"One thing I don’t think many other graduate schemes can match is the level of exposure and responsibility you get at THG. In each of my rotations, I’ve had the opportunity to report to director-level stakeholders and work on projects that have made a real impact on the business."

Charlie joined THG back in 2022 as part of our Finance Graduate Scheme – a programme designed to give early-career talent hands-on experience across multiple functions in a fast-paced, global business. Since then, he’s worked across three key areas of the business, gaining exposure to everything from financial reporting and treasury to investor relations. 

Read on to find out how Charlie has developed his skills and confidence to shape a long-term career in finance.

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During the scheme, I’ve had the opportunity to work across three different functions. I began with a 12-month placement in THG Nutrition, where I was responsible for one of our manufacturing sites. My role involved preparing management accounts, producing weekly forecasts, and overseeing the accounts payable function.

I then moved to the Treasury team for another 12 months. In this role, I managed daily liquidity and cash flow, and also gained some experience in the complex world of FX strategy. Currently, I’m part of the Investor Relations team. Here, I help publish trading statements, liaise with our covering analysts, and recently have been involved in drafting our annual report for 2024.

A lot of the finance graduate schemes I came across were with consultancy firms or in industries which didn’t quite pique my interest. THG, on the other hand, stood out as offering something much more hands-on and practical. I was also drawn to the sector THG operates in, which felt far more dynamic and engaging.

Another key factor that appealed to me was the opportunity to rotate through different teams while working towards a qualification. At the time, I wasn’t entirely sure which area of finance I wanted to pursue, so having the chance to gain broad range of experience across functions felt like a great way to figure that out.

I completed my undergraduate degree in Business Management at the University of Liverpool. After that, I knew I wanted to move into a finance role but felt I needed something to give me a bit of an edge. That led me to pursue a master’s degree in Accounting and Financial Management at Lancaster University. It was probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but I’m really glad I did it. I use a lot of what I learnt there on regularly in my current role.

I’m still figuring out exactly where I want my career to take me, but ultimately, I’d like to reach a position where I can help shape the direction of the business and see the tangible impact of my work.

A lot has happened over the past two and a half years. In my first year, we had some team changes which meant I was able to take on responsibility very quickly. I’m quite proud of how I managed to adapt, learn fast, and handle the added pressure. Although it was stressful at the time, the experience gave me a solid foundation in real-world accounting.

In my second year, while working in the Treasury team, I supported several projects focused on cash management and helped with forecasting for senior management. It was a great feeling to know I was adding value to the team and playing an important role. Having that level of responsibility taught me a lot about accountability and working effectively under pressure.

Part of the Investor Relations team, I’ve been involved in a wide range of work. During this time, I helped publish our half-year results, Q4 trading statement, managed communications around the demerger of Ingenuity and a debt refinancing, and most recently working on our end-of-year results. These projects are constant, and being part of the team that communicates them externally has really improved both my business knowledge and communication skills.

Alongside my IR work, I’ve also been supporting the Nutrition B2B team. It’s been fascinating to see how this part of the business is evolving and to understand the strategic thinking behind its growth.

Being on the finance graduate scheme has meant being part of a cohort of people who are all in the same boat, which has been a huge positive. Having that group outside of our day-to-day teams has been great from a social perspective and has really helped build a sense of community. We’ve also had strong support from the People team, particularly when selecting and settling into each new rotation, and we’ve had the chance to gain advice and insight from members of the Senior Leadership Team. On top of that, each rotation has come with plenty of social events which have given me the opportunity to meet loads of people from across the business.

For finance students, I think the graduate scheme at THG is ideal, especially for those who aren’t yet sure what specific area of finance they want to go into. Even after studying the subject for four years, I had no idea of what the day-to-day reality of working in finance looked like, or just how many different roles and specialist areas existed. Rotating through three different functions has really helped me find my niche and build a clear understanding of how various finance teams interact and support each other.

For students considering applying to finance graduate schemes, I’d really encourage them to think about what they want to get out of the experience - and where they see themselves going beyond it. One thing I don’t think many other graduate schemes can match is the level of exposure and responsibility you get at THG. In each of my rotations, I’ve had the opportunity to report to director-level stakeholders and work on projects that have made a real impact on the business.

For anyone starting at THG, the best piece of advice I’ve received and now pass on is to keep a positive attitude and back yourself. There have definitely been moments when I’ve felt out of my depth or unsure if I was up to the task. But by taking a step back, getting support from the team, and continuing to push myself, I’ve been able to grow my skills and build confidence in what I can do.