Kepak Finance Graduate Programme 2026

Role Purpose

The Graduate programme in Finance is designed to equip graduates with the skills, knowledge, and experience necessary to build a successful career in finance within the meat processing industry. This role focuses on the operational side of finance, including rotations through Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Payroll, Accounting, and Commercial Finance. The successful candidate will gain a deep understanding of the complexities of finance in a fast-paced and intricate industry, with the ultimate goal of becoming a qualified accountant.

Key Responsibilities

•Accounts Payable: Process invoices and payments, ensuring accuracy and compliance with company policies.

•Accounts Receivable: Manage debt collection and administration, dealing with bespoke pricing and complex customer relationships.

•Payroll: Administer payroll for office employees, ensuring compliance with legislation and internal policies.

•Accounting: Support junior accountants in maintaining accurate financial records, preparing reports, and managing accounts.

•Commercial Finance: Assist in financial planning and analysis, providing detailed insights to support decision-making across the business.

•Process Improvement: Continuously seek opportunities to streamline and automate processes, improving efficiency and accuracy.

Key Competencies

•Numerical Proficiency: Exceptional numerical skills with the ability to manage complex financial data accurately.

•Attention to Detail: Meticulous in record-keeping and quality assurance.

•Analytical Thinking: Ability to analyse data to make informed decisions.

•Communication: Strong verbal and written communication skills; able to work cross-functionally and at various levels of the organisation.

•Teamwork: Ability to collaborate effectively within a large team, fostering a supportive and cooperative working environment.

•Accountability: A high degree of responsibility, ensuring deadlines are met and work is completed to a high standard.

Other Role Information

•Professional Development: The role includes the opportunity to undertake professional accounting exams, with the expectation of completing qualifications within three years.

•Work Environment: The role is fast-paced and requires adaptability to changing priorities and deadlines, especially on Mondays and Tuesdays.

•Stakeholder Engagement: Regular interaction with internal and external stakeholders, including employees across the UK and Ireland, customers, suppliers, and various departments within the company.

This is a 3 year Graduate programme

You can expect:

• To be fully immersed into our Culture from day 1, working alongside key industry experts and Kepak leaders
• An opportunity to work in various departments across the business with a rotation plan tailored to your development, the rotations plan will vary by site
• Gain an in depth understanding of our brands and products, and our relationships with customers and consumers
• To learn key aspects of our business, whilst you develop your skills and knowledge
• The opportunity to develop personally and professionally through exposure to key projects, tasks and development activities that challenge you, all supported by a detailed learner journey and training plan
• A dedicated mentor and development program to support you both on the programme and into a role that best fits your skills

Start date: September 7th 2026

Starting Salary - £28,000 with an up to £1,500 increase at the start of Year 2 to £29,500

Read more about our programme and hear from some of our Graduates:

Requirements

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for hardworking and ambitious Graduates, who want to learn and grow in a challenging and fast paced environment, by performing real roles as part of your rotations.

You must be mobile and willing to travel throughout the programme to undertake development activities at any of our sites in the UK and Ireland.

Knowledge, Skills, and Experience

•Education: A degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, or a Maths-oriented discipline is essential.

•Professional Experience: Previous experience in a finance role, such as a part-time job or internship, is advantageous.

•Skills: Proficiency in financial software and Excel; understanding of debits, credits, and account management.

•Industry Knowledge: An interest in the meat processing industry and a willingness to understand the unique financial complexities of the sector.

Personal Attributes

•Precision and Focus: A driven individual who thrives in a repetitive, detail-oriented environment.

•Resilience: Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines, particularly during peak periods.

•Self-Motivation: Driven to succeed and comfortable working independently.

•Cultural Fit: Passionate about the company's values and committed to contributing to its success through continuous learning and professional development.

We will be looking for alignment with our Core Values:

Responsibility – Ability to work on your own initiative and take accountability for your actions

Ambition – You will have the willingness and confidence to challenge yourself to be the best you can be and be driven to succeed

Passion for Food – this is at the heart of everything we do, you must be passionate about every aspect of our industry

Teamwork – ability to build positive relationships quickly with people from all cultures and career stages is pivotal

Benefits

• Employee Discount Scheme
• Service-Related Annual Leave
• Discounted Health Insurance
• Educational Assistance/ L&D
• Discounted Meat Products
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee assistance programme