Saffery
Graduate Capital Allowances Tax Trainee (ACA/CTA) - London - September 2027
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Your future starts here
Are you interested in tax but also curious about property, construction and the built environment? We're seeking ambitious individuals to join our specialist Capital Allowances team as a trainee, studying towards the ACA/CTA joint qualification. You'll help businesses identify valuable tax relief on commercial buildings and capital investment projects, developing expertise in a highly specialised area that supports clients across the firm.
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 recent graduates or career changers. We do not expect applicants to have any prior relevant work experience.
Ready to start your journey?
Explore Life At Saffery & Apply Today
Life at Saffery
About The Programme
Our training contract takes three years and three months 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 grow, you’ll take on more responsibility, contribute to more complex areas of work and build your confidence working directly with clients.
If you’re AAT Level 4 qualified, you will be eligible for exemptions, otherwise we ask for all trainees to complete the full ACA/CTA syllabus. We believe that studying alongside a cohort gives you the best chance of exam success.
About The Team
The Capital Allowances team specialises in helping clients identify and maximise valuable tax relief on commercial property and capital expenditure. Unlike many areas of tax, the focus is not on preparing corporation tax computations or tax returns, but on understanding how buildings, refurbishments and investment projects can qualify for tax relief.
The team supports clients across the UK and works closely with colleagues throughout Saffery's national network, providing specialist expertise to a wide range of tax-paying entities including companies, partnerships and landed estates.
Capital Allowances sits within our broader Corporate Tax offering, but it is a highly specialised area that combines tax knowledge with an interest in property, construction and business investment.
Key Dates To Apply
Monday 14 September 2026 to Sunday 4 October 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.
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Your growth doesn't just come from exams, and it comes from valuable work experience and real-world learning. 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 Do
- Support the preparation of Capital Allowances analyses and claims for a diverse range of clients.
- Review financial records, property information, building plans and project documentation to identify qualifying expenditure.
- Assist in calculating the tax relief available on commercial buildings, refurbishments and development projects.
- Conduct technical research into Capital Allowances legislation and emerging tax developments.
- Collaborate with colleagues across Saffery's national offices to provide specialist advice and support.
- Help prepare reports, calculations and technical documentation for review by senior team members.
- Build relationships with clients and gain exposure to a wide range of industries, property types and investment projects.
- Contribute to delivering practical solutions that help clients maximise available tax relief.
What You'll Learn
- How Capital Allowances legislation applies to commercial property and business investment.
- How to identify qualifying expenditure within buildings, acquisitions, refurbishments and development projects.
- The role Capital Allowances plays in improving cash flow and supporting business growth.
- How specialist tax relief claims are prepared and supported with robust technical analysis.
- How to analyse financial, legal and property-related information to reach practical conclusions.
- How specialist advisory teams support clients alongside broader tax and accounting services.
- How to communicate technical tax concepts clearly and effectively to clients and colleagues.
Don't see something that matches your interests just yet? We have several other specialist teams across Saffery, including Personal Tax, Transfer Pricing (International Tax), Indirect (VAT) Tax, General Corporate Tax and Employment Tax. Visit our Live Vacancies page to explore all current opportunities and find the role that's right for you. If you're still unsure, apply to one position and we'd be happy to discuss options with you throughout the process.
If you are more interested in working within Personal Tax, helping a wide range of high net worth clients, please note these roles open for applications on Monday 2 November 2026.
What You'll Need
- 2:1 undergraduate degree (expected or obtained) in any discipline,
- A minimum of 120 UCAS points from your top 3 A Levels (or equivalent), excluding General Studies and AS Levels.
- A minimum of 6 (or B) in GCSE 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 Highers or A Levels, please detail this under the A Level 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!
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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 your ACA/CTA qualification and beyond.
You’ll be surrounded by people who value you, your contributions, and your potential.
What We’ll Offer You
We believe that supporting our people leads to success, so we provide both core and flexible benefits tailored to your needs:
Financial support & flexibility
- Competitive salary
- 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.
What To Know Before You Apply
- Before submitting your application, take some time to familiarise yourself with our recruitment process by visiting How to apply - Saffery. Through this page you can also navigate to guidance on how to appropriately use AI in your application.
- We also recommend practising psychometric tests and learning more about how to approach a face-to-face, competency-based interview. This will help you feel confident and prepared to show your best self.
- You can apply to just one of our programmes during each recruitment season. If your application isn’t successful this time, we’d love for you to try again when applications re-open next September for the following year.
- If you’ve experienced extenuating circumstances (
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