School Leaver Accounts Trainee (AAT or ACA) - Peterborough - September 2025
Right now, we’re looking for A Level (or equivalent) students wanting to start their career as a trainee in accounts. We’ll support you in becoming fully qualified within a 4 to 4.5 year period.
We have two study pathways:
* AAT Level 3 (2 papers only) and AAT Level 4 followed by an ACA apprenticeship. Exemptions to the ACA will only apply once you’re AAT Level 4 qualified.
* ACA apprenticeship only.
We want you to have the best possible journey with Saffery and help you to achieve a high level of success in the exams. We therefore have a dedicated Early Careers team who will consult with you throughout the recruitment process to explain and choose the best pathway for you.
Qualifying is not just about passing your exams; gaining valuable work experience is so important.
You'll work in a friendly and progressive environment in a client-facing, fast-paced role which includes advisory elements and often deals with high-profile clients.
The work is varied and ranges from typical year-end compliance through to ad-hoc advisory and project work. The client base is a mix of sole traders, partnerships, limited companies, limited liability partnerships, trusts, and smaller private charities.
The role would include (but is not limited to) the following, within agreed deadlines:
* Preparing management accounts, including reconciling all key account balances and tailoring the presentation specific to each client.
* Assisting and advising clients on issues in their accounting systems, including software migration.
* Agreeing and executing payment runs on clients’ behalf using a variety of online banking platforms.
* Preparing VAT and Intrastat returns.
* Preparation of year-end financial statements and simple corporation tax computations.
* Carrying out and reviewing ad hoc tasks such as cash flows, budgets, and information for third parties.
* Maintaining relationships with clients and taking ownership of projects and tasks as appropriate.
* Processing work on Xero and other accounting software.
You'll also receive excellent training and support for your studies. We use first-class tuition centres and organise our own off-site trainee programmes. You’ll get to meet and socialise with trainees across all offices.
What you'll need
* A minimum of 120 UCAS points in your A Levels (or equivalent), and
* A minimum of 6 (or B) in GCSE Maths and English Language (or equivalent).
What we’ll offer you
* Annual leave allowance, which increases in line with length of service.
* A 35-hour working week with flexibility around our core hours of 10am-4pm.
* A contributory pension plan (we’ll contribute 5% of salary on a matched basis with you from the date you join).
* Life assurance cover based on 4 x annual salary.
* Working from home allowance of £25 a month.
* Our Profit-Sharing Plan, enabling you to share in the firm’s profits (usually c.£1,000).
* Paid overtime or time off in lieu.
* Our agile working policy gives you the option to work from home for up to three days per week.
* Access to health assessments and GP support, cancer screenings, and our BUPA health cash plan.
* Critical illness cover, dental, and travel insurance.
* Generous referral bonuses if you help bring in new clients or colleagues.
We’re also committed to being a fully inclusive employer and have a huge focus on equality, diversity, and inclusion (ED&I). When you start with us, you’ll have the opportunity to join a number of people network groups, as well as be a part of our growing ED&I network.
Who we are
Saffery is a partner-led and people-focused firm of chartered accountants, tax, and business advisers. Since 1855, we’ve built long-term relationships with our diverse, high-profile clients, across varied and specialised sectors.
When you work with Saffery, the well-respected accountancy firm where heritage meets ambition, you work with people who know your name. Everyone belongs here.
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