Audit - Derby Graduate 2026 Audit · Derby - Headquarters

Location: Derby

Contract: Full-time (37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday)

Salary: Competitive starting salary with increases at key milestones to qualification.

Reports to: Audit Manager

If you are a graduate or soon-to-be graduate, our Audit Graduate Scheme is your gateway into a people-focused career with significant earning potential, bringing you new challenges and learning opportunities along the way. No prior experience in accounting or a specific degree is required!

At the heart of successful auditing is a desire to question everything. Our clients will rely on you to challenge their assumptions and adopt an independent perspective to produce thorough financial insights into their accounts. From national companies to entrepreneurial start-ups, no two jobs are the same. Developing your technical expertise in the classroom and the office, you will learn as part of a close-knit team how to put your knowledge into practice and deliver exceptional results on the job. Our auditors are among the best in the industry and can help you reach your full potential in the field. Audit is about so much more than numbers – you can have a real impact on the people and businesses behind the figures. By sustaining our clients’ compliance, we open the door to future growth.

For a varied and fulfilling career with significant earning potential, apply to join our Audit Graduate Scheme today.

On our Audit Graduate Scheme, you will really get to know our clients and build close relationships to better understand their needs. You will provide crucial advice on financial performance, business systems, and risks to help every client achieve their objectives. You would join us on an ACA or ACCA training contract, which provides you with the opportunity to work with a variety of businesses across different sectors, and develop your knowledge as well as your experience in the process. You will gain valuable technical skills, a broad commercial understanding, and in-depth knowledge of different industry sectors on your journey to becoming a qualified Accountant at PKF Smith Cooper. Throughout our Audit Graduate Scheme, you will receive the specialist support you need to reach your full potential in audit. With an ambitious and supportive team behind you, you will become a key player in delivering and developing our audit services. As your experience grows, so will your opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with experienced audit professionals to plan and execute audit engagements for a diverse range of clients across various industries.
• Assist in conducting risk assessments, document systems and controls, and performing substantive testing to ensure accuracy and compliance.
• Analyse financial statements and related data to identify trends, discrepancies, and areas of concern.
• Contribute to the evaluation of a client's financial health and provide valuable insights to aid in decision-making.
• Maintain accurate and organised audit documentation, ensuring it aligns with our standards and best practices.
• Interact with clients and team members professionally and effectively, both in written and verbal communication.
• Articulate audit findings, observations, and recommendations in a clear and understandable manner.
• Collaborate with team members and other service lines to address audit-related challenges.
• Stay updated on relevant audit regulations, standards, and industry developments.
• Pass relevant professional qualifications the first time.

Training and development

Training with a firm like PKF Smith Cooper offers you depth and variety in your client assignments. Through our Audit Graduate Scheme, you will benefit from exposure to a wide range of work with businesses of all sizes, many of them local to our offices. Our partners take a direct interest in the development and progression of our graduates. We aim to equip every graduate with the skills they need to become a future leader – our Managing Partner started out at PKF Smith Cooper as a graduate himself, so who knows what you could achieve through our graduate scheme! As an ICAEW and ACCA Approved Training Employer, we are recognised for our high-quality training and development.

Your skills and qualities

• Any degree at 2:1 or above, with a strong academic record at A Level and GCSE.
• A genuine interest in pursuing a career in audit and accountancy.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and critical-thinking abilities.
• Effective communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Attention to detail and a commitment to delivering high-quality work.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a team and adapt to changing priorities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office is beneficial.
• Although a driving licence and car isn’t a requirement, it will be highly beneficial as you will need to travel to our different client sites.
• No prior experience required.

Why PKF Smith Cooper?

PKF Smith Cooper is the 12th largest accounting firm by UK fee income (Accountancy Age Top 50+50) and a member of global network PKF Global. Through PKF, we operate in unison with member firms in 150 countries to share ideas, expertise and specialist resources for the benefit of our team and clients. Our team of award-winning accountants and business advisors plans to double the size of our company within the next 5 years. As a fast-growing firm and accredited ICAEW and ACCA Approved Training Employer, we are passionate about developing ‘homegrown talent’. We can help you achieve your potential through our comprehensive training, development, and progression programme. We aim to equip every graduate with the skills to become a future leader – our very own managing partner started at PKF Smith Cooper as a graduate, so who knows what you could achieve through our graduate scheme!

Why Derby?

At our headquarters located in Pride Park, you’ll find our main office with three floors of bright, open plan work spaces, breakout areas and modern meeting rooms. Fully equipped kitchens and dining spaces are perfect for spending time away from our desks, and you can even enjoy our private, on-site gym.

What’s in it for you?

Our benefits package has been shaped by our values and our people. Here are some of the perks you can expect as part of Team PKF Smith Cooper:

• A working environment that empowers you to perform at your best through our flexible working policy (subject to manager discretion) and dress for your diary scheme.
• Time to do what matters to you – 25 days annual leave plus statutory bank holidays, the chance to purchase additional annual leave and your birthday off, on us.
• Prize draws 4 times a year to reward those who embrace our company values – win a spa day, AirPods or even a trip to Paris!
• A busy social calendar of team events, office activities and committees. From our monthly book club and Mental Health Committee to our legendary summer parties, there are lots of opportunities to get to know people away from your desk.
• Life doesn’t stop at the end of the working day and neither do our benefits. We offer life assurance, healthcare cashback and discounts on gym memberships and popular retailers including Tesco, River Island and Expedia.
• Free personal finance and mortgage advice from our financial planning experts.
• Travel the world with PKF One Week More, which allows you to extend your holiday with a week of working abroad, and secondment opportunities in PKF offices worldwide.

How to apply

Apply now if you believe you have what we are looking for! Even if you do not tick 100% of the boxes, we encourage you to apply. If you have any questions, please contact a member of the People team by emailing careers@pkfsmithcooper.com or calling 01332 332021.

Work in recruitment? We only accept CVs from our partnered agencies and any unsolicited CVs will be ignored. If you would like to partner with us in the future, get in touch with our People team via the contact details above.