Graduate Accounts Trainee (ACA) - Leeds - September 2027

Your future starts here. Are you looking to start your career in Accounts, helping businesses understand their financial performance and make informed decisions? We’re seeking ambitious individuals from all backgrounds to join our team as a trainee, studying towards the ACA 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.

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.

About The Programme

Our training contract takes three years 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 develop, you’ll take on more complex work, contribute to projects and build your expertise as a trusted advisor. If you’re AAT Level 4 qualified, you will be eligible for exemptions; otherwise, we ask for all trainees to complete the full ACA syllabus. We believe that studying alongside a cohort gives you the best chance of exam success.

Key Dates To Apply

Monday 14 September 2026 - 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 growth doesn’t just come from exams. It comes from valuable work experience and real-world learning.

What You’ll Do

• Assist with preparing financial statements, management accounts and related analysis.
• Work with client financial data using a range of accounting systems and tools.
• Assist with resolving day-to-day accounting queries as you gain experience, building confidence over time.
• Prepare accurate, high-quality work for review by senior team members.

What You’ll Learn

• Core accounting principles, financial reporting standards and regulatory requirements.
• How businesses operate and how financial information supports decision-making.
• How to interpret financial data and communicate insights.
• The practical application of your professional qualification studies in real-world scenarios.

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 Highers (or equivalent), excluding General Studies and AS Levels.
• A minimum of 6 (or B) in GCSE or National 5 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 A Levels or Highers, please detail this under the A Level, Scottish Highers (or equivalent) qualifications 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

At Saffery, we look for people who share our values. We're looking for individuals who are collaborative, responsible, progressive and act with integrity, whilst always striving for excellence. You’ll be approachable, committed and ready to take ownership of your work, with a proactive and curious mindset and a genuine interest in how businesses operate. We value people who are organised, pay close attention to detail, enjoy working with financial data, and can manage their time effectively. You’ll thrive in a close-knit team environment, working collaboratively with others while taking responsibility for your own development.

We want people who are willing to learn, ask questions, speak up when something could be better, and help make improvements happen. Here, you're never just a number. We value drive, focus and a positive attitude, but we also value who you are as a person. We believe in caring more, leaving egos behind, supporting each other and enjoying the journey together. There's genuine mutual respect here and a two-way relationship where we bring out the best in each other.

We’ll help you get to know our clients, but we also look for people who are naturally inquisitive about the wider business and economic landscape. If you're curious, eager to learn, and committed to giving your best, you'll find plenty of support and opportunities to succeed as you work towards your qualification and beyond. You’ll be surrounded by people who value you, your contributions, and your potential.

What We’ll Offer You

• Financial support & flexibility.
• Competitive salary.
• Profit-sharing scheme (approx. £1,000 per year).
• Generous annual leave & flexible work arrangements.
• Contributory pension plan (5% salary match).

Work life balance & wellbeing

• Buddy scheme and/or line manager support.
• Agile working policy (up to three days working from home, however in your first few months we do encourage up to 4 days in the office to reap the benefits of training around your managers and colleagues).
• Health assessments, GP access, & cancer screenings.
• Access to mental health & wellbeing resources.

Personal development and belonging

• Mentorship & career progression opportunities.
• Participation in our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (ED&I) programme.
• Volunteer to join one of our People networks, including Accessibility, Cultural Heritage, Faith, LGBTQ+, Social Mobility and Gender Equality.

What To Know Before You Apply

We also recommend practising psychometric tests and learning more about how to approach a face-to-face, competency-based interview. This will help you feel confident and prepared to show your best self. If you’ve experienced extenuating circumstances (such as bereavement, mental health challenges, or any other unforeseen situation), that may have impacted your academic performance, please reach out to us before you submit an application - EarlyCareersTalent@saffery.com. If you require any reasonable adjustments, please look out for further details throughout our assessment process on how to request throughout each stage of our application and assessment process.

We’re committed to assessing all applicants fairly and want to do everything we can to support your success throughout the process. If you are selected for an in-person interview, we will provide reimbursement for your travel expenses. More information on what we cover will be shared at this stage of the process.

If you're offered a place at Saffery, we kindly recommend holding off on booking any annual leave around your expected start date. This helps ensure you don’t miss out on important training and onboarding sessions that will set you up for success.