The opportunityWe have an apprenticeship opportunity for a Finance Associate to join us on the exciting and rewarding path we are taking here at Castle Trust Bank. Having become a fully authorised bank in 2020, we pride ourselves in being a fintech challenger bank, providing specialist property mortgages, retail finance lending and savings accounts to a variety of customers. Proud winners of the ‘Best Place to Work’ award at the Hampshire Business Awards 2023!You will be a key member of the Finance team, supporting the management accounts team in the preparation of monthly and annual financial and reporting requirements. You will assist with the month end closure process (including analysis and reporting) and assisting with the review and posting of invoices, expenses, credit card expenditure as prepared by the accounts payable team. You will also have the opportunity to provider operational maintenance and support of the property lending portfolio. In addition you will prepare monthly reconciliations in line with internal SLAs and regulatory requirements and be responsible for month end journals, balance sheet reconciliations and further management information. This role has broad scope and will also assist with year-end audit requests, acting a key point of contact for external auditors.Initially this role will be office based 5 days per week, with the opportunity for hybrid working after a period of time.About the apprenticeship pathway…Level 7 Accountancy or Taxation Professional – please follow the link for more information:What we are looking for in you…What is important to us is that you are interested in a career in finance. Any previous experience in finance or financial services would be beneficial, but this is a learning opportunity so not essential. You will be required to use a variety of accounting/finance systems in the role, so will need to be competent in the use of IT (specifically Microsoft Excel) and handling large amounts of data.What is equally important is that you have good planning and organisational skills with the ability to pay meticulous attention to detail. You will have a natural ability to problem solve problems and work well both individually and as part of a team in a busy office environment. Most importantly you will have a positive attitude with the desire to learn and develop both your knowledge, skills and experience.**Qualification requirement – the Level 7 apprenticeship is the equivalent of a Masters level qualification. Educated to degree level is preferred, A Levels at a minimum. Alternatively, applicants with AAT qualifications and relevant work experience will be considered.What’s in it for you…As well as a competitive salary, we offer an annual performance related bonus based on individual and company performance. In addition, a generous contributory pension scheme through Hargreaves Lansdown, life assurance, 25 days annual leave (plus bank holidays on top) with the option to buy/sell up to 5 additional days (terms apply). In addition, you will receive an extra day paid annual leave for Volunteering.Wellbeing is also high on our agenda, and we offer healthcare benefits through Vitality and Equipsme. In addition, all colleagues have free access to Telus Health EAP to support their health and wellbeing. We also offer free eye test vouchers and discounted gym membership, and if that’s not enough, we also offer season ticket travel loans (if applicable).Caught your attention? If so, we’d love to talk to you and tell you more about what it’s like to work at Castle Trust Bank – The Place To Work!Castle Trust Bank is an equal opportunity employer where we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all our colleagues to thrive. We welcome applications from all and will not discriminate against any status/characteristic protected by law and will always base our decisions on merit.We are proud to support people with disabilities and are committed to be a Disability Confident employer. If you are a person with a disability and meet the minimum criteria for the role you will be offered an interview. Should you require any reasonable adjustment to support you in your application for one of our opportunities, please contact
