Graduate Intern- Finance

JOB PURPOSE

The Graduate Intern will support the Finance Team in documenting, reviewing, and improving key finance processes across the department and across the Group. The role is intended to create a structured foundation for a future Finance Operating Manual / Finance Playbook that can be used for onboarding, knowledge transfer, process consistency, Graduate Internal controls, and cross-functional understanding.

The Graduate Intern will work closely with stakeholders across the finance function to understand how processes are currently performed, document those processes accurately, identify opportunities for optimization, and support the development of clear policies, procedures, and standard operating documentation.

An important feature of this assignment will be the appropriate use of AI tools, including ChatGPT Enterprise, to support process documentation, process mapping, synthesis of stakeholder input, identification of improvement opportunities, and preparation of clear, professional outputs. AI should be used as an enabler of better quality, speed, structure, and insight, while ensuring that all outputs are reviewed, validated, and approved by the relevant Finance stakeholders.

The assignment is designed to bring focused attention to an important body of work that has historically been difficult to progress alongside day-to-day finance responsibilities.

1.       Process Documentation

• The Graduate Intern will document the key processes across each functional area within the Finance Team. This will include mapping how work is currently performed, who is responsible for each step, what systems or tools are used, what approvals are required, and where handoffs occur between teams.
• The Graduate Intern will be expected to engage with process owners and team members to understand actual current practices, not only formal or intended procedures. The objective is to capture a practical and accurate view of how the finance function operates today.

Priority should be given to the following areas:

1. Accounting Operations
   This should be the initial area of focus, given its broad impact across the organization and the frequency with which other departments interact with this part of the finance team.
2. Corporate Reporting
   This should follow Accounting Operations, given its importance to governance, management reporting, statutory reporting, and leadership decision-making.
3. Treasury
   This should be addressed after the first two areas, with attention to cash management, funding, banking processes, liquidity-related controls, and relevant Graduate Internal interactions.

Additional areas within the Finance Team may be included depending on timing, access to stakeholders, and project progress.

2.       Process Review and Optimization

• Once processes are documented, the Graduate Intern will support the review of those processes to identify opportunities for improvement. This will include looking for duplication, unnecessary manual steps, unclear ownership, control gaps, inefficient handoffs, outdated practices, and areas where the team may be operating based on “this is how we have always done it” rather than current best practice.
• The Graduate Intern will not be expected to redesign every process independently. Instead, the role will support finance leadership and process owners by creating visibility, asking structured questions, identifying pain points, and helping to frame practical improvement opportunities.
• Where appropriate, the Graduate Intern should consider how processes interact across finance units and how decisions or delays in one area may impact another. This cross-functional perspective is important, particularly because few team members may have worked across multiple sections of the finance function.

3.       Use of AI and ChatGPT Enterprise

• The Graduate Intern will be expected to use approved AI tools, including ChatGPT Enterprise, to improve the efficiency and quality of the process documentation and optimization exercise.
• This may include using AI to:
• Convert interview notes and stakeholder inputs into structured process narratives.
• Draft and refine standard operating procedures, process summaries, and policy documents.
• Identify potential gaps, duplication, handoff issues, control weaknesses, and inefficiencies in documented processes.
• Generate process improvement questions for stakeholder validation.
• Support process mapping, swim lane development, and documentation structure.
• Compare current-state processes against leading practice concepts or Graduate Internal control principles.
• Draft sections of the Finance Operating Manual / Finance Playbook.
• Generate training documents that accompany the policies and procedures, and that can be used for recurring training and to facilitate new team member onboarding.
• Improve clarity, consistency, formatting, and usability of final documentation.
• The Graduate Intern must ensure that AI-generated outputs are treated as draft support only and are reviewed for accuracy, completeness, confidentiality, and business relevance before being shared or finalized. The Graduate Intern must also comply with all company policies and guidance relating to data security, confidentiality, AI usage, and information governance.

4.       Policy and Procedure Review

• The Graduate Intern will assist with reviewing the policies, procedures, and control expectations that govern finance processes. This will include identifying where policies are missing, outdated, unclear, inconsistent with actual practice, or not sufficiently linked to the related operating process.
• This work should support the development of a more coherent set of Finance policies and procedures, aligned to minimum control expectations and practical operating requirements.
• The output should help the team move toward a more structured and consistent operating model.

5.       Development of a Finance Operating Manual / Finance Playbook

• A key output of the assignment will be the creation of an initial version of a Finance Operating Manual, Controllers Manual or Finance Playbook.
• This document should serve as a practical guide for new and existing team members. It should explain how the finance team is structured, what each functional area does, how key processes work, what policies and controls apply, and where team members or other departments can go for guidance.
• The first version does not need to be exhaustive. The expectation is that it will be iterative and capable of being expanded over time. It may begin with higher-level standard operating procedures and later evolve into more detailed guidance, including process-specific instructions, categorization guidance, approval matrices, templates, and control checklists.
• The manual should also be suitable for sharing with other departments to improve understanding of how to engage with the finance team.

JOB COMPETENCIES

Stakeholder Engagement

• The ability to listen carefully, ask thoughtful questions, build trust with process owners, and capture how work is actually performed.

Process Thinking

• The ability to understand workflows, handoffs, dependencies, approvals, risks, and control points.

Analytical Judgment

• The ability to distinguish between necessary controls and inefficient practices, and to identify practical improvement opportunities.

Communication

• The ability to write clear, professional documentation that can be used by both finance and non-finance stakeholders.

Curiosity and Constructive Challenge

• The confidence to ask why things are done a certain way, while remaining respectful of existing team knowledge and experience.

Digital and AI Fluency

• The ability to use approved digital and AI tools responsibly to improve efficiency, structure information, generate draft outputs, and support process improvement while applying human judgment and stakeholder validation.

Ownership and Follow-Through

• The discipline to manage a structured work plan, follow up with stakeholders, and produce tangible deliverables within the six-month period.

TECHNICAL SKILLS

• Demonstrated analytical thinking and attention to detail.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Interest in process improvement, business operations, and organizational effectiveness.
• Familiarity with AI tools such as ChatGPT or other digital productivity tools would be an
• The following would be advantageous
• Exposure to process mapping, standard operating procedure documentation, Graduate Internal controls, or project management.
• Familiarity with process visualization tools such as Visio, PowerPoint, Lucidchart, Miro, or similar tools.
• Interest in finance transformation, governance, risk, controls, operating model design, or AI-enabled ways of working.
• Ability to synthesize information from multiple stakeholders and identify common themes.
• Comfort working in an environment where processes may not be fully documented and where ambiguity needs to be structured.
• Experience using generative AI tools to summarize information, structure documents, improve written outputs, or support analysis.

QUALIFICATIONS

• A bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, Economics, Management, or a related discipline. 
• Third- or Fourth-year students interested in the engagement.
• A basic understanding of accounting principles, financial controls, and business processes.
• Strong written communication skills, with the ability to document processes clearly and logically.
• Strong interpersonal skills and confidence engaging with stakeholders across different levels.
• Good analytical ability and curiosity about how processes work.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• High attention to detail and strong organizational skills.
• Willingness and ability to use approved AI tools, including ChatGPT Enterprise, responsibly and effectively to support documentation, analysis, and process improvement.

INTERESTED AND QUALIFIED CANDIDATES:

Please submit your detailed application by June 8th 2026, by clicking here.

Only suitable candidates will be shortlisted and contacted for an interview.