Graduate Trainee Accountant (ACA)

Huntress; Reading; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A growing boutique accounting firm in Reading is looking for a Graduate Trainee Accountant to assist with financial reporting and help develop your accounting skills while studying for the ACA qualification. This role offers exposure to various client engagements, with responsibilities including preparation of financial statements and support in technical accounting areas. The firm promotes a diverse recruitment process and offers competitive salary and study support.

Benefits

Competitive graduate salary

Study support (paid leave, exam fees covered)

Excellent opportunity for career progression

Qualifications

• Desire to qualify as an ACA Qualified Accountant.
• Excellent numerical, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong IT skills, especially in Excel.
• Good communication skills, both written and verbal.

Responsibilities

• Assist with the preparation of financial statements.
• Support consolidation and group reporting processes.
• Work with clients to gather information and resolve queries.
• Participate in internal and external training / workshops.

Skills

Numerical skills

Analytical skills

Problem-solving skills

IT skills (Excel)

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Education

Degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business

Job description

Graduate Trainee Accountant (ACA)

An expanding Boutique Specialist firm has an opportunity for a recent Business or Accountancy & Finance Graduate to support the firm's finance teams across various client engagements, gaining exposure to complex financial reporting, technical accounting, and advisory work. You will assist in the delivery of high-quality financial statements, help with transaction support, consolidation, and ensuring compliance with accounting standards whilst developing your technical accounting skills and studying for the ACA professional accounting qualification.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist with preparation of financial statements (UK GAAP, IFRS) for clients ranging from SMEs to larger groups.
• Support consolidation and group reporting processes.
• Assist in acquisition accounting, share-based payments, and other technical accounting areas under supervision.
• Help with financial disclosures, technical papers, journals, reconciliations.
• Assist with the month-/quarter-/year-end closing processes: preparation of audit schedules, supporting documentation, variance analysis.
• Work with senior team members to ensure compliance with accounting standards (e.g. IFRS, UK GAAP).
• Work directly with clients when needed (gathering information, resolving queries).
• Participate in internal and external trainings / workshops.
• Maintain and improve internal processes and controls under guidance.

Requirements (Person Specification)

• Desire to qualify as an ACA Qualified Accountant
• Degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business (2:1 or strong 2:2 likely preferred).
• Some exposure to accounting or finance work (internship / part-time / placement work) preferred.
• Excellent numerical, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong IT skills: especially Excel (formulas, pivot tables etc.).
• Good communication skills (written and verbal), ability to liaise with clients and colleagues.
• Attention to detail, accuracy, ability to meet deadlines.
• Desire to learn and pick things up quickly

Training / Development

• Support through the ACA qualification
• On-the-job training, mentoring by senior accountants / managers.
• Internal workshops, technical training.
• Exposure to variety of clients and accounting challenges.

Terms & Benefits

• Competitive graduate salary
• Study support (paid study leave, exam fees covered or partly covered).
• Excellent Opportunity for career progression and development

We practice a diverse and inclusive recruitment process that ensures equal opportunity for all we work with, irrespective of race, sexual orientation, mental or physical disability, age or gender. As an organisation, we encourage applications from all backgrounds and will ensure measures are met when required, to allow a fair process throughout.