Virtual

Finance Careers with the Government Finance Function

Job sector

Government & Politics

Kickstart your future

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This programme is open to anyone aged 13+

Certificate of completion

Between 6 - 8 hours worth of content

Overview

This programme introduces the Government Finance Function (GFF) and its vital role in managing public money across the UK government. You’ll explore how government finance works, how public funds are raised and managed, and the wide range of careers available within the finance profession. Along the way, you’ll learn about the structure and purpose of the GFF, the key responsibilities of finance professionals, and the skills needed to succeed in the field.

What’s Included

Through this Virtual Work Experience, you will explore key concepts, industry insights, and practical skills that will prepare you for a future in government finance. You’ll take part in interactive content, quizzes, and fun activities to help build your understanding.

Discover an introduction to the GFF and the role it plays in managing public money across the UK government. You’ll explore what the GFF is and how its community of over 10,000 professionals works across different organisations to ensure public funds are used effectively. You’ll also examine the key differences between the public and private sectors, and discover the GFF’s mission, vision, values, and 2030 strategy, including its commitment to collaboration, accountability, and sustainability.

Get to know the key roles in government finance and learn about the support finance professionals provide in decision-making across departments. You’ll learn about strategic finance, including budget management and long-term spending decisions. You’ll take a look at the concept of finance business partnering with emphasis on collaboration with stakeholders to enhance financial management. Additionally, we’ll cover management accounting, highlighting the role of financial data in operational and strategic choices, as well as the importance of strong financial leadership in guiding teams and decision-making within the government.

Explore the practical aspects of government finance, including financial operations processes such as payroll, purchasing, and expense management, aligned with government policy. The module will cover financial accounting and reporting for transparency and accountability, as well as risk management strategies, through a case study activity. Additionally, we’ll address the role of finance systems, data, and technology in decision-making, and provide an overview of tax professionals and their role in ensuring compliance across government.

Prepare for a career in government finance by understanding the application process. This module covers how to apply for roles, practical preparation tips, such as researching organisations and networking, managing your online presence, and using the STAR method for interviews. You’ll also explore key behaviours for success in government finance and complete a STAR reflection activity to practice structuring interview responses for future applications.

No matter where you see yourself working in the future, strong employability skills will help you get there. This module is all about the key skills that employers value – like teamwork, communication, and problem-solving – and how you can start developing them now. You’ll learn how these skills work together in real jobs, reflect on your own strengths, and make a plan to build the areas you want to improve.

Available dates

On Demand

Programme dates

10th June 2026 - 15th January 2027

Hear from our student community

“

Aqsa Saleemi, Year 12 Student

Thank you for all your time and effort. The program was by far the best experience I’ve had virtually compared to other virtual experiences I’ve done. I liked the layout and the interactive activities, and I learnt a lot I didn’t know. I would definitely recommend this program to others; it was a great experience I would love to do it all again.

“

Sophia Nathwani, Year 11 Student, from Hampton

I enjoyed understanding the many professions and areas within journalism that I had not been able to clearly separate prior to this programme; I particularly enjoyed the photojournalism and broadcast journalism sections, as they allowed me to explore a less conventional writing style than what I would normally use. The interactive tasks were a great way for me to demonstrate and put into practice my new knowledge, and all of the videos were extremely concise and helpful.

“

Stephanie Oseha, Year 12 Student

A huge thank you to everyone who made this programme possible. It was a fantastic experience, and I feel more confident in myself now when applying for a job position in the future and in my personal life. I valued this experience because I realised it was okay to make mistakes and how they make you stronger for future events. I loved how efficient the Barclays team was when students and the professionals who ran the live webinars asked questions. The skills I've learnt through this virtual work experience will be used for future endeavours. So once again, thank you so much.

Frequently asked questions

When will I hear back if I have been successful with my application?

Once you have applied for your programme, you will receive a confirmation email. You will be notified about the outcome of your application via email at least 3 days before the programme start date. Good luck!

Can I apply to multiple programmes?

Yes, you can sign up to multiple programmes with us. The live talks will be available as recordings, so you can catch up on any potential clashes.

