Trainee Adviser - Tax (ACA/CTA Apprenticeship)

PM+M Solutions; Blackburn; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading firm of Chartered Accountants in Blackburn is seeking motivated individuals for an ACA/CTA apprenticeship. You will gain practical experience while studying towards your qualifications with full support. Responsibilities include assisting with tax services for business and personal clients. Ideal candidates are graduates or those with relevant GCSEs and A-levels. Competitive benefits package and opportunities for growth await qualified applicants.

Benefits

25 days’ holiday plus bank holidays

Employer pension contribution of 8%

Flexible working options

Full technical and soft skills training

Well-being support through WeCare app

Hybrid working opportunities

Cycle to work scheme

Qualifications

• Essential GCSE standard in English and Maths with Grade 5+.
• Relevant A-levels or BTEC advantageous but not essential.
• Degree holders should have a minimum 2:1 classification.

Responsibilities

• Assist in providing corporation and personal tax services.
• Prepare personal tax returns for clients.
• Develop into a professional tax adviser.

Skills

Communication

Time Management

Teamwork

Client Service

Education

GCSEs with Grade 5 or above in English and Maths

A-levels or BTEC in related subjects (Accounting, Business, etc.)

University degree (minimum 2:1 classification)

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Outlook

Job description

Voted in the UK Top 50 SME Apprenticeship Employers Rankings of 2025, you will be joining our apprenticeship programme which will give you the skills and support you need to unlock a future full of new opportunities and experiences within the world of Tax, both Personal and Corporate.

You will enjoy a combination of on-the-job learning and structured training, where you will be given full study support towards the ACA/CTA pathway, and not to mention an interesting client list to work with.

Who we are looking for

Our ACA/CTA apprenticeship programme is a fantastic opportunity for Graduates, who are looking to propel their career straight to become a Chartered Tax Accountant. If you do not meet the new criteria for the Level 7 funded apprenticeship programme, we will explore the commercial options for you to study. This will include full study support.

What the role involves

• You will assist in the provision of corporation tax and business tax services to the firm’s business clients.
• You will assist in the provision of personal tax services to clients including the preparation of personal tax returns.
• You will develop and grow into a professional tax adviser.
• You will actively support and work with other members of your team and the wider Firm.
• This role is based in Blackburn.

Your development

PM+M believes that its most valuable resource is its team members. The continued success of the organisation depends upon having highly motivated people with proper skills in the right job at the right time. We recognise the need to offer all team members a clear path of progression within the business.

As part of this programme, we will provide an apprenticeship study package towards the CTA/ACA, which includes study leave, and we will mentor you through your qualification journey.

We also provide a complementary range of internal training opportunities to ensure that you maximise your potential in areas such as becoming a trusted adviser, how to network, presentation skills etc with opportunities for progression around the firm.

We have 6 monthly reflect and act conversations to ensure your development is on track, with optional monthly 1-2-1s. You will also have a buddy and opportunity for a mentor.

We also encourage you to get involved in wider firm initiatives and have your say on how we can progress on our journey towards being the best North West firm of finance professionals.

Your attributes

• Keen to play an active role in a dynamic team and willing to contribute to the success of the team and the firm as a whole.
• Passionate about providing great client service.
• Great at communicating with people at all levels – face to face and in writing.
• Positive attitude, and good at using your own initiative.
• Good at working under pressure.
• Motivated and well organised.
• Professional, mature and keen to learn and develop yourself.
• Be familiar with the use of recognised software applications (Word, Excel, Outlook).

Your Qualifications

• It is essential you are educated to GCSE standard, with a Grade 5 or above in English and Maths.
• You may also be educated or working towards relevant A-levels or BTEC. It would be beneficial if these were in subjects such as Accounting, Business Studies, Maths, Economics etc, however this is not essential.
• We are also open to applications from Graduates, of relevant and none-relevant degrees, predicted or achieved a minimum grade classification of 2:1.

Important Dates

• Applications opened 21 October 2025.
• Applications close 8 January 2026.
• Assessment centres will be held on different dates during week commencing 16 February 2026.
• The start date for this apprenticeship is Tuesday 1 September 2026.

How to apply

• Your GCSE Grades, predicted or achieved, including years awarded.
• Your A-Level (or equivalent qualification i.e. BTEC, T-Level etc) Grades, predicted or achieved, including years awarded.
• Your Degree details and classification, if applicable.
• Why you have applied for this apprenticeship at PM+M, and what interests you the most about it?
• Why do you feel you would be suitable for this role at PM+M over other applicants?

We recommend that your answers are in your own words and reflect your true and genuine opinions.

The process

All website applications will be reviewed carefully against the criteria discussed within this job specification, and each will be considered on their own merit.

Those successfully shortlisted from the written stage will then be asked to submit a video application after the application closing deadline. This will be emailed to you at the time, and comprise of preparing and answering a few short questions and sending back in to us for further shortlisting.

About PM+M

We are a vibrant, dynamic and award-winning firm of Chartered Accountants and business advisers, with offices in Blackburn and Bury and a hub in Burnley, covering East Lancashire, Greater Manchester and beyond. Our vision is to be the best North West firm of finance professionals and we want great people to join our team and help us do that.

We are proud of our inclusivity and diversity, encouraging people to be the best they can be and to be involved, no matter their level of experience or role.

We are a member of Praxity, the 7th largest global accountancy association and the largest association of independent firms. Being part of Praxity allows us to have strong international connections and a great source of secondment opportunities.

Joining the PM+M team will help take your career to the next level. You will be joining a values led organisation with a unique culture where you will be encouraged to take ownership of your own development and achieve your career goals.

We understand that we thrive when we help our clients succeed and that is our core purpose. We also understand that, to do that, our people need to succeed and be happy and fulfilled.

Everyone is different and has different hopes and dreams and different personal circumstances at different stages of their lives. Our task is to listen to you, understand what you want to achieve next and then work with you to help you get there. Our working practices are really flexible, based on high degrees of trust and empowerment and can flex to suit your circumstances and needs.

Benefits

• In addition to competitive salaries, here’s what our market leading benefits packages look like:
• 25 days’ holiday per annum + bank holidays
• office closedown over Winter Break
• flexible Easter Break, to account for other religious festivals
• on site free parking
• employer pension contribution of 8%
• death in service life cover of 4 x salary
• income protection scheme
• weekly flexi time
• agreed overtime
• family friendly policies including enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental pay
• flexible benefits (salary sacrifice) scheme including a range of benefits such as private medical insurance, extra holidays, electric car scheme etc
• hybrid working
• full technical and soft skills training and support
• recruitment incentive scheme
• cycle to work scheme
• employee well-being portal
• access to the WeCare app that offers health, well-being, financial and legal support
• dress for your day policy and dress down Fridays
• paid sick leave
• extensive learning & development opportunities and study support
• Firm wide success bonus based on the achievement of certain financial metric(s).
• Access to Dashlane password manager for you + 9 of your family and friends
• Fee‑free service to whole of market mortgage and insurance advice
• Access to Able Futures support, a Mental Health Support Service