Graduate - Finance

HS2 is Britains new highspeed railway connecting London and Birmingham. It is the first new intercity railway to be built north of London in more than a century.

At HS2 we offer a threeyear rotational graduate finance programme that is designed to provide graduates with theopportunity to learn grow and developacross various areas of finance.

We have two graduate opportunities available within ourFinance Team based at our Snow Hill Offices in Birmingham. These roles offer the chance to undertake placements attend events and participate in activities activities at other HS2 offices/sites therefore travel will be required.

The Finance Team partner with the business to balance funding constraints to schedule needs with financial control which is at the heart of HS2 decisionmaking. The team is responsible for developing and manging the entire endtoend financial cycle providing strategic advice and insight at both corporate and project level creating and managing a framework of financial governance controls and delegations; and for the processing and management of daytoday transactions including prompt payment of invoices.

Graduate placement opportunities will be available across the four pillars of our finance function including but not limited to:

Financial Control:

Financial Governance and Treasury: Managing and maintaining the framework for financial governance controls and delegations. Including the management of our financial system (Oracle) submission of tax returns operating the Purchase to Pay process and delegated authorities implementation of HS2s travel policy and expenses claims and HS2s banking and treasury.

Financial Accounting: Maintaining financial control through ensuring adherence to the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) regulations and internal governance policies. The Financial Accounting team are responsible for keeping account of all transactions and preparing yearend Financial Statements for the Annual Report and Accounts.

Accounts Payable: Processing and paying invoices in line with HS2s payment terms and reviewing and approving expenses incurred by HS2 employees.

Analysis and Insight:

Financial Planning and Analysis: Providing accurate analysis reports and forecasts to inform effective decision making encouraging a value for money mindset across HS2 engaging with the wider business in the preparation of key forecasts.

Finance Partnering:

Finance Business Partners: Trusted advisors working closely with directorates to provide clear interpretation of financial information to enable effective business decisions to benefit the delivery of HS2 Programme in a controlled and costeffective manner. Ensuring all spend is within the approved envelope issued by the DfT is appropriately validated via governance is appropriately transacted in the systems with the results reported on a monthly quarterly and annual basis against the forecast spend agreed with the DfT and that our financial activity is within NAO & Financial Standard requirements.

Strategic Finance:

Facilitating the support of the vision and priorities of HS2 Programme and CFO Directorate through Finances vision strategy and key objective themes.

About You:

Skills:

• Ability to build effective and collaborative working relationships within multidisciplinary teams and with a variety of stakeholders

• Ability to compile assess and analyse information data and reports

• Planning and organisational skills with the ability to prioritise and deliver day to day tasks to agreed deadlines and agreed standards

• Ability to communicate effectively using a range of mediums including presentations

• Ability to evaluate complex issues and problem solve

Knowledge:

• On track to achieve or already hold a minimum of a 2:2 bachelors degree (or nonUK equivalent) in a Finance or equivalent discipline

• Knowledge of IT software such as MS Word Excel and PowerPoint (or equivalent)

Does HS2 offer sponsorship if I do not have the Right to Work in the UK

To be eligible to apply to the HS2 Graduate scheme for our September 2025 intake any applicant will need to already have the ongoing Right to Work in the UK that is not timebound in any way.

Due to the nature of our organisation HS2 arenot able to sponsor any applicationsas we do not hold the required sponsorship license from the UK Home Office and candidates are not allowed to sponsor themselves.

We appreciate the Right to Work question can be complex to understand so if you are unsure of your Right to Work status in the UK please email us we will be happy to advise further.Please note to enable HS2 to comply with UK Home Office policy your Right to Work status will be checked early in the recruitment process.

Our graduate programme salaries:

Salaries are currently pending pay review however please see below figures based on 2024;

Outside London

Birmingham: BasicFlexible allowance

Please note the rotational placements may vary and are subject to business requirements.