Finance

What we do

Our Finance Division helps us create value and run efficiently. Based mainly in our Swindon and Northampton Head Offices, it provides timely, accurate and relevant Management Information to all levels of the business.

This Management Information can be in the form of –

• historical reporting on performance
• forecasts of future performance
• benchmarks for performance, such as plans, budgets and targets.

Finance also –

• prepares key external reports like the Annual Report & Accounts and Regulatory returns
• makes sure all areas of the business operate suitable financial controls
• operates strong controls over its own processes, systems and data.

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Who works in Finance?

Finance is a diverse Division with a variety of roles and highly specialised expertise. Many of the people who work here are either accountants or training to be accountants, and we offer high levels of support to help trainees qualify. Many employees though aren’t accountants and the prospects are excellent whatever your qualifications.

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How we're structured

Our people work across Financial Management, Group Finance, Financial Reporting and Group Tax.

Financial Management

Mostly based in Swindon, but with teams in Northampton and Bournemouth, Financial Management works to –

• provide the business with Management Information
• develop ways to support a more strategic approach to financial management across the Society
• provide an expert service on a wide range of financial issues
• prepare, negotiate and review budgets and resources to ensure efficiency
• support and challenge the business in managing costs, controlling budgets and generating income.

Group Finance

Based in Northampton, Group Finance works to –

• support corporate projects from a financial perspective
• set up strong financial controls to protect Group and member interests
• review complex transactions and advise on accounting best practice
• provide support and stewardship to the Treasury Division.

Financial Reporting

Based in Northampton, Financial Reporting works to –

• produce our Annual Report & Accounts, interim results and regulatory reports to the FSA
• prepare our income statement, balance sheet and all consolidation activity associated with our subsidiary companies
• review accounting standards and advise on their implementation
• develop ways to ensure a robust approach to reporting loss provisions and arrears.

Group Tax

Group Tax manages our tax affairs and tax risks and provides an in-house tax consultancy service. The team, mostly based in Northampton but with a small presence in Swindon, works to –

• advise executive and senior management on the tax implications of current and potential operations
• ensure full compliance with all tax law and internal policy obligations
• maximise member value through effective tax management
• manage our direct tax costs and act as a second line of defence for the Group’s payroll, taxes on products and Indirect Tax costs
• recommend, deliver and review an appropriate tax policy and strategy.

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The roles we recruit for most often

Accountant roles

Bring us an ACA, CIMA or ACCA qualification plus relevant post-qualification experience and you’ll have a key role, a large amount of autonomy over your own workload and, possibly, people management responsibilities. Your work will vary depending on your area but it’s likely to involve analysis, contact with senior people and conveying complex ideas in a straightforward, commercially focused way.

Technician roles

Technicians support the Accountants and may be studying towards a qualification. Although workloads are largely set by the Accountants, you’ll still need to manage your own time and use your initiative. Activities vary but are likely to involve analysis, problem solving and working to tight deadlines.

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What we look for

Financial Services experience is useful if you want to join us – but it’s not essential. It’s certain qualities that will really set you apart and make you right for us. These are the qualities that help bring our PRIDE values to life and make sure we put our members first and exceed expectations time after time.

In particular we look for:

• technical skills relevant to the role
• the proven ability to perform well under pressure
• analytical skills and attention to detail
• strong communication and influencing skills
• commercial awareness
• a readiness to take ownership of issues
• the ability to work well in a team.

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Your career prospects

In a word – excellent. A professional qualification will help you progress from Technician to Accountant, and our best accountants can progress to the highest salary bands. There’s a similar range of roles and grades for non-accountants.

Our diverse activities plus continual change in business focus generate a lot of internal movement as well as secondment opportunities. We monitor the progress of people through succession planning and have a strong track record of promoting from within.

We support you to gain accountancy qualifications – among the most highly regarded business qualifications there are. They’ve already helped many to progress within Nationwide, including our current Chief Executive, Finance Director and many of the Divisional Directors.

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Where you would work
Our main teams are in Northampton and Swindon but we also have a smaller team in Bournemouth.

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