Audit Higher Apprenticeship Programme 2026 - Milton Keynes

Our higher apprenticeship programme offers an exciting opportunity to work in a busy office environment whilst studying towards a professional qualification for a 24‑month programme. This is a fantastic platform to start a career in accountancy, working with bookkeeping, payments and participating in statutory audits.

Wage: £22,000 a year

Working conditions: Flexible working, a minimum of 25 days holiday, competitive salary, membership of our pension and life assurance scheme.

Training course: Professional accounting technician (level 4)

Hours: Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.30pm (37 hours 30 minutes a week)

Start date: Monday 14 September 2026

Duration: 2 years

Positions available: 1

What you’ll do at work:

• During this apprenticeship, we commit time to help you build your knowledge, skills and practical experiences, providing genuine development opportunities to enable you to become a future leader.
• You will initially be responsible for preparing the statutory accounts and tax computations of smaller clients, bookkeeping, payments and, in addition, participating in statutory audits as an apprentice team member.
• As your experience grows, so do your responsibilities, ensuring you get the most out of your training with us and are able to apply the knowledge you are learning along the way.

Where you’ll work: The Pinnacle, 170 Midsummer Boulevard, Milton Keynes, MK9 1BP

Training provider: KAPLAN FINANCIAL LIMITED

Training schedule: Alongside the day‑to‑day duties, you will also be studying for a professional qualification, the Professional Diploma in Accounting (Level 4). The training will be a combination of on‑the‑job training, time off to study, attend college and complete online classes in preparation for exams. We also provide soft skills training and regular 1:1 meetings with your training manager to ensure you have all the support you need.

Apprentices without English or maths at Level 2 (GCSE or equivalent) must achieve this prior to the completion of the apprenticeship.

Course contents:

• Collate and analyse financial information and show how that information can be used most effectively to support value creation within an organisation.
• Apply accounting principles and adhere to legislation to ensure records are accurate and compliant with law or company policy when delivering accounting activities.
• Apply professional scepticism when undertaking accounting activities to inform and evaluate decision making on the content of true and fair accounts.
• Interpret financial information for accounting purposes, such as using judgement to determine the correct way to report or account for transaction or undertaking ratio analysis.
• Participate in or support others with quality improvement activities, for example the improvement of personal working practices.
• Use software packages to assist with accounting tasks in line with cyber and data security requirements, using data securely and safely, including backing up data.
• Deliver accounting tasks with a critical eye to transactions and trends, demonstrating a ‘right first time approach’.
• Use workload management principles to plan, organise and prioritise own tasks and manage time effectively.
• Use accounting information to add value to the organisation through use of data visualisations, analysis and interpretation, and communicate financial information in a way that facilitates understanding for non‑finance stakeholders.
• Communicate accounting information through a variety of media to enable key stakeholders to understand what is required.
• Build and maintain collaborative, professional relationships with internal and external stakeholders to deliver accounting tasks, recognising the importance of equality, diversity and inclusion.

Essential qualifications: A Level in any discipline (grade Minimum UCAS points of 112). Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills:

• Communication skills
• Attention to detail
• Organisation skills
• Number skills
• Logical
• Team working

About this employer: We are a top 50 accountancy firm with offices in St Albans, London, Rickmansworth and Milton Keynes. We provide our clients with accountancy and tax advice to help their businesses grow, support individuals and families, and help charities and trustees to manage their finances and comply with their obligations. Mercer & Hole recognises that people are its key assets, which makes achieving the right balance between work and home part of its culture.

After this apprenticeship: There are no limits for our apprentices. Once you have completed the programme, you can progress onto further qualifications, for example, a three‑year ACA qualification to become a Chartered Accountant, or whatever is the best choice for you.

Reference: The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000011390.

Apply now: Closes in 21 days (Friday 20 February 2026)