Graduate Audit Trainee; ACA

Graduate Audit Trainee (ACA) - Leeds - January 2027

Are you looking to start your career in audit? We’re seeking ambitious individuals from all backgrounds to join our team as a trainee, studying towards the ACA 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 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 all trainees to complete the full ACA. We believe that studying alongside a cohort gives you the best chance of exam success.

We encourage early applications to avoid disappointment. Due to high volume, you may experience delays in the process but we will review all submissions fairly.

Your growth doesn’t just come from exams, and it comes from valuable work experience and real‑world learning.

• You’ll be taken through the various stages of an audit from planning to completion.
• Work on audit and accounts preparation assignments for clients across diverse industries.
• Learn how to conduct client reviews, audit testing, and financial analysis.
• Visit client sites and build strong relationships to gain a deeper understanding of their business.
• Progressively take on more responsibility, enabling you to understand the full audit cycle.

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, 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.

We provide both core and flexible benefits tailored to your needs:

• Profit‑sharing scheme (approx. £1,000 per year)
• Generous annual leave & flexible work arrangements
• Contributory pension plan (5% salary match)

• 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

• 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

Saffery is a partner‑led firm of chartered accountants, tax and business advisers with a strong community focus.