Level 7 Chartered Pathway Programme; Ahead; Trainee Accountant​/Tax Adviser

Department: Business Services

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Carlisle

Start Ahead

Earn a salary. Gain professional qualifications. Build real experience from day one.

Build something exceptional with us...

Our ambition is clear and openly bold.

Armstrong Watson is on a journey to more than double our turnover by 2030, through disciplined organic growth, the attraction of outstanding talent and the selective acquisition of like-minded firms.

But growth alone is not the goal.

Reputation is.

And reputation is earned, not inherited.

To achieve that, we're building the best Accounting and Financial Advisory firm to deal with, not just in the North, but across the UK. Exceptional service, deep expertise, trusted relationships and absolute reliability define everything we do.

These aren't slogans. They're standards.

At our core, we exist for one reason: to help our clients achieve prosperity, a secure future and peace of mind.

Our strategy sets the direction. Our people, values-led culture and standards will deliver it.

That's where you come in...

Start your professional career while others are still deciding theirs.

Start Ahead is our Early Careers pathway for ambitious students who want to earn, learn and build a respected professional career from day one.

We're now recruiting for our Level 7 Chartered Pathway Programme. We are seeking ambitious individuals to join our six-year programme, commencing in September 2027.

It's a structured six-year programme, designed to give you real experience, fully funded globally recognised professional qualifications, a full salary and a clear route towards Level 7 professional qualification, which is master's degree equivalent.

This isn't simply a job. It's a serious opportunity for people who want to build something meaningful with their career.

You will work with real clients. You will learn how businesses operate. You will develop technical knowledge, commercial understanding, communication skills and professional confidence. You will be supported by experienced colleagues, mentors and training providers while progressing through a clear development pathway.

Recognised as one of The Sunday Times Best Places to work in 2025 and 2026 and The Sunday Times Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers for five consecutive years, we're proud of our track record in developing trainees and supporting people at the start of their professional careers.

What you'll gain

Over the programme, you will:

• Earn a full salary while completing your studies and professional exams
• Gain fully funded globally recognised professional qualifications
• Progress to a Level 7 qualification, equivalent to a Master's degree
• Work towards Chartered Accountant or Chartered Tax Adviser status
• Avoid university debt
• Build real client experience from the start
• Gain exposure across different teams and service lines
• Develop the communication, teamwork, problem-solving and professional skills that build trusted advisers

Your pathway

You will follow one of two clear routes.

Accountancy Pathway

You will study AAT Levels 3 and 4, followed by ACA, leading to Chartered Accountant status.

You will gain experience across:

• Business Services
• Audit & Assurance
• Tailored placements across the firm

Taxation Pathway

You will study AAT Level 3, followed by ATT and CTA, leading to Chartered Tax Adviser status.

You will gain experience across:

• Personal Tax
• Corporate Tax
• Tailored placements within other tax specialisms

With either pathway, as your skills grow, you may also gain experience across areas such as Corporate Finance and Financial Advisory, helping you understand the breadth of advice we provide to clients.

What life on the programme looks like

You will spend your first two years developing strong technical and professional foundations through structured learning, qualifications and support.

From there, you will build broader experience through placements across the business. You will be placed in one of our regional offices in Glasgow, Carlisle, Newcastle, Leeds or Manchester, this will become your home office and normal place of work, when not visiting clients, after the initial two years.

Visiting clients on location is a key part of the role. You do not need a driving licence when you start, but successful candidates should be willing to learn to drive within 3 months of joining the firm if they don't already hold a full UK driving licence, and after the first two years, you will…