Business Advisory Graduate - Elgin 2027

Johnston Carmichael Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers; Elgin; Hybrid; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Health care cash plan

Annual leave

Life assurance

Mentoring & development

Job summary

Johnston Carmichael offers a three-year graduate training programme with hands-on client experience across our Business Advisory teams. You will receive full study support towards ICAS or ACCA and a structured training contract to balance work with studies.

You’ll grow your interpersonal and commercial skills through our learning and development programme, including induction and JC Aspire, with Hybrid working and generous study leave to help you qualify.

Qualifications

• Recent graduate with a strong academic record and a growth mindset.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with a collaborative approach.
• Able to manage multiple tasks with attention to detail and good time management.

Responsibilities

• Gain hands-on client experience across business advisory services.
• Develop technical skills through bookkeeping, VAT returns and statutory accounts.
• Exposure to personal and corporation tax returns and various accounting software.
• Build strong client relationships and gradually develop advisory capabilities.

Skills

Growth mindset

Interpersonal skills

Attention to detail

Education

First-class or 2:1 honours degree in any subject

Job description

We have a number of graduate vacancies within our different business lines and locations. Please apply for your first preference only. If you have other preferences, this can be discussed later in our recruitment process.

Our team of sharp minds have unique skills, talents and aspirations, but we have common goals too, and we are looking for like-minded people to help us reach those goals.

Our people drive our success, and our graduates are no exception. We want everyone to become a leader in their work and their learning. As part of one of the United Kingdom’s largest independent accountancy and business advisory firms, you will get hands‑on client experience, with full support to achieve your potential, and responsibility from day one.

With over 16,000 clients across eight services and 14 sectors, there’s always going to be an exciting challenge to push you out of your comfort zone, if that’s what you want. Our training programme – Your JC Path – allows you to get exactly where you want to be.

The role

Our three-year graduate training programme offers experience, responsibility, and support from the start. We will give you full study support towards an ICAS or ACCA qualification and give you a training contract to balance your work and studies.

In addition to completing your professional qualifications, you will develop your interpersonal and commercial skills through our comprehensive learning and development programme. This includes our induction experience, learning opportunities available through our JC Aspire programme, and partnership with Moore Global, as well as a range of networking events.

We have positions in our Business Advisory team available for an August 2027 start.

This role provides valuable exposure to a wide range of Business Advisory services where you will develop a strong technical skillset and compliance foundation through bookkeeping, VAT returns, statutory accounts, and exposure to both personal and corporation tax returns. You will also gain experience across a range of accounting and business software. Working closely with a diverse portfolio of clients, you will build strong client relationships and gain a thorough understanding of their businesses. As your experience progresses, you will have opportunities to develop your advisory capabilities alongside your compliance knowledge, supporting clients with practical business insights and recommendations.

About You

You will be a recent graduate with (or working towards) a first-class or 2:1 honours degree in any subject.

Alongside this, you will have a growth mindset and a passion for learning. You will demonstrate strong interpersonal skills, attention to detail and take pride in your work. Good time management, problem-solving skills, and the ability to make sound judgments are essential, along with a can‑do approach.

All candidates are required to have the right to live and work in the UK permanently and without any restrictions.

Why JC?

Johnston Carmichael helps to build success stories that change lives - whether it’s our clients, our communities, or most importantly, our people, who now number over 900 across the UK.

We work with individuals and businesses all over the country and our expertise covers almost every industry sector. We’re also an independent member firm of Moore Global Network Limited, a global accounting and advisory network of over 37,000 advisers across more than 114 countries.

Everything we do at Johnston Carmichael is underpinned by our four core values – Doing The Right Thing, Standing In Other People’s Shoes, Leading Our Future and Remaining Relevant. We’ve created a range of ways to support our people to make sure every voice is heard, including our People and Culture Forum, and we encourage each of our sharp minds to be leaders of their work and learning. You can read more about our culture and values here.

In the last 10 years we’ve raised more than £450,000 for charity and continuously evolved our commitment to sustainable business practices. We are Gold sponsors of the Kiltwalk and also partner with Netball Scotland and England Netball, creating an enduring impact on the ground in our communities.

How Working For Us Can Work For You

To ensure you successfully complete your qualification, you will receive full study support which includes generous study leave. Following the training period, we offer hybrid working with the option of working from the office and home. As well as other company benefits including but not exhaustive to; a competitive salary, health care cash plan, annual leave, life assurance and mentoring and learning and development.

At Johnston Carmichael we are committed to diversity, equality and inclusion in the workplace. A copy of this policy will be made available on request. We also welcome applications from individuals who have had time away from paid employment.