Audit trainee - AAT and ACA - School & College Leavers – August 2026

In a nutshell

Join our fast-track programme designed for ambitious school and college leavers who want to qualify as a Charted Accountant. You’ll start by working towards your AAT qualification, then progress quickly to ACA, all while gaining valuable hands-on audit experience. We’re proud to be certified as a Great Place to Work for the third year running, making this an excellent place to launch your audit career.

What you'll be doing

As a trainee auditor, you’ll play a key role in helping businesses understand their financial position and manage risk. You'll work with a diverse portfolio of clients, including commercial businesses, from owner-managed to listed entities, charities, educational establishments, and professional firms.

You will:

Develop technical, commercial and interpersonal skills Work in small project teams (typically 2-5 people) on audits lasting 1- 3 weeks for medium sized and large businesses  Identify key issues and risks, using analytics tools and software to interpret data, draw conclusions, and make recommendations Gain experience in preparing annual statutory accounts and tax calculations, and assessing forecasts and projections Be part of a high performing, supportive team

As you progress, you’ll take on more responsibility and have opportunities to make a real impact.

About you

You’ll enjoy this job if you like:

Taking initiative and achieving goals Communicating effectively, both verbally and in writing Building strong relationships and working collaboratively Working with numbers and solving problems Being analytical and methodical in your approach

Studying alongside working is demanding. As an AAT/ACA trainee, you will need to dedicate time outside working hours for study and exam preparation.

Your development

We'll provide full support for your professional qualification and help you develop the skills and behaviours needed to succeed as an accountant. Before you start, you’ll be assigned a buddy, and once you join, your line manager and student counsellor will help you stay on track with your professional qualification and career goals. 

Entering the work environment can be daunting. But the support network here at PKF Francis Clark is endless. Everyone from you, your Manager to the Partners is treated respectfully and is made to feel valued. And you’ll be joining with lots of other trainees just like you.

What we're looking for

Bright, motivated school and college leavers ready to build a meaningful career in accountancy. This programme offers structured development, early responsibility, and long-term progression. 

You’ll be expected to demonstrate the following: 

Minimum of 112 UCAS points (obtained from three A Levels or equivalent excluding general studies and EPQ)  Grade 4-9 or C or above in GCSE Maths and English Willingness to travel to client sites and other offices as required

How to apply 

We review applications on a rolling basis, so apply early. We may close the vacancy once we’ve received enough applications. You can only submit one application per recruitment cycle, and we’re unable to accept multiple applications for different roles.

We’re committed to creating an inclusive and positive experience for all candidates. If you require any adjustments during the recruitment process, whether related to a disability, neurodiversity, or any other need, please let us know, and we ’ll do our best to support you.