Graduate - Audit Associate

Ballards LLP; Worcester; Hybrid; GBP 26,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

ACA training

Mentoring program

Hybrid working

Holiday 25 days

Pension

Life assurance

Employee assistance

Job summary

Ballards LLP is inviting graduates to join its three-year Graduate Audit Associate programme in Worcester and Droitwich. You’ll gain hands-on experience on live audits while working towards ACA qualification, with mentoring and structured development from day one.

You'll learn how businesses operate, review financial information, assess risks and controls, and build professional relationships with clients. The role blends technical audit training with commercial insight in a supportive,

Qualifications

• Graduate with a 2:1 degree (any discipline) and strong numeric ability.
• Curious, analytical mindset with good communication and teamwork.
• Willing to learn ACA and commit to three-year programme.

Responsibilities

• Work on live audit assignments across a range of clients.
• Learn how businesses operate from financial reporting to risks and controls.
• Carry out audit testing and review financial information.
• Build direct relationships with clients from day one.
• Develop technical knowledge and commercial understanding.

Skills

Curious

Analytical

Ambitious

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Education

2:1 degree (any discipline)

Job description

Ballards

TAX | AUDIT | CONSULTANCY

Graduate Audit Associate - 2027

Understand businesses. Challenge the numbers. Build your career.

Location

Worcester & Droitwich

Programme

Three-year Graduate Programme

Qualification

Fully funded ACA training contract

Why Ballards?

Join an award-winning firm recognised as Audit Team of the Year 2026, where you’ll gain hands-on experience, learn from experienced professionals and build your career in a supportive, ambitious environment.

If you’re curious about what makes a business really work, Audit gives you a front-row seat.

At Ballards, you’ll work with real clients from day one, getting to know organisations from the inside out. You’ll learn how to understand financial information, assess risks, ask the right questions and build the confidence to challenge the numbers, all while working towards your ACA qualification.

What you’ll do

• Work on live audit assignments across a range of clients and industries.
• Learn how businesses operate, from their financial reporting and systems to their risks and controls.
• Carry out audit testing, review financial information and investigate what sits behind the numbers.
• Work directly with clients and build professional relationships from the start.
• Develop your technical knowledge while gaining the commercial understanding that turns an auditor into a trusted adviser.

What you’ll get

• Fully funded ACA (ICAEW Chartered Accountant) qualification, training and study support
• Enhanced induction and internal training programme to support your development from day one
• Real client experience from day one
• Mentoring, feedback and structured career development
• Flexible hybrid working
• 25 days’ holiday plus bank holidays
• Pension, life assurance and Employee Assistance Programme
• Electric Car and Cycle to Work schemes
• Enhanced family leave

Who we’re looking for

You don’t need previous audit experience. We’re looking for graduates who are curious, analytical, ambitious, comfortable working with people and ready to learn.

You’ll be working towards, or have recently achieved, a minimum 2:1 degree in any discipline. You’ll bring strong attention to detail, good communication skills, an interest in working with numbers and technology, and the confidence to ask questions and take ownership of your development.

It’s about who you become along the way.

You’ll join a supportive, collaborative environment where your ideas are valued, your development is guided and your responsibility grows with you.

Ready to move your career forward?

If you want a graduate role where you can gain real-world experience, become professionally qualified and understand businesses beyond the surface, we’d love to hear from you.