School Leaver Corporate Tax Trainee (ACA/CTA) - Manchester - September 2027

Saffery LLP; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 18,000 - 24,000; Full time

Job summary

Saffery Champness in Manchester is offering a School Leaver Corporate Tax Trainee role starting September 2027. You will study towards ACA/CTA while gaining on-the-job experience in corporate tax, assisting with returns, data analysis, and client advisory work.

The programme spans four and a half years with structured training, including Kaplan tuition and a business simulation. We welcome school leavers and career changers with strong GCSEs/A-Levels and a commitment to professional study.

Qualifications

• Requires 120 UCAS points from top 3 A Levels/Highers.
• GCSE/National 5 Maths and English grade 6/B or higher.
• AAT Level 4 qualification considered for exemptions; ACA/CTA study required.

Responsibilities

• Assist with tax returns, computations and other compliance filings for a range of clients.
• Work with financial and client data to support reporting, analysis and submissions.
• Use specialist software and systems to deliver high-quality tax work.
• Carry out technical research and support client projects, queries and advisory work.
• Prepare reports, calculations and documentation for review by senior colleagues.
• Build relationships with clients and colleagues while gaining exposure to a variety of industries and sectors.
• Contribute to delivering accurate, practical solutions that help clients meet their tax obligations and achieve their goals.

Education

120 UCAS points (top 3 A Levels/Highers)

GCSE/National 5 Maths and English (minimum 6/B)

AAT Level 4 qualification (exemptions possible)

Job description

School Leaver Corporate Tax Trainee (ACA/CTA) - Manchester - September 2027

Are you looking to start your career in Corporate Tax, helping businesses navigate an increasingly complex tax landscape? We’re seeking ambitious individuals from all backgrounds to join our team as a trainee, studying towards the ACA/CTA joint qualification.

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. As a proud member of Nexia, a worldwide network of trusted member firms, we’ve got access to local insight on a global scale.

We pride ourselves on our informal and inclusive culture, building an environment where people can be themselves and enjoy challenging, interesting, rewarding careers.

When you work with Saffery, the well-respected accountancy firm where heritage meets ambition, you work with people who know your name. Who know you as a human being, not just a job title. Everyone belongs here. Always.

Who we welcome

We recognise that talent comes from different paths, so we encourage applications from upcoming and recent school leavers or career changers. We do not expect applicants to have any prior relevant work experience.

Our training contract takes four and a half years to complete with full support and access to first-class tuition centres. You’ll follow a structured development programme combining professional study with on-the-job learning. As your knowledge and confidence develop, you’ll take on more complex work, contribute to projects and build your expertise as a trusted advisor.

Our bespoke School Leaver Programme, developed with Kaplan, includes a six-week business simulation designed to build key professional skills such as teamwork, decision-making and leadership. Kaplan has successfully delivered this programme for several years and it has consistently received excellent feedback from participants.

If you’reAAT Level 4 qualified, you will be eligible for exemptions, otherwise we ask for all trainees to complete the fullACA/CTA syllabus. We believe that studying alongside a cohort gives you the best chance of exam success.

Key dates to apply:

Monday 2 November 2026 - Sunday 29 November 2026

We encourage early applications to avoid disappointment, as roles may close early due to high demand.

Due to the volume of applications, you may occasionally experience delays; however, we remain committed to reviewing all applications fairly. All applications are assessed by trained human reviewers, and automated tools are not used to make final decisions.

Your role and development

Your growth doesnt just come from exams. It comes from valuable work experience and real-world learning.

What you’ll do

• Assist with tax returns, computations and other compliance filings for a range of clients.
• Work with financial and client data to support reporting, analysis and submissions.
• Use specialist software and systems to deliver high-quality tax work.
• Carry out technical research and support client projects, queries and advisory work.
• Prepare reports, calculations and documentation for review by senior colleagues.
• Build relationships with clients and colleagues while gaining exposure to a variety of industries and sectors.
• Contribute to delivering accurate, practical solutions that help clients meet their tax obligations and achieve their goals.

What you’ll learn

• Core tax principles, legislation and regulatory requirements.
• How tax rules apply to different clients and business situations.
• How to analyse financial information and prepare tax returns, calculations and technical documentation.
• The role tax plays in compliance, advisory work and business decision-making.
• How to communicate technical information effectively.
• The practical application of your professional qualification studies in a real-world environment.
• Corporate tax compliance, reporting and tax planning opportunities.

We’ll support you every step of the way through mentorship, structured training, and our off-site trainee programmes as well as regular social events to build friendships with colleagues.

What you'll need

• A minimum of 120 UCAS points from your top 3 A Levels or Highers (or equivalent), excluding General Studies and AS Levels,
• A minimum of 6 (or B) in GCSE or National 5 Maths and English Language (or equivalent).

We welcome applications from candidates who are AAT qualified. If you have completed AAT studies (up to Level 4) in place of A Levels or Highers, please detail this under the A Level, Scottish Highers (or equivalent) qualifications section on your application form.

If you have over 12 months relevant experience within a training contract at another firm, we recommend exploring part-qualified opportunities on our Experienced Hire vacancy page.

We understand that confidence plays a role in job applications, and some candidates may hesitate to apply. If this role excites you and aligns with your career ambitions, we’d love to hear from you!

Where potential meets personal meets you

At Saffery, we look for people who share our values. We're looking for individuals who are collaborative, responsible, progressive and act with integrity, whilst always striving for excellence.

You’ll be approachable, committed and ready to take ownership of your work, with a proactive and curious mindset and a genuine interest in how businesses operate. We value people who are organised, pay close attention to detail, enjoy working with financial data, and can manage their time effectively.

You'll thrive in a close-knit team environment, working collaboratively with others while taking responsibility for your own development. We want people who are willing to learn, ask questions, speak up when something could be better, and help make improvements happen.

Here, you're never just a number. We value drive, focus and a positive attitude, but we also value who you are as a person. We believe in caring more, leaving egos behind, supporting each other and enjoying the journey together. There's genuine mutual respect here and a two-way relationship where we bring out the best in each other.

We’ll help you get to know our clients, but we also look for people who are naturally inquisitive about the wider business and economic landscape. If you're curious, eager to learn, and committed to giving your best, you'll find plenty of support and opportunities to succeed as you work towards yourqualification and beyond.

You’ll be surrounded by people who value you, your contributions, and your potential.

What we’ll offer you

We believe thatsupporting our people leads to success, so we provide both core and flexible benefits tailored to your needs:

• Profit-sharing scheme (approx. £1,000 per year)
• Generous annual leave & flexible work arrangements
• Contributory pension plan (5% salary match)

Work life balance & wellbeing

• Buddy scheme and/or line manager support
• Agile working policy (up to three days working from home, however in your first few months we do encourage up to 4 days in the office to reap the benefits of training around your managers and colleagues)
• Health assessments, GP access, & cancer screenings
• Access to mental health & wellbeing resources

Personal development and belonging

• Mentorship & career progression opportunities
• Participation in our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (ED&I) programme
• Volunteer to join one of our People networks, including Accessibility, Cultural Heritage, Faith, LGBTQ+, Social Mobility and Gender Equality