Tax School Leaver Programme (Autumn 2027) - Birmingham

CFA Institute; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid study leave

Fully-funded qualification

Partner sponsor from day one

Job summary

CFA Institute in the United Kingdom is launching a purple-path trainee programme designed to fast-track school leavers into leadership roles. From day one you'll engage in client work, gain international exposure, and benefit from a fully-funded professional qualification along with paid study leave and a named Partner sponsor.

You'll work with digital tools and AI insights, undertake business development experiences, and build a global perspective as you progress toward leadership.

Qualifications

• Structured learning with a fast-track path to leadership.
• Fully-funded professional qualification with paid study leave and fees covered.
• Named Partner sponsor from day one to accelerate your career.

Skills

Commercial curiosity

Digital tools mindset

Adaptability

Strong problem-solving

Collaborative communication

Proactive career mindset

Education

ACA/ICAS/CFAB/ATT/CTA/ACCA/CIMA or DTS

Job description

Job Description:

Go one better than Four.

The industry is set to change. It's time to get with a new kind of programme. One that leaves traditional apprenticeship schemes behind. From the off, you'll see a future you want to stay for. Because we don't just recruit exceptional school leaver talent. We turn trainees into leaders. We're talking bigger opportunities, faster growth, and an experience designed to accelerate your career from the start.

Take the purple path

What investing in talent actually looks like

• A market-leading salary of £29,000 and full benefits package
• A fully-funded professional qualification, including paid study leave, expert tuition, and all course fees covered
• A named Partner sponsor from day one to support you grow in your career
• International exposure, helping you build a global perspective early in your career
• Access to the latest leading AI tools and digital solutions from day one, building skills that will shape the future of your career
• Meaningful client interaction outside of the day-to-day - understanding how businesses operate and driving results which matter
• Structured learning built around the capabilities of a future Partner - taking you beyond the technical
• In-person experiences with your cohort of future leaders. One pathway, one cohort, and a network for life
• Access to additional opportunities as you reach your potential - from working with our Senior Leadership Team to shaping new initiatives
• Business Development responsibilities before you even qualify. Hands-on opportunities to win work and support our growth ambitions

Powered by AI, driven by you

We are investing £500m in digital transformation.

Our leading AI tools drive efficiencies, handling time-consuming manual tasks, which means you can focus on higher-value work, faster. You'll get experience and training to progress rapidly, earlier than apprentices ever have before.

Powered by AI, you will spend more time on detailed analysis, professional judgement and the insights that genuinely add value for clients. You'll be the one in control, reviewing and challenging the quality of AI inputs and outputs to ensure our clients continue to receive an exceptional service.

We're in the business of people, not just numbers. AI helps us work more efficiently, but it's our people who bring judgement, curiosity and care to every client relationship. As a trainee, you'll learn to use these tools while developing the human skills that will set you apart throughout your career.

A look into the role

Tax is about helping people and organisations navigate one of the most complex legislative landscapes As a tax professional, you'll advise on the application of the law, identify risks and pursue opportunities, and make sure your client remains compliant with ever-changing rules - work that companies, individuals, public bodies, and the wider economy all rely on. Gaining experience across multiple tax teams, you'll gain real exposure to a wide range of clients and specialisms, building a broad knowledge base across the service line.

As a tax professional you will:

• Work with a variety of clients, from household names to innovative start-ups. Build strong client relationships, understand how each business and their owners operate and develop your technical expertise in tax
• Work hands-on from day one: digging into real client data, researching technical positions, and working out the right answer under current tax rules.
• Tackle real problems, working out how tax rules apply to different transactions and scenarios and helping clients navigate change with confidence.
• Understand how businesses and their owners really do business - exploring how they structure their affairs and how tax shapes decisions around investment, people, strategy, risk, and growth.
• Study for a relevant professional qualification (typically ACA, ICAS, CFAB, ATT, CTA, ACCA, CIMA or DTS) which will complement your technical knowledge, and prepare you for future career success

Get to know our Head of Tax, Hazel Platt here

Who we're looking for

Our pathway moves fast.

You've juggling the demands it brings, alongside an intensive professional qualification, so you'll need real drive and determination to keep pace and succeed. This is a distinctive pathway offering exceptional opportunities, but the work is demanding. We want people with the ambition to contribute to our high-performance culture, who see a real future with us beyond qualification, following the purple path.

We're looking for people who bring:

• Commercial curiosity - genuine interest in our clients' businesses and an eye for spotting opportunities to add value, from the start.
• A digital explorer's mindset - curiosity for digital tools and data, and a drive to find smarter solutions early on.
• Adaptability - embracing change, asking good questions, and picking things up quickly when thrown in at the deep end.
• Strong problem-solving skills - critical thinking, sound judgement, and attention to detail from your first live piece of work.
• Collaborative communication - listening well, adapting your approach, and building trust with clients and colleagues alike.
• A proactive approach to your career - taking ownership of your growth and seeking out opportunities rather than waiting for them to come to you.

We've got a flexible approach to academic entry requirements, and we'll consider these alongside your strengths and motivations.

We're growing fast, and we want you to grow with us. With digital-first innovation and a firm that's investing in its future leaders, this is your chance to shape what's next.

Follow the purple path.

It's the start of something bigger.