Audit Higher Apprenticeship Programme 2026 - London

Mercer & Hole; Greater London; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading audit firm in Greater London is seeking candidates for their Audit Higher Apprenticeship Programme. This role allows you to work within the Virtual Finance team while studying for AAT qualifications. The apprenticeship offers hands-on experience in financial analysis, audit procedures, and client interaction, ensuring a comprehensive training environment. Opportunities for progression to chartered accountant status make it an appealing career choice. Strong analytical and communication skills are essential.

Benefits

Dedicated training manager

Study leave

Trainee away days

Qualifications

• Ability to analyse financial data and identify discrepancies.
• Willingness to learn and take direction from senior staff.
• Strong communication skills for client interaction.

Responsibilities

• Prepare control accounts and calculate prepayments.
• Assist in basic financial statement drafts.
• Conduct small audits independently after training.

Skills

Analytical skills

Problem-solving

Communication

Education

AAT qualification – Level 3 & 4

Job description

Why choose our Audit Higher Apprenticeship Programme?

Working within the Audit team offers a varied and exciting career. You will have the opportunity to work across a range of sectors, conducting independent checks on companies' financial situations and advising on ways for them to operate more profitably. It's a job in which you will always be learning about different types of businesses and developing your business skills. Beginning your career in the Virtual Finance team you will work with a variety of clients, gaining valuable and well‑rounded experience to support your progression to the Audit team. This provides a stable and lucrative career path with fast progression and rewarding work.

We pride ourselves on learning and development for our trainees and have key structures in place to support you on your journey with us, including trainee away days, a dedicated training manager and buddy and study leave to name just a few. Training and development does not stop when you qualify – we are committed to continually developing our staff. Regardless of whether you're a trainee or a director using our "People Passport" you are guaranteed a great investment in your future!

What will I be doing as an audit apprentice?

Our higher apprenticeship programme is designed to support your learning and development. You will work as part of the Virtual Finance/Audit teams while studying the AAT qualification – Level 3 & 4. The variety of clients we work with provides you with a well‑rounded experience, and the structure of our teams allows you the opportunity to gain knowledge from and exposure to senior managers and partners throughout your training and beyond.

Structure of our Audit Higher Apprenticeship Programme

Year 1

You will have the opportunity to gain valuable insight into client challenges through analysing bank payments and receipts, preparing control accounts, calculating prepayments and accruals, and updating fixed asset registers for additions and disposals, also calculating depreciation, and drafting basic financial statements as well as starting to apply basic principles of auditing while working as part of a larger team, amongst other duties. During this time you will also develop the ability to identify differences or issues from information provided by clients and start to suggest solutions.

Year 2

You will build on your experience gained and learn new skills such as preparing more complex statutory accounts with accurate disclosures as required by company law, undertaking small simple audits on your own, completing more complex audit testing and developing your problem‑solving and business skills. You will also have the opportunity to assist more junior trainees with queries and be a buddy to those just starting out.

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.

Interested? Apply!

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

Values

Together

The firm with the family feel. Express gratitude. Smile. Be humble and confident. Have fun.

Resilient

Change is imminent, and business is imperfect. Be open minded & agile. Assume positive intent and exercise the power of positive thinking.

Understanding

Each individual matters and will be heard and respected. Honesty, integrity, empathy and kindness are fundamental.

Supportive

We support what is important to you and show kindness in our behaviour to each other. We encourage each other to realise our potential.

Thrive!

We strive to be the best, innovate and always do exceptional work. That's who we are and what our clients deserve.

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.