School Leaver Trainee Accountant - ACA & ACA/CTA - September 2026 Start

BISHOP FLEMING; Exeter; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A dynamic audit and advisory firm in Exeter is offering an exciting apprenticeship program. As an apprentice, you'll receive tailored training and support to achieve a globally-recognized ACA qualification. You'll gain hands-on experience in Audit, Accounting, or Tax teams, working with diverse clients from day one. We're looking for enthusiastic candidates with excellent communication skills and the required academic qualifications to join our people-focused culture. This is a fantastic opportunity to jumpstart your career in accountancy.

Benefits

Tailored training

Hands-on learning

Support for personal development

Qualifications

• Candidates must possess excellent communication skills and be motivated.
• A Levels and GCSEs with required grades are must-have qualifications.

Responsibilities

• Participate in hands-on experience in Audit, Accounting, or Tax teams.
• Work with diverse clients across different industries.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Motivation

Education

3 A Levels (Or Equivalent) with minimum grades of BBC/112 (280) UCAS points

9 GCSE’s 9-5 (A*-C) with at least Grade 6 (B) in Maths and English

Job description

Description

Want a career in accountancy that sets you apart?

Bishop Fleming is a dynamic audit, accounting, tax and advisory business. Our strength lies in our people and the relationships they build with our clients and each other. That is why, among numerous other awards, we are Great Place to Work-Certified™ and ranked as a Best Workplace™ for Women!

What You'll Gain with Us

• Tailored Training: The Level 7 Accountancy / Taxation Professional Apprenticeship promises a fulfilling journey, offering tailored training and development opportunities.
• Partnered with ICAEW: As an esteemed partner in learning with ICAEW, you'll receive excellent support and guidance throughout your apprenticeship.
• Globally-Recognised Qualification: Achieve the recognised ACA or ACA/CTA qualification as part of our apprenticeship programme, opening doors to a globally-recognised career.
• Hands-On Learning: Dive into valuable hands-on experience in our Audit, Accounting, or Tax teams right from the start, allowing you to make a significant impact early in your career.
• Diverse Client Base: Be part of our remarkable growth story, working with ambitious and inspiring clients across diverse industries.

Our opportunities

As a part of our apprenticeship programme, you’ll have the opportunity to join one of two streams. You will either join our largest and fastest growing Audit department where you’ll be gaining hands on experience with clients from day one, or, you’ll experience rotations as part of our Launchpad Scheme working in our Accountancy, Audit and Tax teams before settling into a department. Either way, you’ll get to work with a wide array of sectors and as your experience grows, so will the level of responsibility that you have.

Recognised as an ICAEW Partner in Learning, you will study for the ACA qualification, enabling you to become a chartered accountant. You will be supported to complete a wide range of professional and personal development over the course of the programme, to ensure that you have the skills and knowledge that you need to aid your future career development.

But it's not all about work. Our trainees are all encouraged to make a wider contribution through business development activities and initiatives such as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), diversity, sports and social activities. This allows you to develop into both technical experts and the potential future leaders of our business.

We know this gives our business a refreshingly different, people-focussed culture. It is no coincidence then, that we've been ranked 11th in the Sunday Times Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers 2025 and have also achieved an Outstanding Ofsted rating.

Ready to Shine? Show Us Your Spark

If you're enthusiastic and motivated with excellent communication skills, we want to hear from you! Our entry requirements include:

• 3 A Levels (Or Equivalent) with minimum grades of BBC/112 (280) UCAS points
• 9 GCSE’s 9-5 (A*-C) with at least Grade 6 (B) in Maths and English

How to Apply

Submit your CV via our career site, detailing all qualifications, subjects, and grades, as well expressing your preferred office location.

We embrace innovation, but we also value authenticity. Your application is your chance to shine, so we don't condone simply copying AI-generated responses, instead use AI as a tool to refine and develop your original thoughts.

To find out more about the application process, click here

Please note that if successful in joining us as an Apprentice, you’ll need to live within a commutable distance of the office you join. We’re not able to provide relocation support, so please do consider this before applying.

Connect with Us

Questions? Connect with our team at any stage; find our contact details here

We welcome applicants who would like the flexibility in their working arrangements, part time working, which may help to accommodate parent or carer responsibilities, further studies and activities outside of work.

Diversity and Inclusion

We are committed to welcoming new people into an inclusive working environment, where everyone is given equal opportunity to reach their full potential. We support a culture where people are valued and treated fairly with respect and differences are understood and celebrated.

The more varied our workforce, the broader the expertise within our business. The broader our expertise, the greater our chances of innovation and success. That's why we're committed to equality of opportunity, diversity and inclusion at every level.

Background Checks

As part of our recruitment process and our commitment to maintaining a safe and compliant working environment, we carry out background checks on all successful applicants. These checks will include verification of references, confirmation of right to work in the UK, and, where applicable, a standard or enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Further details will be provided during the recruitment process.