Who can take part in the programme? (Age limits, some programmes have location constraints but most don’t etc.)

Most of our programmes require students to be in school/college. Some programmes require students to be based in specific regions of the UK, this is stipulated by the organisations themselves, and is not defined by Springpod.

However, the ages mentioned on our programmes are more of a guideline than a strict limit. As such, we more than welcome older students to apply as well!

How long does it take for assignments to be reviewed?

Assignments can take up to a week or longer to review and be marked complete. Rest assured, it will be reviewed soon and your certificate will be generated once your programme has been marked as complete.

What do I do if I upload the wrong file?

If you make a mistake when uploading a file, please email hello@springpod.com. We will be able to make a note on our system. Don’t worry, the outcome of your programme will not be affected by this.

How long will I have to complete this programme?

There is no specific cut-off deadline for completing your programme (although, if possible, we would encourage you to complete all the work within the time frame, alongside the live webinar sessions).

When does the programme start?

Our programmes have various start dates, you can find the exact date on the programme website page. These are available here: https://www.springpod.com/virtual-work-experience/search

You will be notified if your application has been successful, 3 days before the programme start date.

What happens if I can't finish the work experience in time?

All programme material will remain accessible after the end date of the programme. Students can continue to work through their programme after the official end date. Although, if possible, we would strongly encourage students to complete all the work within the time frame, alongside the live webinar sessions.

How much work is required for these programmes? (Will I be able/should I complete more than one programme at a time)?

There is around 10 hours worth of work in total, spread across a two week period. The live talks will be available as recordings, so you can catch up on any work whenever possible.

When do the programmes run? (programme structure etc.)

Once you have access, you can view and complete the material as and when you can, within the time frame of the course in question (for example, within a two week period). In total, there is around 10 hours worth of work. The live talks will take place during weekday working hours. However, all live talks will be available as recordings and the courses can be completed at your own convenience. . There is no specific cut-off deadline for completing your programme (although, if possible, we would encourage you to complete all the work within the time frame, alongside the live webinar sessions).

What happens if I can't make a live talk/webinar?

All live talks will be available as recordings. You can access these at the same link used to access the live event. So don’t worry if you can’t attend a live webinar, a recording will be available for you to access through your programme within 24 hours of the live event finishing.

What software is required for the live talks?

We use a piece of software called BigMarker. It is a cloud based video hosting software. It requires no installations or downloads on your end, and will provide everything you need to join the live webinars through one simple link.

Will I be able to ask questions/do I have to have my microphone on?

You will have a chance to ask questions at the end of each webinar. These questions are typed out and then read to the presenter by the host of the live talk. There is no need to speak, and all student microphones will be muted for the duration of the live webinar.

Do you offer in-person work experience?
We don't directly manage in person work experience but many of our virtual programmes can lead to in person opportunities, look for the programmes marked as 'Virtual to Reality'. You will need to complete the virtual programme and declare your interest via the embedded form.
When will I hear if there is an in-person opportunity?
Our employer partner will contact you directly about any opportunities, timescales can vary Springpod won't be able to provide any updates on progress.

Ready to find out if this career is right for you?

Start now

Finance Careers with the Government Finance Function

Kickstart your future

This programme is open to anyone aged 13+

Certificate of completion

Between 6 - 8 hours worth of content

Introduction to the Government Finance Function

How Government Money Works

Finance Job Families

Finance Job Families Continued

Applying for a Role within Government Finance

Employability Skills

Available dates

Hear from our student community

Aqsa Saleemi, Year 12 Student

Wilfred Williams, Year 12 Student from London

Sophia Nathwani, Year 11 Student, from Hampton

Ellinor Comard, Year 12 Student from Teddington

Stephanie Oseha, Year 12 Student

Jack Zhou, Year 12 Student from Kingston upon Thames

Frequently asked questions

I have a question about my application or programme eligibility

I have a question about my assignment

I have a question about the programme dates, deadline or workload

I have a question about the live talks

I have a question about the certificate

I have a question about in-person work experience

I want to delete my account

Ready to find out if this career is right for you?