Audit Higher Apprenticeship 2027 – St Albans

Mercer & Hole Chartered Accountants; St Albans; Remote; GBP 12,000 - 16,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Buddy system

Study leave

Training manager support

ACA progression

Job summary

Mercer & Hole Chartered Accountants offers an Audit Higher Apprenticeship Programme designed to develop your practical skills from day one within the Audit team. You will study towards the AAT Level 3 and Level 4 while gaining broad client experience and learning from senior managers and partners.

After qualification, the programme provides a clear path to ACA and chartered accountancy, with supportive learning through a buddy, dedicated training manager, and study leave to help you succeed.

Qualifications

• Analytical thinking and numerical ability to review client data.
• Ability to work with audit teams and support colleagues.
• Willingness to learn, adapt and apply auditing standards.

Responsibilities

• Analyse bank payments and receipts.
• Prepare control accounts and calculate prepayments and accruals.
• Update fixed asset registers for additions and disposals.
• Draft basic financial statements and apply auditing principles.
• Undertake smaller audits independently and perform advanced testing.
• Support junior apprentices and act as buddy to new starters.

Skills

Analytical skills

Auditing

Teamwork

Problem solving

Education

UCAS points requirement

A-Levels or equivalent

Job description

Why choose our Audit Higher Apprenticeship Programme?

A career in our Audit department is varied, engaging and rewarding. You will work across a range of sectors, independently reviewing companies' financial information and advising clients on ways to improve their performance. Along the way, you will gain insight into different types of businesses, strengthen your commercial awareness and develop valuable professional skills. Audit also offers a stable, well-rewarded career with excellent opportunities for progression.

We are committed to supporting your learning and development throughout your career with us. As an apprentice, you will benefit from a structured programme that includes trainee away days, a dedicated training manager, a buddy and study leave. Our commitment continues beyond qualification: whether you are an apprentice or a director,our Learning Academy pathway provides an ongoing investment in your growth and future success.

What will I be doing as an audit apprentice?

Our Higher Apprenticeship Programme is designed to support your development from day one. You will work as part of the Audit team while studying towards the AAT Level 3 and Level 4 qualifications. Our varied client base will give you broad, well-rounded experience, while our team structure will provide regular opportunities to learn from and work alongside senior managers and partners throughout your training and beyond.

Structure of our Audit Higher Apprenticeship Programme

Year 1

You will begin building your practical experience and gain insight into clients' challenges by:

• Analysing bank payments and receipts
• Preparing control accounts and calculating prepayments and accruals
• Updating fixed asset registers to reflect additions and disposals
• Drafting basic financial statements and applying fundamental auditing principles as part of a wider team.

During this time, you will also develop the ability to identify discrepancies and issues in information provided by clients and begin recommending appropriate solutions.

Year 2

You will build on the experience gained in your first year and develop new skills. These will include:

• Preparing more complex statutory accounts with disclosures that comply with company law
• Undertaking smaller audits independently
• Completing more advanced audit testing, and strengthening your problem-solving and commercial skills
• You will also have opportunities to support junior apprentices with their queries and act as a buddy to new starters

Once you have completed your AAT qualification, you will then have the opportunity to apply to move on to studying the ACA and become a chartered accountant.

As part of our culture, we take the time to review each application individually to reflect our values.

Mercer & Hole is committed to cultivating and preserving a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).

Our people are our most valuable asset. We bring our life experiences, knowledge, creativity, and talents together at Mercer & Hole making it a unique place to work where all can safely thrive.

Experience

Minimum 112 UCAS points which must comprise of at least 3 A-Levels or equivalent (excluding EPQs)