12-Month Placement Programme, Private Client Tax - Southampton (July 2027)

S&W; Southampton; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 22,000; Full time

Job summary

S&W is offering a 12-month Private Client Tax placement in Southampton, starting July 2027. You will be part of the Private Client Tax Team, gaining hands-on experience and exposure to tax compliance, client liaison and research tasks within a supportive graduate environment.

No prior experience in accountancy is required; we welcome curious and motivated graduates from all degree disciplines who want to develop professionally in a fast-growing firm.

Qualifications

• Naturally curious and eager to learn.
• Strong communication and teamwork.
• Attention to detail and organisational skills.

Responsibilities

• Support tax compliance work for Private Client clients.
• Assist with basic tax returns, repayment claims and computations.
• Engage with HMRC and clients, helping prepare client reports.

Skills

Curious

Motivated

Good communication

Detail oriented

Organised

Education

Penultimate year of university

2:2 degree expected

UCAS points 112

GCSE English/Maths grade 5

Job description

12-Month Placement Programme, Private Client Tax - Southampton (July 2027)

• Full-time
• Office Location: Southampton

Why S&W?

At S&W, we believe a great early career experience is about more than just the work you do. It's about the people you learn from, the relationships you build and the experiences that help shape your future. Whether that's developing new skills, growing your confidence or celebrating success with your colleagues, you'll be part of a team that supports you to be yourself and succeed.

During your 12 month placement you'll contribute to meaningful work, learn from experienced professionals and gain first-hand insight into life in professional services.

As one of the UK's fastest-growing accountancy and advisory firms, we offer a balance of opportunity and support. Your placement is a chance to experience life at S&W first-hand, get to know our people and culture, and explore what a future career with us could look like.

We see our placement students as future talent, which is why many go on to secure a place on one of our Graduate programmes after completing their degree.

No previous experience in accountancy, finance or professional services is required. We're looking for people who are curious, motivated and eager to learn. What matters most is your attitude, potential and willingness to get involved.

The Private Client Tax Team at S&W

Our Private Client Tax Services team helps individuals from all walks of life with their tax affairs. With over 6,000 private tax clients and 1,500 trusts, our client base is incredibly diverse, ranging from high-net-worth individuals and families to entrepreneurs, business owners and family businesses.

You will be joining a team that supports clients in meeting their tax compliance obligations and liaises with HMRC on their behalf. This can include preparing tax returns, repayment claims, computations and accounts, as well as managing correspondence with HMRC.

What will you be doing?

The Private Client Tax Internship will give you valuable insight into life within a professional services firm and provide hands-on experience of the work our graduates undertake on a day-to-day basis. You could be attending meetings with partners, assisting with client work or supporting research projects. There will be a wide variety of work to get involved in, giving you the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution as part of the team.

Over the course of the placement, you'll gain valuable insight into life at S&W, develop professional skills, expand your network and build a deeper understanding of the opportunities available in Audit & Assurance.

You'll join as part of a cohort and benefit from support from colleagues across the business, giving you the opportunity to learn from people at different stages of their careers and build connections that last beyond the programme.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Liaising with clients and third parties to obtain the information required to support tax compliance and advisory work.
• Preparing basic tax returns and repayment claim forms.
• Assisting with the preparation of tax advice for clients, including conducting technical tax research, supporting strategic planning and drafting client reports.
• Managing correspondence with clients, HMRC and other third parties via letter, email and telephone.

You'll be someone who:

• Is naturally curious, eager to learn and open to new challenges
• Communicates well, builds positive relationships and collaborates effectively with others
• Has a keen eye for detail and enjoys solving problems
• Is organised, willing to take ownership and able to manage competing priorities
• Is interested in understanding how businesses operate and the challenges they face

You'll also need to:

• Be available to start on 28th June 2027
• Be in your penultimate year of university
• Be on track to achieve at least a 2:2 degree in any discipline
• Have a minimum of 112 UCAS points from your top three A Levels (or equivalent), excluding General Studies
• Have achieved a minimum Grade 5 (or equivalent) in GCSE English Language and Maths

No previous experience in accountancy, finance or professional services is required, and we welcome applications from all degree disciplines.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

We are proud to value the differences that a diverse workforce brings, representative of society and our clients. At S&W we have a wide range of highly active employee resource groups and we're delivering multiple diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives across the organisation. It is our commitment to provide a workspace where all colleagues, regardless of identity, background, or circumstance, feel respected as individuals and feel that they can achieve their full potential and work in a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment.

We are happy to make any reasonable adjustments to accommodate for your needs throughout the application process. Please let your Recruiter know.