Graduate Audit Trainee (ACA) - Peterborough - September 2025

Saffery Champness; Peterborough; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking enthusiastic university graduates to embark on a rewarding journey as Graduate Audit Trainees. This exciting opportunity offers a structured Level 7 apprenticeship, allowing you to study towards the ACA qualification while gaining hands-on experience in audit and accounts preparation. You'll work in a dynamic and supportive environment, collaborating with clients across various sectors. The role promises a diverse learning experience, with excellent training and the chance to progress into a senior audit position upon completion. Join a firm that values inclusivity and invests in your future!

Benefits

Annual leave allowance

Flexible working hours

Contributory pension plan

Life assurance cover

Working from home allowance

Profit-Sharing Plan

Paid overtime or time off in lieu

Qualifications

• University graduates with a 2:1 degree and relevant A Level qualifications.
• Strong analytical and communication skills are essential.

Responsibilities

• Work on audit and accounts preparation assignments with client exposure.
• Gain valuable work experience while preparing for a senior audit role.

Skills

Analytical Skills

Communication Skills

Teamwork

Education

2:1 degree in any discipline

120 UCAS points in A Levels (or equivalent)

Minimum of 6 (or B) in GCSE Maths and English Language

Job description

Graduate Audit Trainee (ACA) - Peterborough - September 2025

Right now, we’re looking for university graduates wanting to start their career in audit as a trainee chartered accountant, studying towards the ACA qualification.

This will be offered under a Level 7 apprenticeship and will take three years to complete.

Exemptions will only apply if you’re AAT Level 4 qualified. We've found it gives you a much better chance of success with your exams if you’re studying the full ACA programme with a cohort.

Application windows:

We are live for applications from:

• 1 February 2025 – 30 April 2025

Please note due to high popularity for these positions, applications may close earlier than stated. We recommend applying as soon as possible.

Qualifying is not just about passing your exams; gaining valuable work experience is important.

You'll work in a friendly and progressive environment on audit and accounts preparation assignments, with exposure to clients from different industries. We guarantee an exciting and varied learning experience.

We'll show you each part of a file review. You'll learn what information you need from a client and liaise directly with them. You may start with audit testing of simpler balances within financial statements, such as cash at bank and share capital, and then progress to income and expenditure testing.

By the end of your training contract, you’ll be comfortable handling whole files by yourself, preparing you for progression into a senior audit role.

You'll also receive excellent training and support for your studies. We use first-class tuition centres and organise our own off-site trainee programmes. You’ll get to meet and socialise with trainees across all offices.

What you'll need

• 2:1 (expected or obtained) in any discipline,
• A minimum of 120 UCAS points in your A Levels (or equivalent), and
• A minimum of 6 (or B) in GCSE Maths and English Language (or equivalent).

About the qualification

We offer a three-year ACA training contract under a Level 7 apprenticeship. Studying as an apprentice won’t impact the time it takes you to complete the qualification, it just means that there's a defined study pathway in place to ensure you have the best chance to succeed.

What we’ll offer you

We provide a mixture of core and flexible benefits, all designed to save you money and make your life a little easier.

Core benefits

• Annual leave allowance, which increases in line with length of service,
• A 35-hour working week with flexibility around our core hours of 10am-4pm,
• A contributory pension plan (we’ll contribute 5% of salary on a matched basis with you from the date you join),
• Life assurance cover based on 4 x annual salary,
• Working from home allowance of £25 a month,
• Our Profit-Sharing Plan, enabling you to share in the firm’s profits (usually c.£1,000), and
• Paid overtime or time off in lieu.

We’re also committed to being a fully inclusive employer and have a focus on equality, diversity, and inclusion (ED&I). When you start with us, you’ll have the opportunity to join a number of people network groups, as well as be a part of our growing ED&I network.

Who we are

Saffery is a partner-led and people-focused firm of chartered accountants, tax and business advisers. Since 1855, we’ve built long-term relationships with our diverse, high-profile clients across varied and specialised sectors.

When you work with Saffery, the well-respected accountancy firm where heritage meets ambition, you work with people who know your name. Everyone belongs here.