Trainee Chartered Accountant Smith & Williamson

Job description

At Smith & Williamson we recruit high calibre people with the skills, knowledge and commitment to meet the demands of the business. The successful individual will join a three year structured training programme combining practical experience with technical studies for the ACA qualification.

If you are a graduate looking for first class training in Assurance and Business Services and meet our requirements, we would like to hear from you.

The Trainee Chartered Accountant role equips you to provide a range of assurance and business services to a diverse client base ranging from small businesses and start ups to substantial international groups (find out more here).

This means you will quickly gain broad experience in the following:

Technical – on-the-job training and studying towards your professional qualification will enable you to gain a full understanding of the technical aspects of audit and accountancy and additional financial advisory services. You will:

• Develop an understanding of our client’s and their businesses
• Complete audit programmes and form conclusions on each individual test and section completed
• Highlight issues and problems for the attention of senior management
• Become familiar with our audit software

Client liaison – from day one you will engage with our clients at their offices and:

• Discuss queries with client staff, obtaining relevant information and explanations as well as
• Resolve queries whether of an audit or accountancy nature

Professional qualification and internal training

• During your three year contract, you will study towards the ACA qualification with the ICAEW (add link http://www.icaew.com/) to become a chartered accountant
• You will obtain an understanding of related services such as Corporate and Private Tax through our structured trainee placement program
• Attend a range of internal training sessions including industry experience and soft skills

Professional communication and (self) management – your ability to work as part of a team is essential to your role at every level

• Work as part of a team to undertake a variety of audit and accountancy tasks for our diverse client base
• Understand from your manager the scope of tasks allocated and objectives to be achieved
• Keep seniors and managers fully informed of any issues and problems, ensure work is completed to a level agreed with the manager and record clearly and concisely work done
• Prioritising tasks whilst monitoring time against budget
• Support department events and procedures and build relationships within Smith & Williamson

Person requirements

To be successful in this role you will:

• Be committed and motivated to studying towards the ACA qualification
• Be able to deliver first class client service and work effectively as part of a team
• Demonstrate an ability to communicate clearly both verbally and in writing
• Have a high level of general commercial awareness

Company information

Ambitious, forward thinking and friendly, Smith & Williamson is an award-winning accountancy and investment management firm. As such, we are distinctive in the market for our broad range of services and strong client relationships.

Our scope and expertise allows us to deliver bespoke investment management, financial advisory and accountancy solutions that make a real difference to private individuals, professional practices, mid- to large corporations and non-profit organisations.

And as the eighth largest accountancy firm in the UK, we’re large enough to be competitive, but small enough to develop relationships with our clients, and our people, that allow us to deliver tailored solutions and build strong careers - and sets us apart in the market.

Developing new talent across the firm is key for us to remain competitive and move our business forward. We recruit graduates, school leavers and interns each year, across our 11 UK offices, in areas including Assurance & Business Services, Corporate Tax, Investment Management and Private Client Tax.

Our size means we are able to offer the opportunities and experience our trainees are looking for. You’ll be given responsibility and challenging client-facing work at an early stage, across a diverse range of sectors, and structured training toward professional qualifications. And all within a supportive, open and friendly working environment that is as down-to-earth as it is dynamic.

Qualification and experience requirements

Graduate trainee roles and summer internships in Assurance & Business Services require a minimum B grade in GCSE Maths and English Language, 300 UCAS points in your top three A-levels (excluding General Studies) and a minimum 2:2 in your undergraduate degree.

However, joining us is not just about the academic qualifications. We know you're bright, but we're looking for something extra: the difference that you can make to our team.

We're looking for people who are able to work both independently as well as being strong team players with the ability to work effectively with others, both from their own and other departments within the firm. This means that you can get to the heart of our clients' needs and provide tailored and effective solutions.

You'll have a genuine interest in business and be committed to and enjoy meeting challenges, both those of our client business and your own career development.

In return, we'll provide all the support and experience you need to help you grow into a trusted business adviser. For us that means exemplary client service, so you'll be keen and able to learn from experts in their fields, and develop your own skills across a diverse client base.

Accepted degree subjects

Any