Audit Graduate Programme (ACA): Fast-Track Your Audit Career

Applications for our Audit Graduate Programme (ACA) will open later this year. We invite you to register your interest to receive updates on when applications open. At Moore Kingston Smith, we believe in the potential of people to make a positive impact, fuelled by the power of genuine understanding. As an accredited training firm, we’re committed to providing first‑class professional development in a supportive and friendly environment.

Over three years, you will gain hands‑on experience, develop essential skills, and build the foundation for a successful career in audit. You will work with businesses across a wide range of sectors, delivering exceptional client service while earning your ACA qualification and becoming an ICAEW Chartered Accountant. Our Advice, Audit & Accounts team is trained to have broad experience across a range of disciplines, from audit and accounts through to tax and other advisory services, so we can support our clients with cross‑discipline solutions.

These teams work with clients of varying sizes, from sole traders to medium and large businesses, across sectors including financial services, hospitality, real estate and technology. From the outset, you will work with our clients, who choose us because we understand them so well. You will get to know their businesses, uncover the obstacles they face and become familiar with their sectors. The experience is varied; some projects last a few days, others a few weeks. We encourage you to take responsibility early on, and you will get to grips with all aspects of the role and audit process.

Key Responsibilities in the first 12 months:

• Develop a strong understanding of accounting principles, financial reporting standards, and auditing guidelines
• Attend client offices and represent the firm professionally as part of the audit team
• Assist in planning audits, including reviewing prior‑year information and preparing lead schedules
• Perform audit testing on key financial areas such as income, expenses, assets, and liabilities
• Check the accuracy of financial schedules and ensure figures agree with supporting records
• Prepare financial statements in line with relevant standards and legal requirements
• Draft corporation tax computations and support tax‑related audit procedures
• Liaise with clients to gather documentation, clarify queries, and support audit progress
• Maintain accurate and well‑organised working papers in line with internal procedures
• Review and update client data in accounting and tax software systems
• Identify and suggest improvements to client systems and internal processes
• Support the preparation of audit close‑out meeting materials and discussion points
• Communicate effectively with internal teams, including technical and tax departments
• Help manage client expectations and meet deadlines throughout the audit process

As you develop experience and confidence, you will start to take more ownership of audit sections and communicate more directly with clients. You will begin mentoring newer team members, contributing to planning discussions, and handling more complex technical areas. As you approach qualification in your third year, you will be able to further enhance the breadth of your experience by supporting the facilitation of internal training, and by learning more about other services and sectors in the business with the opportunity for a secondment.

Following qualification, many of our trainees continue their careers within their original teams, opting to maintain a generalist focus, whilst others have moved into other departments including tax, corporate finance and digital transformation. Whatever path you choose, we have clear progression routes, and there’s plenty of opportunity to take your career in the direction you desire at Moore Kingston Smith. In fact, many of our partners started out as trainees here and through hard work, commitment and drive have gone on to leadership roles.