Trainee (Finance Division)

Description of Department

Our Finance Division (DFIN) is responsible for overseeing the financial position of the firm and providing the insight, analysis, and governance needed to support strategic decision-making, investment activities, and business development.

The division measures and analyses business performance and profitability, while ensuring accurate financial reporting and effective management of the firm's financial commitments. We are responsible for the certification of financial accounts and provide expert guidance on accounting standards, taxation, capital management, and regulatory requirements.

Working in partnership with stakeholders across the organisation, we deliver trusted financial expertise and support to help the business achieve its objectives while maintaining strong financial and regulatory controls.

Risk & Conduct

All roles at Société Générale CIB are expected to demonstrate a strong commitment to effective risk assessment and management, sound judgement, and speaking up when identifying behaviours or outcomes that may create unintended risk. You will be expected to act with integrity, proactively manage risk in your day-to-day activities, escalate issues promptly and constructively, and contribute to a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and responsible decision-making.

Summary of the key purposes of the role:

• Based within the DFIN Accounting team and reporting to the SGIL Head of Accounting, the role supports the effective delivery of accounting, financial reporting and wider Finance activities for SGIL.

• The role works closely with the Head of Accounting, Finance manager and offshore teams to produce management information and analysis, coordinate financial reporting and audit deliverables, and support the delivery of Finance projects and departmental priorities.

• A key purpose of the role is performing analysis, coordinate activities across the DFIN function and with other departments, ensuring that requests, deliverables and actions are appropriately tracked, communicated and completed within agreed timelines. The role also supports the maintenance of the accounting and control environment through reviews and checks, and by helping to ensure that Finance procedures and control documentation remain accurate and up to date.

• The position requires an inquisitive and analytical mindset, strong organisational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.

• Summary of responsibilities:
  Support the Head of Accounting and Head of Financial Reporting with day-to-day Finance and accounting activities.

• Assist with basic accounting entries, financial analysis, checks and management information.

• Work with the onshore producing accounting team and offshore finance teams in India and Romania to support reconciliations, returns and the preparation of financial statement disclosures.

• Coordinate information and documentation requested by internal and external auditors.

• Help maintain Finance procedures and accounting control documentation.

• Provide administrative support for Finance Committee and departmental meetings, including agendas, presentation materials, minutes and action tracking.

• Support Finance projects, departmental requests and other ad hoc activities.

In addition to the minimum responsibilities:

• Comply with all Risk and regulatory obligations where relevant

• Responsibility to act within agreed risk limit (credit/market, etc...)

• Responsibility for ensuring that you are fully aware of and adhere to Societe Generale’s internal policies and other mandatory normative documentation (e.g. policies, procedures, minimum standards, etc) (MND) that apply or relate to you, your business or other businesses for which you have any level of responsibility

• Further to the above and more specifically in relation to conduct, responsibility for reading, understanding and complying with SG’s Group Code of Conduct, your UK entity’s Behavioural Code (located in the relevant Staff Handbook), any conduct-related provisions in all applicable MND and corresponding regulations and standards. You will generally be notified of changes to policies through announcements and/or intranet updates.  
   

Competencies

• Degree or equivalent in Business Management or a related field

• Excellent level of written and verbal English essential

• French-speaking skills advantageous

• General knowledge on corporate finance and banking knowledge

• Organizational skills: Time and priority management & ability to deliver

• Good writing ability in Word & PowerPoint (drafting notes, reports, explanative papers etc)

• Analytical & inquisitive mindset, open minded to change with the initiative to define and propose solutions

• Ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines but also challenge requests and the approach to them

• Ability to work with the team members globally based

• Relationship skills to build a good working relationship with business lines, OPER, ITEC plus other Finance Departments in London, Head Office.

• Ability to think and act proactively displaying an entrepreneurial mindset and common sense

• Demonstrated risk mindset: proactive identification and escalation of risk, sound judgement under pressure, and willingness to speak up and challenge constructively

• Demonstrate a strong risk culture by balancing commercial objectives with sound judgment and client outcomes

People join for the impact they can have on us. They stay for the impact we have on them. A flatter structure offers visibility and exposure beyond that of our competitors, so you know our names, and we know yours. It's personable, human, and inspires success through passion. By encouraging open mindedness and a willingness to share ideas, we have adapted to market changes and thrived through innovation. Bringing words like “hard work” and “dedication” together with “community” and “respect” has enabled us to work collaboratively and build our future together. We call this Team Spirit and it's what makes us different. It's what makes you different.

If you feel you have the required experience and qualifications, then please apply to the SG Resourcing Team, and we will manage your application. At Société Générale, we believe our people are our strength and are core to the success of our business. As such, we search for, recruit and appoint the best available person on the basis of aptitude and ability, regardless of sex, marital or civil partnership status, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, pregnancy, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion, belief or gender identity.