Graduate Corporate Tax (ACA/CTA) - London - September 2027

Graduate Corporate Tax Trainee (ACA/CTA) - London - September 2027

Are you looking to start your career in tax, helping businesses or individuals manage their tax arrangements, comply with tax regulations and make informed financial decisions? We’re seeking ambitious individuals from all backgrounds to join our team as a trainee, studying towards the ACA/CTA joint qualification.

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. As a proud member of Nexia, a worldwide network of trusted member firms, we’ve got access to local insight on a global scale.

We pride ourselves on our informal and inclusive culture, building an environment where people can be themselves and enjoy challenging, interesting, rewarding careers.

When you work with Saffery, the well-respected accountancy firm where heritage meets ambition, you work with people who know your name. Who know you as a human being, not just a job title. Everyone belongs here. Always.

Who we welcome

We recognise that talent comes from different paths, so we encourage applications from recent graduates or career changers. We do not expect applicants to have any prior relevant work experience.

Our training contract takes three years and three months to complete with full support and access to first-class tuition centres. You’ll follow a structured development programme combining professional study with on-the-job learning. As your knowledge and confidence grow, you’ll take on more responsibility, contribute to more complex areas of work and build your confidence working directly with clients.

If you’reAAT Level 4 qualified, you will be eligible for exemptions, otherwise we ask for all trainees to complete the full ACA/CTAsyllabus. We believe that studying alongside a cohort gives you the best chance of exam success.

About the teams

We have two teams we are recruiting into. Whilst there is significant overlap in the technical skills built across these areas of Tax, you'll be aligned to one specific team, so please use the motivational questions within the 'About You' section of your application form to tell us which client group you are most interested in and why!

• Our specialist Film, TV and Video Games Tax team

If you are more interested in working within Personal Tax, helping a wide range of high net worth clients, please note these roles open for applications on Monday 2 November 2026.

Corporates Group:

The Corporate Group works with a diverse range of clients across multiple sectors, including professional services, financial services, manufacturing, technology, retail, recruitment, hospitality, property, charities and education. Clients range from entrepreneurial and family-owned businesses to large UK listed and international groups, as well as charities and not-for-profit organisations. The team provides a broad range of audit, tax, compliance and advisory services, supporting businesses at all stages of their growth and development.

You’ll help businesses navigate complex tax regulations and make informed financial decisions.

Film, TV and Video Games Group:

This team works with a diverse range of clients across the creative industries, including film and television production companies, video game developers, major studios, streaming platforms and specialist service providers. Clients range from owner-managed businesses and independent producers to large multinational organisations. The team provides audit, tax and advisory services, supporting clients operating in a dynamic and fast-evolving sector.

You’ll help film and TV productions unlock valuable tax incentives and navigate the financial complexities of the creative industries.

Key dates to apply:

Monday 14 September 2026 to Sunday 4 October 2026

We encourage early applications to avoid disappointment, as roles may close early due to high demand.

Due to the volume of applications, you may occasionally experience delays; however, we remain committed to reviewing all applications fairly. All applications are assessed by trained human reviewers, and automated tools are not used to make final decisions.

Your role and development

Your growthdoesn't just come from exams,andit comes from valuable work experience and real-world learning. We’ll support you every step of the way through mentorship, structured training, and our off-site trainee programmes as well as regular social events to build friendships with colleagues.

What you’ll do

• Assist with tax returns, computations and other compliance filings for a range of clients.
• Work with financial and client data to support reporting, analysis and submissions.
• Use specialist software and systems to deliver high-quality tax work.
• Carry out technical research and support client projects, queries and advisory work.
• Prepare reports, calculations and documentation for review by senior colleagues.
• Build relationships with clients and colleagues while gaining exposure to a variety of industries and sectors.
• Contribute to delivering accurate, practical solutions that help clients meet their tax obligations and achieve their goals.

Depending on your team, you may also have opportunities to:

• Support creative industry clients with film and television tax credit claims and related submissions.
• Work on specialist corporate tax planning projects.

What you’ll learn

• Core tax principles, legislation and regulatory requirements.
• How tax rules apply to different clients and business situations.
• How to analyse financial information and prepare tax returns, calculations and technical documentation.
• The role tax plays in compliance, advisory work and business decision-making.
• How to communicate technical information effectively.
• The practical application of your professional qualification studies in a real-world environment.

Depending on your team, you may also gain experience in:

• Corporate tax compliance, reporting and tax planning opportunities.
• Film and TV tax reliefs, tax credit claims and the specialist tax issues affecting the creative industries.

Don't see a team that matches your interests just yet? We have several other specialist teams across Saffery, including Personal Tax, Transfer Pricing (International Tax), Indirect (VAT) Tax, Capital Allowances and Employment Tax. Visit our Live Vacancies page to explore all current opportunities and find the role that's right for you. If you're still unsure, we’d be happy to discuss options with you throughout the process.

What you’ll need

• 2:1 undergraduate degree (expected or obtained) in any discipline,
• A minimum of 120 UCAS points from your top 3 A Levels (or equivalent), excluding General Studies and AS Levels.
• A minimum of 6 (or B) in GCSE Maths and English Language (or equivalent).

We welcome applications from candidates who are AAT qualified. If you have completed AAT studies (up to Level 4) in place of Highers or A Levels, please detail this under the A Level section on your application form.

If you have over 12 months relevant experience within a training contract at another firm, we recommend exploring part-qualified opportunities on our Experienced Hire vacancy page .

We understand that confidence plays a role in job applications, and some candidates may hesitate to apply. If this role excites you and aligns with your career ambitions, we’d love to hear from you!

Where potential meets personal meets you

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