AAT Accountancy Trainee - School & College Leaver - Professional Practice - August 2026

PKF FRANCIS CLARK; Devon and Torbay; Hybrid; GBP 20,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading accountancy firm is seeking a trainee accountant to work towards AAT qualification while gaining hands-on experience. The role involves supporting clients with financial information, developing technical skills, and assisting in managing accounts. The firm is dedicated to professional development and offers comprehensive support during the qualification journey. Ideal candidates will have a minimum of 112 UCAS points, strong communication skills, and a willingness to travel to client sites. This position provides a solid foundation for an accountancy career.

Benefits

Pension

Group life assurance

Health cash plan

Extra holiday days

Counselling support

Virtual GP access

Cycle to work scheme

Shopping and gym discounts

Volunteering day

Emergency funding support

Qualifications

• Minimum of 112 UCAS points excluding general studies.
• GCSE Maths and English grade 4 (C) or above.
• Willingness to travel to client sites.

Responsibilities

• Develop technical and commercial skills.
• Prepare year-end accounts and management accounts.
• Assist with taxation and VAT returns.

Skills

Initiative

Communication

Relationship building

Problem solving

Analytical skills

Education

112 UCAS points from three A Levels or equivalent

GCSE Maths and English grade 4 (C) or above

Job description

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.

As a trainee accountant within our Professional Practices team, you’ll support law firms and other professional clients with the financial information and advice they need to manage their businesses effectively. You’ll gain broad experience across accounting, tax (partnership, company and personal), audit (statutory and client money audits), and preparing analysis, forecasts and projections. Our team has extensive expertise in the legal sector, and for law firm clients we produce detailed discussion documents explaining the accounts, benchmarking analysis, advising on capital funding and providing tax analysis.

Responsibilities

• Develop technical, commercial and interpersonal skills
• Help clients prepare year‑end accounts, accounts discussion documents, management accounts, forecasts and projections
• Get involved with company and business taxation, company secretarial matters and VAT returns
• Gain a breadth of commercial, tax and general accountancy experience

Support & Development

Our trainees receive comprehensive support to achieve their professional qualification and develop their career. You will be assigned a buddy who helps you settle in, and your line manager and student counsellor will help you stay on track with your professional qualification and career goals. We provide ongoing learning and development opportunities beyond examinations, helping you progress into manager roles and beyond.

We offer a fast‑track programme suitable for ambitious individuals, allowing you to study for your AAT & ACA qualification over five years – a quicker route to becoming chartered.

Key Competencies

• 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

Qualifications & Availability

• 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
• Willingness to travel to client sites and other offices as required
• Available to start August 2026

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

About PKF Francis Clark

Established in 1919, we are the largest firm of independent chartered accountants and business advisers in the South West of England, with a team of nearly 1,000 people across offices in Bristol, Exeter, Plymouth, Poole, Salisbury, Southampton, Taunton, Torquay and Truro. We are a member of the PKF Global family, the 12th largest provider of accountancy services in the UK, and have been certified as a Great Place to Work for the past three years.

Our flexible hybrid working arrangements, focus on wellbeing and learning and development, and strong sense of community make us an excellent place to grow your career.