School Leaver Audit Trainee (ACA) - London - September 2027

Your future starts here

Are you looking to start your career in Audit, helping businesses build confidence in their financial reporting and decision-making? We’re seeking ambitious individuals from all backgrounds to join our team as a trainee, studying towards the ACA qualification.

Your future starts here

Are you looking to start your career in Audit, helping businesses build confidence in their financial reporting and decision-making? 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.

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 upcoming and recent school leavers or career changers. We do not expect applicants to have any prior relevant work experience.

Ready to start your journey?

Life at Saffery

About The Programme

Our training contract takes four 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 grow, you’ll take on more responsibility within audit engagements, contribute to more complex areas of work and build your confidence working directly with clients.

Our bespoke School Leaver Programme, developed with Kaplan, includes a six‑week business simulation designed to build key professional skills such as teamwork, decision‑making and leadership. Kaplan has successfully delivered this programme for several years and it has consistently received excellent feedback from participants.

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.

Within our London office, you’ll work across one of three main client groups: Corporates Group, Film, TV and Video Games Group or Private Client Group. You can learn more about each client group below. If you have a preference for a particular client group, please tell us in the 'About You' section of your application form. We encourage you to research our teams and the clients they work with, as this will help you explain why that area interests you and how it aligns with your career goals.

Corporates Group

The Corporates 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.

Film, TV and Video Games Group

The Film, TV & Video Games 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.

Private Client Group

The Private Client group supports a diverse range of clients, from individuals and families to business owners and high‑net‑worth entrepreneurs. Teams work closely with clients to understand their goals and provide advice across personal, business and financial matters. By building long‑term relationships and collaborating with specialists across Saffery, the group helps clients make informed decisions, plan for the future and achieve their ambitions with confidence.

What You’ll Do

• You’ll be taken through the various stages of an audit from planning to completion
• Support audit engagements for clients across a diverse range of industries by testing financial information and reviewing key controls
• Prepare clear, well‑structured audit documentation and working papers
• Work with client financial data using a range of accounting systems and audit tools
• Assist with planning and fieldwork, both in the office and on client sites
• Build strong relationships with clients to gain a deeper understanding of their business
• Help identify and investigate differences or inconsistencies in financial information
• Work closely with colleagues to deliver high‑quality audit work to agreed deadlines

What You’ll Learn

• Core audit and accounting principles, including regulatory and reporting requirements
• How audits are planned, delivered and reviewed in practice
• How businesses operate and how their financial processes and controls work
• How to assess risk and evaluate financial information critically
• The practical application of your professional qualification studies in a real‑world environment

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

• 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 meets you

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

We believe thatsupporting 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, 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.
• You can apply to just one of our programmes during each recruitment season. If your application isn’t successful this time, we’d love for you to try again when applications re‑open next September for the following year.
• 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.