Graduate Tax Trainee - Att/Cta - June 2027

Pkf-Francis Clark Chartered Accountants & Business Advisers; Exeter; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Study support for ATT/CTA

Travel reimbursement up to £50

TOIL & paid overtime

Healthy work-life balance

Job summary

PKF Francis Clark Chartered Accountants & Business Advisers invites graduates to join a structured ATT/CTA trainee programme. You will train while gaining hands-on experience in tax teams, with a clear path to becoming a Chartered Tax Advisor.

The role starts with three years of structured training, a competitive salary of £25,000 per annum, and full funding for ATT/CTA qualifications. Travel to client sites and other offices may be required; a supportive, collaborative culture is emphasised.

Qualifications

• On track for or have achieved a 2.2 degree or above in any discipline
• Minimum of 112 UCAS points (three A Levels or equivalent)
• GCSE Maths and English at grade 4 or above
• Willingness to travel to client sites and other offices as required

Responsibilities

• Join tax teams while studying ATT/CTA.
• Help prepare tax returns, computations and supporting documents.
• Analyse financial information and provide client advice.
• Work with a range of clients from large businesses to family‑run companies.
• Develop technical, commercial and interpersonal skills.

Skills

Research & investigation

Analytical thinking

Attention to detail

Communication

Team collaboration

Education

2.2 degree or above

112 UCAS points

GCSE Maths & English C/4+

Job description

In a nutshell

Join our AAT/CTA professional trainee programme and launch your career as a Chartered Tax Advisor.

This full-time, permanent role starts with three years of structured training and qualification support. You’ll gain hands-on experience, receive a competitive salary and have a clear route to develop your career. We offer the security of a permanent role from day one, cover your training costs and support you throughout your ATT/CTA journey.

As a certified Great Place to Work, we’re proud of our friendly and supportive culture, where colleagues work collaboratively and with integrity and honesty. We also recognise the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance while building a successful professional career, making this a strong place to start your journey in accountancy.

What you'll be doing

You’ll join one of our specialist tax teams, such as corporate tax, private client tax, tax advisory services or VAT, while studying towards your ATT/CTA qualifications. It’s a structured route into a professional tax career, combining practical experience with recognised qualifications.

From the start, you’ll see how tax works in real-life situations and learn how to interpret legislation, research tax rules and apply them to client queries. You’ll help prepare tax returns, computations and supporting documents, analyse financial information, and support colleagues with practical tax planning and client advice.

Over time, you’ll work with a wide range of clients, from large businesses to family-run companies and individuals, giving you varied experience and a strong foundation for your future career in tax.

You will:

• Develop technical, commercial and interpersonal skills
• Work in small project teams (typically 2-5 people) on audits lasting 1- 3 weeks for medium sized and large businesses
• Identify key issues and risks, using analytics tools and software to interpret data, draw conclusions, and make recommendations
• Gain experience in preparing annual statutory accounts and tax calculations, and assessing forecasts and projections
• Be part of a high performing, supportive team

As you progress, you’ll take on more responsibility and have opportunities to make a real impact.

About you

You’ll enjoy this job if you like:

• Research and investigation, digging into detail, finding the right answer and understanding how rules apply in different situations.
• Working with numbers, you’re comfortable reviewing information carefully, spotting patterns and using figures to support clear, practical advice.
• Being analytical and methodical, you like working through problems step by step, checking your work and making sure the details are right.
• Talking to people and building relationships — you can explain information clearly, ask thoughtful questions and build trust with colleagues and clients.
• Becoming an expert in your field, you’re interested in developing specialist knowledge over time and building a career where your advice makes a real difference.
• Being part of a supportive, fun team, you want to learn from others, contribute to a positive team environment and be part of a workplace where people support each other.

Studying alongside working is demanding, but you’ll be supported as you balance your role with regular independent study and revision for your professional exams. It typically takes around three years to qualify as a chartered tax advisor. The following one to two years are important for consolidating your knowledge, leading more complex projects and preparing for career progression into manager roles and beyond

Your development

Alongside your ATT/CTA qualification, you’ll receive training to help you develop the skills, behaviours and confidence needed to become a successful accountant.

You'll be supported every step of the way:

• A buddy before you start, to help you settle in
• A line manager and student counsellor who will help you stay on track with your professional qualification and career goals
• Ongoing learning and development opportunities beyond qualifications, helping you progress into manager roles and beyond
• Opportunities to further develop your communication, critical-thinking, teamwork and leadership skills throughout your career

What we're looking for

Bright, motivated graduates who want to build a meaningful career in accountancy. This programme offers structured development, early responsibility, long-term security and genuine opportunities to progress within a supportive, friendly working environment.

Entry requirements:

• On track for, or have achieved, a 2.2 degree or above in any discipline
• Minimum of 112 UCAS points (obtained from three A Levels or equivalent excluding general studies and EPQ)
• GCSE Maths and English at grade 4 or above
• Willingness to travel to client sites and other offices as required

Salary

The salary for this role is £25,000 per annum. As your experience, responsibilities and qualifications develop, there will be opportunities for salary progression throughout your career with the firm.

In addition to a competitive salary, we’ll fully fund your professional qualifications and provide study support throughout your training. You’ll also have opportunities to accrue Time Off in Lieu (TOIL) and paid overtime, recognising the additional commitment in busy times and supporting a healthy work-life balance.

Recruitment Process

Our selection process includes the following stages:

• Online application
• Online assessments including video interview
• In-person Assessment Centre

Assessment Centres

Our assessment centres will be held at the PKF Francis Clark Torquay office on Monday 23 November. As our Head Office, Torquay provides a great opportunity to experience our culture and meet colleagues from across the firm.

We appreciate that some candidates may be travelling from other locations and are pleased to reimburse travel expenses of up to £50 for attending the assessment centre. To process your claim, please keep and submit receipts for your travel arrangements.

We're committed to creating an inclusive and positive experience for all candidates. If you require any adjustments during the recruitment process, whether related to a disability, neurodiversity or any other need, please let us know and we'll do our best to support you.