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- Tasks: Join a three-year training programme to become a Tax Advisor while gaining hands-on experience.
- Company: PKF Francis Clark is the largest independent chartered accountants in South West England, established in 1919.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible hybrid working, health cash plans, and extra holiday options.
- Why this job: Be part of a supportive culture at a Great Place to Work, with opportunities for personal development.
- Qualifications: Must have a 2.2 degree or above and minimum 112 UCAS points.
- Other info: Apply ASAP for a December 2025 start; virtual assessments are coming soon!
The predicted salary is between 8000 - 14000 £ per month.
In a nutshell
You\’ll join our three-year training programme to become a Tax Advisor (ATT/CTA). You’ll earn while you learn, gaining practical experience while studying towards your qualification. We cover the full cost of your training and exams, and our dedicated support will guide you every step of the way. We’re proud to be certified as a Great Place to Work for the third year in a row, making this an outstanding place to start your career in tax.
What you\’ll be doing
You’ll join one of the below tax teams, gaining hands-on experience in specific tax areas, enhancing your technical knowledge, and building trusted relationships with clients. Throughout your training, you’ll work closely with experienced colleagues, building your expertise and confidence every step of the way.
As a member of the corporate tax team, you will learn how to prepare and deliver complex tax calculations for companies, research tax legislation and guidance, and support innovative companies by putting together R&D tax credit claims. You’ll also assist with due diligence work on business deals and transactions. As your skills and experience grow, you’ll take on more responsibility and get involved in advisory projects helping clients plan effectively and stay compliant.
As a member of the share schemes team, you will learn how to design and implement complex equity incentives for key client employees, producing professional reports, and interacting with clients and HMRC on a regular basis. As your skills develop, you will undertake buy-side due diligence supporting investors who are buying companies and advise on the sell-side in company sale transactions. These skills will also allow you to work in tax advantaged equity fundraising projects.
If you have a preference to which team you’d be interested in, you can highlight this throughout your application and assessment process.
About you
You’ll enjoy this job if you like….
- Research and want to hone your investigation skills
- Working with numbers
- Being analytical and methodical in your approach to work
- Talking to people
- Becoming an expert
- Being a team player, surrounded by a fun and caring team
Studying alongside working is demanding. As a trainee tax advisor, you may need to do regular independent study outside of working hours and revise for your professional exams. It takes three years to qualify, by which time you may be managing your own clients or leading a small team.
Your development
We know that strong personal development is key to becoming a trusted tax adviser. Alongside your professional qualification, you’ll receive support to build the skills and behaviours needed for a successful career. You’ll be assigned a buddy before you join, and once you start, your line manager and student counsellor will support your progress and help you stay on track with your qualification and career goals.
What we\’re looking for
You might be an undergraduate, a recent graduate, or a graduate who has already established a career and wants to switch and start a new career in tax. You’ll be expected to demonstrate the following:
- On track to achieve or have obtained a 2.2 or above in any degree discipline
- Minimum of 112 UCAS points (obtained from three A Levels or equivalent excluding general studies)
- Grade 4-9 or C or above in GCSE Maths and English
We recommend applying ASAP as we will be running a virtual assessment for this position in the Autumn for a December 2025 start date.
Why work at PKF Francis Clark
As the largest firm of independent chartered accountants and business advisers in South West England, PKF Francis Clark offers a breadth of opportunities to develop your career in the way that’s right for you.
Established in 1919, we’ve grown to a team of nearly 1,000 people, based across our offices in Bristol, Exeter, Plymouth, Poole, Salisbury, Southampton, Taunton, Torquay and Truro. This means we’re big enough to do challenging work for exciting clients, but small enough to maintain our friendly and supportive culture.
We work hard to ensure you can belong, be yourself and be brilliant as part of a forward-thinking team. This includes a flexible approach to hybrid working. And our focus on wellbeing and learning and development has been recognised nationally.
