projects and there will be opportunities to be involved in system migrations and continuous improvement activity, working closely with our IT colleagues.
The apprentice will also have an opportunity to learn more about insurance products, different asset classes and develop an awareness of actuarial liabilities.
The M&G plc Financial Reporting & Control team within Finance supports and enables the business to grow successfully. To support this, we have five key priorities:
- Build exceptional talent – attract and retain the best talent in the industry, with advanced skills and capability and diverse perspectives
- More valued relationships – deepen partnership with the business to support growth ambitions
- Deliver external reporting – produce leading financial and non-financial reporting within a reduced working day timetable
- Strengthen our controls – strengthen the risk and control culture, with clear ownership and responsibilities, enhanced monitoring and management of risks, and deliver the control improvement plan
- Transform our function – embed ‘Centres of Excellence’ model, clarify roles and responsibilities and simplify governance to enable effective decision making
This Junior Finance Analyst role will sit within the Insurance Financial Reporting & Controls team and contribute to the achievement of one or more of these outcomes in order to deliver the vision for Finance.
Key Responsibilities for this role:
Your daily duties may include:
- Monthly reconciliation and oversight of financial operational reconciliations
- Preparing working files in advance of quarterly reporting
- Maintenance of mappings for financial reporting and liaising with IT teams for any updates required
- Running data loads and trial balances to complete sub entity accounting for inclusion in quarterly reporting outputs
- Assisting with change activity which impacts financial reporting production
- Providing ad hoc support to wider team as and when required
- You will also get exposure to a number of different projects and initiatives within the team, providing accounting support where applicable
- A chance to participate and contribute in regular team meetings. The regular team meetings offer the team a chance to chair the meetings, present new ideas, challenge the status quo and discuss priorities for the week ahead
Key Knowledge, Skills & Experience:
- Good and confident communication skills, both written and verbal
- High level of accuracy and good attention to detail
- Structured approach to work and very well organised. Ability to prioritise and meet deadlines
- Basic understanding of MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Good numerical skills
- A proactive team player who is confident about working with others but also independently and can promptly escalate any issue and work remotely where required
- Logical and analytical approach coupled with intelligence, passion and a drive to learn
- Ability to formulate own opinions by thinking analytically about problems
We are looking for a confident individual with a positive outlook, can-do attitude, and aspiration to want to progress.
We are looking for someone that looks at problems and situations differently – how can this be done better?
The successful applicant will have powerful desire to learn and a genuine interest in Accounting.
Applicants who succeed with us are self-motivated, capable of building and maintaining relationships and work effectively as part of a team.
The applicant would ideally have an inquisitive nature and be curious. The successful applicant should feel confident to use their own initiative and work alone where required.
Qualification Required:
As a minimum, candidate will have either 5 National 5s with Maths and English grades 4+ and 2 Highers with good grades in Maths and English (A-C).
Future Prospects:
Upon completion of the apprenticeship, there may be opportunities for career progression within our Finance Centre of Excellence team or other relevant departments based on performance, business needs, and available opportunities. . If recruited into a permanent role, the individual will follow the career progression applicable to the specific role/department.
Training Provided:
As a Finance Analyst Apprentice with M&G, you will undertake the Accounting SCQF Level 6 Apprenticeship. The apprenticeship will be delivered through a blend of live online learning, pre-recorded lectures, and face to face inductions and masterclasses
This is a fixed term contract for 12 months upon which the business may decide to retain, subject to the Apprentice performance, headcount, and available funding. If recruited into a permanent role, the individual will follow the career progression applicable to the specific role/department.
We may seek to close vacancies early if we receive a high level of applications. Please do apply early.
We have a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture at M&G plc, underpinned by our policies and our employee-led networks who provide networking opportunities, advice and support for the diverse communities our colleagues represent. Regardless of gender, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, nationality or disability we are looking to attract, promote and retain exceptional people. We also welcome those who take part in military service and those returning from career breaks.
