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Saffery

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

London
Posted about 15 hours ago
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Your future starts here

Are you looking to start your career in 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.

Ready to start your journey?

Explore Life At Saffery & Apply Today

Life at Saffery

About The Programme

Our training contract takes around four and a half years to complete with full support and access to first-class tuition centres.

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’re AAT Level 4 qualified, you will be eligible for exemptions, otherwise we ask for all trainees to complete the full ACA. We believe that studying alongside a cohort gives you the best chance of exam success.

About The Teams

We have two teams we are recruiting into. Whilst there is significant overlap in the technical skills built across these areas of Tax, you'll be aligned to one specific team, so please use the motivational questions within the 'About You' section of your application form to tell us which client group you are most interested in and why!

  • Our general Corporates team
  • Our specialist Film, TV and Video Games Tax team

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. If you are unsure on what area of tax suits you, please still apply to a role and we'd be happy to discuss options throughout.

Corporates Group

The Corporate Group works with a diverse range of clients across multiple sectors, including professional services, financial services, manufacturing, technology, retail, recruitment, hospitality, property, charities and education. Clients range from entrepreneurial and family-owned businesses to large UK listed and international groups, as well as charities and not-for-profit organisations. The team provides a broad range of audit, tax, compliance and advisory services, supporting businesses at all stages of their growth and development.

You’ll help businesses navigate complex tax regulations and make informed financial decisions.

Reasons to use Rodeo

I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?

Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.

Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.

Start with a chat, not a search bar

Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.

P

Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme

PwC·London, UK
£35,000/yr

Why you're a good match

Strong

Your economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.

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It searches the market for you

Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.

Why you're a good match

You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.

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Strong

Experience fit

Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.

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Strong

Only hits

No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.

Film, TV And Video Games Group

This team works with a diverse range of clients across the creative industries, including film and television production companies, video game developers, major studios, streaming platforms and specialist service providers. Clients range from owner-managed businesses and independent producers to large multinational organisations. The team provides audit, tax and advisory services, supporting clients operating in a dynamic and fast-evolving sector.

You’ll help film and TV productions unlock valuable tax incentives and navigate the financial complexities of the creative industries.

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.

Your role and development

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

  • 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.

Depending on your team, you may also have opportunities to:

  • Support creative industry clients with film and television tax credit claims and related submissions.
  • Work on specialist corporate tax planning projects.

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.

Depending on your team, you may also gain experience in:

  • Corporate tax compliance, reporting and tax planning opportunities.
  • Film and TV tax reliefs, tax credit claims and the specialist tax issues affecting the creative industries.

Don't see a team that matches your interests just yet? We have several other specialist teams across Saffery, including Personal Tax, Transfer Pricing (International Tax), Indirect (VAT) Tax, Capital Allowances 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.

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What You'll Need

  • 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.

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 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 for example Accessibility, Cultural Heritage, Faith, LGBTQ+, Social Mobility and Women

What To Know Before You Apply

Before submitting your application, take some time to familiarise yourself with our recruitment process by

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Location

London, England, United Kingdom

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