Audit Higher Apprenticeship Programme 2026 - Rickmansworth

Why choose our Audit Higher Apprenticeship Programme? Apprenticeship within our Audit department offers a varied and exciting career. You will have the opportunity to work across a range of sectors. It’s a job in which you will always be learning about different types of businesses and developing your business skills.

Wage: £22,000 a year

Hours: Monday to Friday, between 9:00am - 5:00pm. 37 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date: Monday 14 September 2026

Duration: 1 year 3 months

Positions available: 1

Work: Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you’ll do at work:

• Our higher apprenticeship programme is designed to support your learning and development.
• You will work as part of the Audit team while studying the AAT qualification - Level 3 & 4.
• The variety of clients we work with provides you with well-rounded experience, and the structure of our teams allows you the opportunity to gain knowledge from and exposure to senior managers and partners throughout your training and beyond.

Structure of our Audit Higher Apprenticeship Programme:

• Year 1: You will have the opportunity to gain insight in client challenges through analysing bank payments and receipts, preparing control accounts, calculating prepayments and accruals, and updating fixed asset registers for additions and disposals, also calculating depreciation, and drafting basic financial statements, as well as starting to apply basic principles of auditing while working as part of a larger team, amongst other duties. During this time, you will also develop the ability to identify differences or issues from information provided by clients and start to suggest solutions.
• Year 2: You will build on your experience gained and learn new skills, such as preparing more complex statutory accounts with accurate disclosures as required by company law, undertaking small simple audits on your own, completing more complex audit testing and developing your problem-solving and business skills. You will also have the opportunity to assist more junior trainees with queries and be a buddy to those just starting out. Once you’ve completed your AAT qualification, you will then have the opportunity to apply to move on to studying the ACA and become a chartered accountant.

Where you’ll work: Trinity Court, Church Street, Rickmansworth, WD3 1RT

Training: Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training provider: KAPLAN FINANCIAL LIMITED

Training course: Assistant accountant (level 3)

What you’ll learn:

• Assist with the investigation and response to financial information queries.
• Record and analyse financial data using the organisation's standard tools and processes.
• Apply double entry bookkeeping and accounting standards to process financial documents, generate financial statements and report financial information to users of accounts.
• Assist with production of accurate financial information for the preparation of accounts.
• Reconcile financial data, such as preparation of reconciliations or review of reconciliations.
• Investigate, resolve or escalate transactional queries and errors within their remit as appropriate.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with stakeholders.
• Communicate financial information in a way that non-finance stakeholders can interpret and understand.
• Utilise digital skills to present key financial information using finance and accounting software and applications.
• Use software packages to assist with basic accounting tasks in line with cyber and data security requirements, using data securely and safely, including backing up data.
• Communicate using varying approaches and different media methods with an appreciation of the risks and benefits to the business of social media and other digital applications.

Essential qualifications: A Level in any discipline (minimum UCAS points of 112)

Skills:

• Communication skills
• Attention to detail
• Organisation skills
• Problem solving skills
• Analytical skills
• Team working

Other requirements: Minimum 112 UCAS points – 3 A levels or equivalent (excluding EPQs). Passing full background checks.

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 our culture.

Company benefits: Firm pension scheme, group income protection, group life assurance, Employee Assistance programme.

After this apprenticeship: Progression to the ACA or ACCA qualifications.

Contact: Mercer & Hole HR Team, HRteam@mercerhole.co.uk

Reference code: VAC2000018840

Apply now: Closes in 22 days (Monday 30 March 2026). After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company’s website.