For the past three years, PKF Francis Clark has been certified as a Great Place to Work and ranked among the UK’s Best Workplaces. In 2025, we climbed four places to 20 out of 100 large organisations on this prestigious list.
We’re also ranked among the UK’s Best Workplaces for Wellbeing (35 out of 100), Best Workplaces for Development (24 out of 100) and Best Workplaces in Consulting and Professional Services.
All these lists are compiled by workplace culture experts Great Place to Work. Our rankings are a direct result of feedback from our people in a confidential, independent annual survey.
The success rates of our trainees mean we’re also ranked 33rd in The Sunday Times Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers 2025.
While we’re proudly independent, we collaborate with colleagues around the world to enable our clients to succeed. PKF Francis Clark is a member of the PKF Global family of firms – together we’re the 12th largest provider of accountancy services in the UK. Being part of this international network provides opportunities to connect with like-minded accountants and business advisers in 150 countries.
Your core benefits will includes
Financial benefits:
- Pension
- Group life assurance – up to four times your core salary
- Group income protection
- Health cash plan to help cover the costs of everyday healthcare
Health & Wellbeing benefits:
- Option to buy 5 extra days holiday*
- Counselling and support for you and your immediate family
- Virtual GP for you and your immediate family
- Cycle to work*
Other benefits:
- Medicash Extras providing you with shopping and gym discounts
- Gifts for career and family milestones
- One volunteering day per year to support local organisations
- Emergency funding from the Francis Clark Charitable Foundation
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Graduate Tax Trainee - December 2025 Start employer: PKF Francis Clark
Contact Detail:
PKF Francis Clark Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Graduate Tax Trainee - December 2025 Start
✨Tip Number 1
Research the specific tax areas that interest you, such as corporate tax or share schemes. Understanding these fields will not only help you during interviews but also allow you to express your enthusiasm and preference for a particular team.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with current or former trainees at PKF Francis Clark. Engaging with them can provide valuable insights into the company culture and expectations, which can be beneficial during your assessment process.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for the virtual assessment by practising common interview questions related to tax and analytical skills. Being well-prepared will boost your confidence and help you stand out as a candidate.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your passion for continuous learning and development. Highlight any relevant courses or self-study you've undertaken, as this aligns with the company's commitment to personal growth and professional qualifications.
We think you need these skills to ace Graduate Tax Trainee - December 2025 Start
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant skills and experiences that align with the role of a Graduate Tax Trainee. Emphasise any analytical, research, or numerical skills you possess, as well as your ability to work in a team.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your enthusiasm for the tax field and the specific team you are interested in. Mention why you want to join PKF Francis Clark and how their values resonate with you. Be sure to include your academic achievements and any relevant experiences.
Highlight Your Academic Achievements: Clearly state your degree classification and UCAS points in your application. If you have strong GCSE results in Maths and English, make sure to mention these as they are key requirements for the role.
Showcase Your Interest in Continuous Learning: Since the role involves studying alongside working, demonstrate your commitment to personal development. Mention any previous experiences where you successfully balanced study and work, or how you plan to manage your time effectively during the training programme.
How to prepare for a job interview at PKF Francis Clark
✨Research the Company
Before your interview, take some time to research PKF Francis Clark. Understand their values, culture, and the specific tax teams you might be joining. This will help you tailor your answers and show genuine interest in the role.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
As a Graduate Tax Trainee, you may face questions related to tax legislation and calculations. Brush up on your knowledge of basic tax principles and be ready to discuss how you would approach real-world scenarios.
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
Since the role requires being analytical and methodical, prepare examples from your academic or work experience that demonstrate your problem-solving abilities. Highlight any projects where you had to analyse data or conduct research.
✨Express Your Team Spirit
PKF Francis Clark values teamwork, so be sure to share experiences where you successfully collaborated with others. Discuss how you contribute to a positive team environment and how you handle challenges within a group setting.
