Accounts Trainee; ACA

Accounts Trainee (ACA ) - Bournemouth - September 2026

Are you looking to start your career in Accounts? We’re seeking ambitious individuals from all backgrounds to join our team as a trainee, studying towards the ACA qualification.

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.

About the programme

Our training contract takes three years to complete with full support and access to first-class tuition centres.

If you’reAAT 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.

Key dates to apply:

19 December 2025 – 11 January 2026

Please note that the next stage of our recruitment process (psychometric testing) will be paused from 19 December 2025 until 11 January 2026. Applications will continue to be accepted during this period, and candidates may then be invited to complete a psychometric test in mid-January 2026. We hope this pause provides you with time to enjoy the holiday season or prepare for upcoming exams.

Your role and development

Your growth doesn't just come from exams,andit comes from valuable work experience and real-world learning.

You'll work in a friendly and progressive environment in a client facing, fast paced role which includes advisory elements and often deals with high profile clients.

The work is varied and ranges from typical year end compliance through to ad-hoc advisory and project work. The client base is a mix of sole traders, partnerships, limited companies, limited liability partnerships, trusts and smaller private charities.

The role would include (but is not limited to) the following, within agreed deadlines:

• Preparing management accounts, including reconciling all key account balances and tailoring the presentation specific to each client
• Assisting and advising clients on issues in their accounting systems, including software migration
• Agreeing and executing payment runs on clients’ behalf using a variety of online banking platforms
• Preparing VAT and Intrastat returns
• Preparation of year-end financial statements
• Carrying out and reviewing ad hoc tasks such as cash flows, budgets and information for third parties
• Maintaining relationships with clients and taking ownership of projects and tasks as appropriate
• Processing work on Xero, and other accounting software

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 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. Please apply as usual and be sure to include your qualification details in the academic section.

If however, 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 - those who are collaborative, enthusiastic
, and act with integrity while always striving for excellence
.

You’ll be approachable and committed, ready to take ownership and go the extra mile to deliver our signature service. You won’t hesitate to speak up when something could be better and you’ll help to make it happen. We value drive, focus, and a positive attitude.

Here, you’re never just a number. You’re valued for who you are. We want your personality and style to shine, because we believe in caring more and letting egos take a back seat. We work hard, we support each other, and we enjoy the journey together. You’ll thrive in a close-knit team that takes pride in delivering high quality work.

There’s real mutual respect here and a two-way…