Accounting and Tax Summer Internship - Plymouth

Spend six weeks with us this summer and gain real, hands‑on experience in the world of accountancy and tax. Designed for undergraduates in their penultimate year of study, our paid summer placement will give you valuable insight into professional services, helping you build confidence, practical skills, and clarity about your future career. From day one, you’ll be treated as part of the team, working on real client projects and gaining exposure to the work our professionals do every day.

During your placement, you’ll be challenged and supported as you work across a variety of sectors and client types. You’ll contribute to client work involving start‑ups, AIM‑listed companies, and inspiring not‑for‑profit organisations, giving you a broad and realistic insight into a career in accountancy and tax. You'll have the opportunity to experience some or all of the following departments:

• Audit & Assurance
• Business Advisory
• Agriculture and Landed Estates
• Tax

Throughout the programme, you'll get involved in meaningful work, including:

• Preparing financial statements for limited companies, partnerships, and sole traders
• Auditing financial statements as part of a collaborative audit team
• Analysing accounting data from clients’ books and records
• Supporting the preparations of individual, business and company tax computations and returns
• Researching businesses, industries, and market trends to support client work

Successful completion of the summer placement may lead to an offer on our graduate scheme.

If you’re interested in a career in accountancy or tax and would like to gain insight into the profession before you graduate, our summer placement could be a great fit. This programme is designed to give you a realistic understanding of what it’s like to work as an accountant or tax advisor, while developing skills you can take forward into your career.

You’ll Enjoy This Placement If You Like:

• Taking initiative and working towards goals
• Communicating effectively, both verbally and in writing
• Building great relationships and working collaboratively
• Working with numbers and solving problems in a real business context
• Taking an analytical and methodical approach to your work

What we’re looking for:

• Bright, motivated undergraduates in your penultimate year of study.
• On track for a 2.2 degree or above in any discipline
• Minimum of 112 UCAS points (obtained from three A Levels or equivalent, excluding general studies and EPQ)
• GCSE Maths and English grade 4 (C) or above
• Available to start in June 2026

What you’ll gain:

• Exposure to professional accountancy and tax work in a supportive environment
• The opportunity to develop technical, analytical, and professional skills
• Insight to help you decide whether a career in accountancy or tax is right for you
• Support from experienced colleagues throughout the placement

How to apply:

Apply online by midnight on Sunday, 8 March 2026. We recommend applying early, as the window may close if we receive a high number of applications.

Our Selection Process Includes The Following Stages:

• Online application
• Verbal and numerical reasoning tests
• Pre‑recorded video interview
• Online written exercise
• In person interview

We’re committed to creating an inclusive and positive experience for all candidates. If you require any adjustments during the recruitment process, whether related to a disability, neurodiversity, or any other need, please let us know, and we’ll do our best to support you.

As the largest firm of independent chartered accountants and business advisers in South West England, PKF Francis Clark offers a breadth of opportunities to develop your career in the way that’s right for you. Established in 1919, we’ve grown to a team of nearly 1,000 people, based across our offices in Bristol, Exeter, Plymouth, Poole, Salisbury, Southampton, Taunton, Torquay and Truro. This means we’re big enough to do challenging work for exciting clients, but small enough to maintain our friendly and supportive culture.

This includes an adaptable approach to hybrid working. And our focus on wellbeing and learning and development has been recognised nationally. For the past three years, PKF Francis Clark has been certified as a Great Place to Work and ranked among the UK’s Best Workplaces. In 2025, we climbed four places to 20 out of 100 large organisations on this prestigious list. We’re also in the UK’s top 10 Best Workplaces for Women (6 out of 100 large organisations), as well as being ranked among the Best Workplaces for Wellbeing (35 out of 100), Best Workplaces for Development (24 out of 100) and Best Workplaces in Consulting and Professional Services.

All these lists are compiled by workplace culture experts Great Place to Work. Our rankings are a direct result of feedback from our people in a confidential, independent annual survey. The success rates of our trainees mean we’re also ranked 33rd in The Sunday Times Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers 2025. While we’re proudly independent, we collaborate with colleagues around the world to enable our clients to succeed. PKF Francis Clark is a member of the PKF Global family of firms – together we’re the 12th largest provider of accountancy services in the UK. Being part of this international network provides opportunities to connect with like‑minded accountants and business advisers in 150 countries.

Your core benefits will include:

• Financial Benefits

• Pension
• Group life assurance - up to four times your core salary
• Group income protection
• Health cash plan to help cover the costs of everyday healthcare

• Option to buy 5 extra days holiday*
• Counselling and support for you and your immediate family
• Virtual GP for you and your immediate family
• Cycle to work*

• Medicash Extras providing you with shopping and gym discounts
• Gifts for career and family milestones
• One volunteering day per year to support local organisations
• Emergency funding from the Francis Clark Charitable Foundation

PKF Francis Clark is an Equal Opportunities employer with a keen and passionate commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We’re dedicated to fostering a work environment that supports, inspires, and respects all individuals. We do not discriminate based upon age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, or any other applicable legally protected characteristic. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and all aspects of employment at PKF Francis Clark are based on merit, qualifications, and business needs. We’re committed to providing reasonable adjustments or accommodations for applicants, so if you need assistance or support during the recruitment process please let us know. We promise to reply to all applications.