Corporate Tax Trainee; ACA​/CTA

Corporate Tax Trainee (ACA/CTA) - Bournemouth - September 2026

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

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.

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

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. We believe that studying alongside a cohort gives you the best chance of exam success.

The team deals with a large portfolio of companies operating in a variety of sectors, including manufacturing, technology, retail, recruitment, financial services, hospitality and property. These clients range from smaller owner-managed businesses to large and complex listed groups, as well as charities and not for profit organisations. You'll work in a fast paced environment on corporation tax compliance, including preparation of corporation tax returns and computations, advising on payment dates and dealing with all other administrative matters.

In addition to compliance work, you’ll also have the opportunity to assist in tax advisory projects once you qualify and progress. As your understanding of taxation issues grows, so will the complexity of your workload. This is an exciting time to join our team which is expanding rapidly nationwide.

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 growth doesn’t just come from exams, and it comes from valuable work experience and real-world learning. As a Tax Trainee, you’ll be supported by experienced professionals and gradually introduced to a wide range of technical and advisory work. You’ll gain hands‑on experience while building your knowledge of corporate tax compliance and advisory services.

You can expect to be involved in:

• Supporting the tax compliance process, including assisting with tax accounting and learning how tax returns are prepared and submitted.
• Helping with technical research and assisting in responses to client queries and internal team questions.
• Learning how to identify advisory opportunities within client portfolios and contribute to tax planning discussions.
• Gaining insight into complex tax areas, such as capital allowances, R&D tax relief, transfer pricing, and international tax, with guidance from experienced team members.
• Assisting in stand‑alone tax advisory projects, including learning about structuring acquisitions and disposals, transaction support, and due diligence.

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.

• 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.

At Saffery, we look for people who share our values - those who are collaborative,…