Graduate Trainee Programme

Audit Wales; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Mentoring & development

Balanced 35-hour week + generous leave

Flexible working options

Civil Service Pension Scheme & perks

Job summary

Audit Wales offers a fully funded four-year Graduate Trainee Programme, enabling you to study towards the ACA chartered accountant qualification while gaining hands-on experience auditing public services across Wales. No accounting degree or prior experience is required, just curiosity, potential and a willingness to learn.

Successful candidates will work from a Cardiff office for part of each week. Over four years you will build confidence, take on varied auditing work, and progress toward the

Qualifications

• Applications are welcome from graduates of all disciplines.
• Please meet the following academic requirements: 120 UCAS points from three full A levels (A2) or equivalent; a degree at 2:1 or above (or 2:2 with postgraduate qualification); at least five GCSEs including Maths (B+) and English (C+).

Responsibilities

• Study towards the ACA qualification while gaining hands-on experience auditing public body accounts.
• Audit and help scrutinise public money to ensure value for money and accountability across Wales.
• Build professional networks across a diverse range of organisations and communities.
• Participate in the selection process and assessments as part of joining the Graduate Trainee Programme.

Skills

Curious and analytical

Organised

Adaptable

Willing to learn

Collaborative and professional

Education

120 UCAS points

Degree 2:1 or above

GCSEs A*-C including Maths & English

Job description

Graduate Trainee Programme 2027:

Build a Career That Makes a Difference.

Are you curious, motivated and keen to make a difference? Join our fully funded four-year graduate programme and work towards the internationally recognised ACA chartered accountancy qualification while helping to improve public services across Wales. You do not need an accountancy degree or previous experience to apply.

At Audit Wales, we believe great talent comes from different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. Whatever your degree subject, we’re interested in the skills and potential you can bring from your studies, work, volunteering or other life experiences.

No previous audit or accountancy experience is needed—just curiosity, potential and a willingness to learn. We’ll support you throughout.

About the role

As a Graduate Trainee at Audit Wales, you’ll combine professional study with hands‑on experience, exploring how public money is spent and whether it is delivering the best outcomes for the people of Wales.

These roles offer the chance to build a meaningful career while supporting public services and communities across Wales. You’ll gain experience across a diverse range of organisations, build strong professional networks and join a collaborative team that will support you throughout your qualification.

You’ll play a part in auditing over 800 public bodies across Wales, helping to promote accountability, improvement and value for money in organisations that affect people’s everyday lives. Our clients include Welsh Government, NHS Wales, local authorities and many more.

Successful candidates will be expected to work from their relevant office for a minimum of two days each week.

How you’ll develop

Over four years, you’ll build your confidence, discover your strengths and progress towards qualification. You will:

• Start building your career as you study towards the ACA qualification and gain practical experience auditing public body accounts.
• Grow through new challenges by taking on more varied and complex work, with support from experienced colleagues.
• Explore different opportunities through value‑for‑money work and a six‑month secondment with another publicly funded body.
• Get ready for your next step by developing your professional skills, working towards an Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) Level 3 Award and completing the programme as an ACA chartered accountant.

Why join Audit Wales?

Build your career while making a difference to communities across Wales. As Wales’s independent public‑sector audit body, we help ensure public money is managed well, explain how it is used and support better public services.

Alongside our fully funded ACA programme, you’ll benefit from:

• Support to grow — a friendly team, mentoring, coaching and professional development.
• Work–life balance — a 35‑hour working week and 33 days’ annual leave, plus bank holidays.
• Flexible working — options to balance your work and personal commitments, alongside the role’s office‑attendance requirements.
• A strong benefits package — access to the Civil Service Pension Scheme, cycle‑to‑work scheme and shopping discounts.

Further details on the benefits of working at Audit Wales are available on the website.

We’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities and experiences, including those who are currently under‑represented in our organisation. We value potential as much as experience and encourage applications from anyone who meets the essential requirements of the role. We are also a member of the Disability Confident Scheme and guarantee to interview all disabled candidates who meet the essential criteria for the role.

We welcome applications that may be submitted in Welsh; an application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.

Essential academic requirements

Applications are welcome from graduates of all disciplines. Please include evidence in your application that you meet the following academic requirements.

• 120 UCAS points from three full A levels (A2) or equivalent qualifications.
• A degree at 2:1 or above, or a 2:2 with an additional postgraduate qualification, for example a master’s degree.
• At least five GCSEs at grades A*–C, including Maths at grade B or above and English at grade C or above, or equivalent qualifications.

Qualities we’ll assess

We’re looking for graduates who are

• curious and analytical,
• organised,
• adaptable
• willing to learn, and
• able to work collaboratively and professionally.

You’ll have opportunities to demonstrate these qualities throughout the selection process. Please see the job description for the full criteria.

Candidates who meet the requirements will be invited to take part in online assessments, an interview and practical activities designed to help them demonstrate their strengths and potential.

We want our recruitment process to be accessible to everyone. If you need an adjustment at any stage, please tell us—we’ll be happy to discuss what would help you perform at your best.

Practical assessments and interviews are planned to take place in person at our Cardiff Office, 1 Capital Quarter, Tyndall Street, Cardiff CF10 4BZ, on 15, 16, 17 and 18 February 2027. If travel or accessibility requirements could affect your participation, please contact us so we can discuss the support.

Find out more

Please note we are not able to sponsor work visas.

The closing date for applications is 23:59 on 18 January 2027.

At Audit Wales, we want to hear your authentic voice. You may use generative AI to support your application, but your final submission must be your own, accurate work based on your genuine experiences.

If you use AI, do not share confidential or third-party personal information. Your application should reflect your own experiences and abilities. Applications that do not represent a candidate’s own work may be withdrawn from the recruitment process.