AAT Accountancy Trainee - School & College Leaver – August 2026

PKF FRANCIS CLARK; Plymouth; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading accountancy firm in Plymouth is seeking a trainee accountant to work towards AAT qualification while earning. This role involves preparing client accounts, engaging in business taxation, and building strong client relationships. Ideal candidates will have a minimum of 112 UCAS points and pass GCSE Maths and English. With full training and support offered, it's a promising start to a career in accountancy, backed by a certified Great Place to Work culture.

Benefits

Pension

Group life assurance

Health cash plan

Extra holiday days option

Counselling and support

Cycle to work scheme

Volunteering day per year

Qualifications

• Bright and motivated school or college leavers.
• Ready to build a career in accountancy.
• Ability to manage regular independent study.

Responsibilities

• Help clients prepare year-end and management accounts.
• Get involved with business taxation and company secretarial matters.
• Build strong client relationships and provide support.

Skills

Taking initiative

Effective communication

Building relationships

Analytical skills

Problem-solving

Education

Minimum of 112 UCAS points from three A Levels or equivalent

GCSE Maths and English grade 4 (C) or above

Job description

In a nutshell

Join us as a trainee accountant and work towards your AAT qualification. You’ll earn while you learn, gaining hands on experience alongside your studies. We pay for all your training and qualifications and support you every step of the way. We’re proud to be certified as a Great Place to Work for the third-year running, making this an excellent place to launch your accountancy career.

What you’ll be doing

As a business advisory trainee accountant, you’ll work with a broad range of clients, including sole traders, family‑owned businesses, partnerships, LLPs and private individuals. Business Advisory is our general practice team, providing an extensive mix of services that support clients with their day‑to‑day financial needs and long‑term goals. Working alongside experienced colleagues, you’ll start to build the skills needed to become a trusted advisor, learning how different types of businesses operate and how to deliver exceptional client service.

You will:

• Help clients prepare year‑end accounts, management accounts, cash flow projections and forecasts, supporting clients in understanding their financial position

• Get involved with company and business taxation, company secretarial matters and VAT returns, gaining broad exposure across compliance work
• Gain a breadth of commercial, tax and general accountancy experience, working across different sectors and business types
• Start building strong client relationships, learning how to communicate effectively and provide practical reliable support

About you

You’ll enjoy this job if you like:

• Taking initiative and achieving goals
• Communicating effectively, both verbally and in writing
• Building strong relationships and working collaboratively
• Working with numbers and solving problems
• Being analytical and methodical in your approach

Studying alongside working is demanding. As an AAT trainee, you’ll need to do regular independent study and revision for your professional exams. It typically takes around three years to complete an AAT qualification.

Fast Track Programme

We offer a fast‑track programme suitable for ambitious individuals. This intensive programme gives you the opportunity to study for your AAT & ACA qualification over 5 years, making it a quicker route to becoming chartered. Individuals suitable for this pathway will be identified at one of our assessment centres and our early careers team will guide you every step of the way.

Your development

We recognise that personal development training is essential in helping you to become an accountant, so alongside your AAT (and ACA for our fast‑track programme), you’ll receive personal development training to help you grow the skills and behaviours needed to become a successful accountant.

You’ll be supported every step of the way:

• A buddy before you start, to help you settle in
• A line manager and student counsellor will help you stay on track with your professional qualification and career goals
• Ongoing learning and development opportunities beyond qualifications, helping you progress into manager roles and beyond

Starting your career straight from school can feel daunting, but at PKF Francis Clark, you’ll never be on your own. From day one, you’ll be supported by a strong network of colleagues, from fellow trainees to managers and partners. Everyone is treated with respect and made to feel valued. Plus, you’ll be joining alongside lots of other trainees, so you’ll be learning and growing together.

What we’re looking for

Bright, motivated school and college leavers ready to build a meaningful career in accountancy. This programme offers structured development, early responsibility, and long‑term progression.

You’ll be expected to demonstrate the following:

• 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 August 2026

How to apply

Apply online by midnight on Sunday, 18 January 2026. We recommend applying early, as the window may close if we receive a high number of applications. Please note you can only apply for one role per recruitment cycle.

Recruitment Process

Our selection process includes the following stages:

• Online application
• Verbal and numerical reasoning tests
• Pre‑recorded video interview
• In person assessment centre

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.

Why work at PKF Francis Clark

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.

We work hard to ensure you can belong, be yourself and be brilliant as part of a forward‑thinking team. This includes a flexible 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

Health & Wellbeing benefits

• 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*

Other benefits

• 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