DE&S Finance Graduate Scheme
Defence Equipment & SupportJobsCloseBy Editorial Insights
DE&S Finance Graduate Scheme is a two-year, full-time programme at MOD Abbey Wood in Bristol, building finance professionals to support the UK Armed Forces. You’ll gain hands-on experience in budget forecasting, financial analysis, accruals, costings for business cases, and contract cost tracking while working toward the CIMA Advanced Diploma in Management Accounting. The package includes £28,800 starting salary, 25 days leave, a strong pension contribution, and flexible working options with training funding. Eligibility: 2:1 degree, UK residency last five years, SC clearance; visa sponsorship is not provided. Apply Oct 13–Nov 10 2025, online assessments in Nov, assessment centre Jan–Feb 2026, offers in Feb, onboarding Mar–Aug 2026. To strengthen your application, tailor your CV to show numerical ability and CIMA interest, demonstrate collaboration and decision making, review the Candidate Information Pack, and prepare for the in-person assessment and on-site attendance.
Location: MOD Abbey Wood, Bristol, BS34 8JH (office attendance required)
Duration: Two years
Start Date: August 2026
Salary: £28,800 (with annual increments)
Entry Requirements: Bachelor’s degree (2:1 or higher)
Working Pattern: Full-time
Overview
Join Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) to support the UK Armed Forces by delivering cutting-edge equipment and technology. This two-year development programme offers hands-on experience in finance and the opportunity to work towards the CIMA Advanced Diploma in Management Accounting.
What You’ll Do
• Provide support to finance staff across the organisation
• Budget forecasting and financial analysis
• Review and create accruals
• Develop costings for business cases
• Track and record contract costs
• Use specialist financial systems
• Read more about the scheme here: DE&S Finance Graduate Scheme
What We Offer
• Salary of £28,800 with annual increments
• 25 days holiday (plus bank holidays and an extra privilege day)
• Employer pension contribution of 28.97%
• Flexible and hybrid working options
• Professional training and funding for qualifications
• Access to employee networks promoting diversity and inclusion
• Huge range of discounts
Eligibility
• UK residency for the last five years
• Security Check (SC) clearance required
• Right to work in the UK (DE&S does not sponsor visas)
Minimum selection criteria
• GCSE Maths and English Language (grade 4 or above)
• Bachelor’s (or a higher) degree in any subject at a minimum grade 2:1
• Pass at online assessment stage
Final-year students can apply with official predicted grades; all qualifications must be evidenced by end of August 2026. (Equivalent level qualifications to GCSEs in the required subject and grades will also be considered). Candidates should have a strong interest and aptitude for working with numbers. It is recommended to visit the CIMA website (CIMAglobal.com) to understand the qualifications needed for success on the scheme.
Application Process
1. Apply Online (13 Oct – 10 Nov 2025)
Complete an online application form using the link in this advert. Complete all information accurately including how you meet our minimum selection criteria.
2. Online Assessments (Nov 2025)
We’ll ask you to complete some interactive assessments. These should take around 20-30 minutes. They will provide us with insight into your adaptability, how you interact and learn new skills, and how you will naturally act and think at work.
3. Eligibility checks (Dec 2025)
We will review your application form to ensure you meet our minimum selection criteria and nationality requirements.
4. Assessment Centre (Jan–Feb 2026)
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an assessment centre at DE&S headquarters, MOD Abbey Wood, Bristol. There will be limited dates available. You’ll undertake an interview, presentation and a group activity. Please note, attendance is required in person, as virtual participation is not available.
5. Provisional Offer (Feb 2026)
We will offer based on order of merit to the number of roles available.
6. Onboarding (March – Aug 2026)
All pre-employment checks will take place to ensure you evidence our minimum selection and eligibility criteria to undertake a role within the MOD. If all are successful, we will provide a formal offer of employment.
7. Induction (August 2026)
Subject to confirmation, this scheme is expected to start August 2026.
Additional Information
• Your application form must list your qualifications to meet the minimum selection criteria, if missing, we will be unable to qualify you against our eligibility checks.
• Should you encounter any technical difficulties submitting your application please take screenshots and email us [email protected]. Without screenshots of the issue, we may be unable to progress your application.
• On occasions where it is not practicable or appropriate to invite all successful candidates to an assessment centre, we may limit the number of invites offered. In this circumstance we may prioritise interviewing candidates who align most closely to the selection criteria. Information for this will be drawn from other sources of information from your application such as your CV.
We will assess you on the following DE&S Behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
- Making Effective Decisions
- Delivering at Pace
• Civil Service offers are made in order of merit. If you have passed our assessment centre but there are no roles available, we may offer you an alternative, or lower role in a similar position that matches your skills and experience, or you may remain on a reserve list for 12 months.
• Security clearance must be obtained without any caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role you’ve been recruited for. If it isn’t obtained prior to the start of the scheme or is obtained with caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role, any conditional offer made to you will be withdrawn.
• Due to the classification of information associated with certain projects, some work-based placements are restricted to Sole UK Nationals only.
• Office attendance and attendance to a training providers site (where applicable) will be required. Travel and accommodation costs for office attendance or assessment centres are not reimbursed.
• This post is not eligible for relocation allowances.
Please Note: In the event of a tied score at Assessment Centre, the Order of Merit will be distinguished based on the ranking of the assessed behaviours below:
1. Communicating and Influencing
2. Working Together
3. Making Effective Decisions
4. Delivering at Pace
In the event of the need for further merit differentiation the scheme lead will order candidates meretriciously using candidate assessment feedback.
• Feedback will only be provided if you attend an assessment centre.
• Please view and save our Candidate Information Pack: DE&S Entry Talent Candidate Information Pack
Diversity and Inclusion
As a Disability Confident level 3 leader, DE&S is committed to creating an inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and offer reasonable adjustments for candidates with disabilities.
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria and offer them an interview or assessment centre opportunity if they meet the minimum criteria for the job.
On occasions where it is not practicable or appropriate to invite all Disability Confident candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria to an assessment centre, we may limit the number of invites offered. In this circumstance we may prioritise interviewing candidates who align most closely to the selection criteria. Information for this will be drawn from other sources of information from your application such as your CV.
The job is broadly open to the following groups:
• UK nationals
• Nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• Nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with (or eligible for) status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
• Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
• Certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals
Further information on nationality requirements
Civil Service Information
• Civil Service Recruitment Principles: Recruitment Principles - Civil Service Commission
• Terms and Conditions: https://bit.ly/DES-Terms-and-Conditions
• Civil Service Code: The Code - Civil Service Commission
Any personal data that you provide during the Recruitment process will be treated in accordance with the MOD Privacy Notice which can be accessed here.
Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Conflicts of Interest
The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates following the interview process and before a formal offer of employment is made, as some outside interests may not be compatible with MOD civilian roles. This will not, in the majority of cases, prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure that must be taken to ensure that appropriate mitigations can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment.
Contact
Have a question or a request for a reasonable adjustment? Email us at [email protected]
Apply now to start your career and make a difference for the UK Armed Forces!