Graduate Corporate Tax Trainee (ACA/CTA) - Peterborough - September 2026

Your future starts here. Are you looking to start your career in corporate tax? We’re seeking ambitious individuals from all backgrounds to join our team as a trainee, studying towards the ACA/CTA joint qualification.

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 and a half years to complete with full support and access to first-class tuition centres. If you’re AAT Level 4 qualified, you will be eligible for exemptions; otherwise, we ask for all trainees to complete the full ACA/CTA. We believe that studying alongside a cohort gives you the best chance of exam success.

The team deals with a large portfolio of companies operating in a variety of sectors, including manufacturing, technology, retail, recruitment, financial services, hospitality and property. These clients range from smaller owner-managed businesses to large and complex listed groups, as well as charities and not-for-profit organisations. You’ll work in a fast-paced environment on corporation tax compliance, including preparation of corporation tax returns and computations, advising on payment dates and dealing with all other administrative matters. In addition to compliance work, you’ll also have the opportunity to assist in tax advisory projects once you qualify and progress. As your understanding of taxation issues grows, so will the complexity of your workload. This is an exciting time to join our team which is expanding rapidly nationwide.

Key Dates To Apply: 2 February 2026 - 15 February 2026. We encourage early applications to avoid disappointment. Due to high volume, you may experience delays in the process but we will review all submissions fairly.

Your growth doesn’t just come from exams; it comes from valuable work experience and real-world learning. As a Tax Trainee, you’ll be supported by experienced professionals and gradually introduced to a wide range of technical and advisory work. You’ll gain hands-on experience while building your knowledge of corporate tax compliance and advisory services.

You Can Expect To Be Involved In:

• Supporting the tax compliance process, including assisting with tax accounting and learning how tax returns are prepared and submitted.
• Helping with technical research and assisting in responses to client queries and internal team questions.
• Learning how to identify advisory opportunities within client portfolios and contribute to tax planning discussions.
• Gaining insight into complex tax areas, such as capital allowances, R&D tax relief, transfer pricing, and international tax, with guidance from experienced team members.
• Assisting in stand-alone tax advisory projects, including learning about structuring acquisitions and disposals, transaction support, and due diligence.

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 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. Please apply as usual and be sure to include your qualification details in the academic section. 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 believe that supporting our people leads to success, so we provide both core and flexible benefits tailored to your needs:

• 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, and in your first few months we encourage up to 4 days in the office)
• 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

Ready to start your journey? Explore Life At Saffery & Apply Today.

What To Know Before You Apply:

Before submitting your application, familiarise yourself with our recruitment process by visiting How to apply - Saffery. We also recommend practising psychometric tests and learning more about how to approach a face-to-face, competency-based interview.

You can apply to just one of our programmes during each recruitment season. If your application isn’t successful this time, try again when applications re-open next September for the following year.

If you’ve experienced extenuating circumstances 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 let us know by including the details in the relevant section on the application form.

If you are selected for an in-person interview, we will provide reimbursement for your travel expenses. If you’re offered a place at Saffery, hold off on booking any annual leave around your expected start date.