What if you could work with remarkable people on extraordinary things? What if the end result was something a little bit special? What if your role was mission critical?
For nearly 70 years, AWE has been at the forefront of nuclear weapons research and development. We have a critical mission: to provide the warheads for the UK’s ultimate deterrent – Trident. We also use our unique skills to provide wider UK government with counter-terrorism and nuclear threat reduction solutions.
It takes a special sort of person to work at AWE. What if that person was you?
Our two-year Evolve programme offers you an exciting opportunity to join our Finance career pathway. We’re looking for amazing graduates and aspiring future leaders to join us and shape the future of AWE.
How Evolve will help accelerate your career
The Finance function plays a key role in providing financial information and insight, and ensuring financial control and compliance, to a wide range of internal and external stakeholders. As part of the Finance function you will apply and grow your skills, knowledge and experience and learn more about what you enjoy and where you want to take your career.
You could start your journey in any of our Finance service areas. It's all about learning about the business, by offering you the chance to build on your leadership and financial skills by having some great experiences.
During the programme there will be opportunities to (including but not limited to)
- Learn about leadership from the top business leaders within a large organisation.
- Develop skills and experience in financial planning and analysis as well as financial and management accounting.
- Get involved in the key areas of the Finance function, including our Finance Business Partnering Team.
- Understand how a complex organisation works and fits together.
- Develop further in an area of particular interest in year 2.
- Undertake internal and external professional training.
The structured programme comprises of a series of placements (outlined above) to help accelerate your learning and advance the development of your skillsets. You’ve got the potential, and we’ll prepare you for the future, by supporting you to gain a professional finance qualification.
The behaviours and qualities you will need
- Determination– You are driven and get things done. Clear where you are going and how you will get there.
- Curious – You are a person who loves to think outside the box. (You are a person who loves to take the box apart!).
- Growth Mindset – You are open to learning about new technologies and ground-breaking ideas.
- Resilience – You are an advocate of ‘speaking up’ for yourself and others openly and constructively.
- Team Worker – You are dependable and reliable. You are interested in collaborating with and supporting others.
What AWE can offer you
- AWE has a highly inclusive culture. You will be supported by colleagues and management to bring your unique contribution to our work.
- You will undergo ‘DV’ security clearance to allow you to work on classified programmes.
- To help you reach your short and long-term Finance career goals, we will support you to gain a professional finance and accountancy qualification from either CIMA or ACCA, to prepare you for your exciting career in Finance. This will be fully funded by AWE.
- Depending on your specific placements, you may have the opportunity to interact with UK and overseas partners and customers.
- So that you receive the best guidance and support for the duration of the scheme, you will have a dedicated Placement Manager.
- A ‘Buddy’ will be allocated to you – which will likely be a graduate from a previous year’s cohort.
- There is a vibrant early careers community at AWE. You will have the opportunity to socialise with other graduates and undergraduate placement students through organised events, the on-site Recreation Society, and ad-hoc activities.
- You can join any of our six staff-led Equity, Diversity and Inclusion working groups to help guide our supportive work culture.
- You will gain a strong feeling of satisfaction that you are making a real difference to yourself, to AWE and to the safety and security of the UK!
Entry requirements
- You will be recently qualified in a Finance related degree i.e. business and finance, finance, maths, economics.
- Before starting with the business, you will need to be able to provide evidence that you have attained a minimum of a 2:2 in your degree.
- You must be able to join AWE in September 2025. We recruit on a rolling basis which means as soon as our positions have been filled, we will close.
- Candidates must be willing and able to obtain and maintain the necessary security clearance for the role. Please note that you must be a British National to apply for a role with us.
What you will get
We will give you a competitive total reward package including salary element of £31,000 per annum and benefits including a market leading contributory pension scheme.
You will also get
- Generous holiday entitlement (270 hours of leave annually including bank holidays)
- Excellent work/life balance
- 9-day working fortnight (this means you will not work every other Friday!)
- A salary-sacrifice benefit scheme
- A welcome payment
- An option of an interest free loan of £1,000 as well as regular Graduate pay reviews
- A structured and supported career progression
- Discounts – access to savings on a wide range of everyday spending across retail, hospitality and leisure
- Life Assurance
- Employee Assistance Programme and Occupational Health Services
Alongside these benefits, you will get the opportunity to learn from some of the top leaders in their field.
Our ambition is to create workplaces where we recognise and celebrate differences, encourage diverse contributions and our employees feel able to be themselves at work. We strive to create a genuine culture of openness and inclusion and encourage diverse applicants.
Any inclusion information you provide us will be used to encourage and support you through the application process and will be held only for this purpose in accordance with GDPR.
