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ACA Training

We put a lot of time and effort into our training programmes, so we’re naturally picky about who we select. Below is what we’re looking for in candidates to complete this three-year course leading to an Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ACA) qualification. If you think you tick the boxes, please get in touch.

Qualifications:

• GCSE’s Maths and English Grade C or above
• 2:1, OR
• 2:2 with ‘good’ A levels, OR
• Please advise us why we should consider your application.

Skills and qualities:

• A strong team player with a good worth ethic
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Effective decision-making skills
• Committed
• Self-driven and highly motivated
• Computer literate

How to apply

Think you fit the bill? That’s great. We have a four-stage process that starts once we receive your completed application form.

The application process

1. We review your application form
2. Telephone Interview
3. numerical and verbal online testing
4. Finally, there’s a second interview with two managers or partners at your selected office

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ACCA Training

Each year we recruit a number of trainees to complete a five-year course to become qualified chartered accountants. Below is what we’re looking for in potential candidates for the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) training course.

Qualifications

• GCSE’s Maths and English Grade C or above
• ‘Good’ A levels, OR
• Please advise us why we should consider your application.

Skills and qualities

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• A clear interest in business finance
• Ability to deal with confidential information in a professional manner
• Excellent literacy and numerical skills
• A strong team player with a good work ethic
• Effective decision-making skills
• Committed
• Self-driven and highly motivated
• Computer literate

How to apply

Think you fit the bill? That’s great. We have a three-stage process that starts once we receive your completed application form.

The application process

1. We review your application form
2. Telephone Interview
3. numerical and verbal online testing
4. Finally, there’s a second interview with two managers or partners at your selected office

If you’re successful, you’ll enter a six-month probationary period and offered a five-year training contract upon completion of the six months.

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ATT Training

A career in taxation is a varied one – new legislation and changing circumstances means that every year is different. As we continue to support our clients using our specialist expertise, we need agile and intelligent minds who can grow with us in this ever-changing industry. You will work inside a highly skilled team of tax professionals, gaining the benefit of their experience whilst you study for your ATT qualification.

As a mid-tier firm with growing international reach, we are perfectly poised to offer varied exposure. You won’t be pigeon-holed into one area of the business. Instead you will work with people at all levels of seniority, across all service lines and offices as you support Kreston Reeves in becoming the most trusted accountancy firm in the UK.

To be considered for this opportunity, you will need to have excellent attention to detail and be highly motivated. You will be working and studying at the same time so a strong academic history is essential. In tax, deadlines are unavoidable, so you will also need to work well under pressure and most importantly, you should be a team player and be willing to support your colleagues.

Qualifications

• GCSE’s Maths and English Grade C or above
• ‘Good’ A levels, OR
• Please advise us why we should consider your application.

Skills and qualities

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• A clear interest in business finance
• Ability to deal with confidential information in a professional manner
• Excellent literacy and numerical skills
• A strong team player with a good work ethic
• Effective decision-making skills
• Committed
• Self-driven and highly motivated
• Computer literate

The application process

1. We review your application form
2. Telephone Interview
3. numerical and verbal online testing
4. Finally, there’s a second interview with two managers or partners at your selected office

Start application

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CFAB Training

If you’re thinking about a career in accountancy, this could be just the thing you’re after. It allows you to join us for 18 months and gain certificates in Finance, Accounting and Business. In short – it’s a great way to advance your business and finance career, as it involves the same six modules that form the first stage of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ACA) qualification. And it’s entirely funded by us.

Please bear in mind that you’ll need to study in your own time to prepare for your exams.

Qualifications

• GCSE’s Maths and English Grade C or above
• ‘Good’ A levels, OR
• Please advise us why we should consider your application.

Skills and qualities

• Excellent communication skills
• Effective time and task management skills
• Strong interpersonal skills
• An excellent work ethic (driven and self-motivated)
• Good attention to detail
• Professional and confident manner

How to apply

Think you fit the bill? That’s great. We have a three-stage process that starts once we receive your completed application form.

The application process

1. We review your application form
2. Telephone Interview
3. numerical and verbal online testing
4. Finally, there’s a second interview with two managers or partners at your selected office

Join Kreston Reeves LLP and over 18 months obtain a Certificate in Finance, Accounting and Business.

CFAB provides the key business skills that can help advance your business and finance career.

The qualification consists of the same six modules as the first stage of the ICAEW’s world leading qualification, the ACA.

We offer a training programme that allows you to gain experience in all areas of accountancy, exposing you to a variety of clients and work, totally funded by us.

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ATT Training Level 4 qualification

ATT: Association of Taxation Technicians is a professional body for qualified taxation technicians who specialise in UK tax compliance in both Personal tax and Corporation tax. Study takes 18 months to become fully qualified ATT. 

Possible Roles 

• Personal Tax Advisor  
• Corporate Tax Advisor 

Further Studies  

• ACA 
• ACCA 
• CTA 
• STEP 

Can be offered in conjunction with CTA qualification.  

CFAB Level 4 qualification

CFAB: Certificate in Finance, Accounting and Business is an internationally recognised qualification developed by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW). Study for this qualification takes 12 months to become fully qualified.  

Possible Roles 

• Personal Tax Advisor  
• Corporate Tax Advisor 
• Audit and Assurance  
• Business advice 
• Financial management 

Further Studies   

• ACA 
• ACCA 

ACA Training Level 7 qualification

ACA: Association of Chartered Accountants (ICAEW) is an internationally recognised qualification. Study for this qualification takes 3 to 5 years to become fully qualified.

Possible Roles  

• Personal Tax Advisor  
• Corporate Tax Advisor 
• Audit and Assurance  
• Corporate finance 
• Business advice 
• Corporate tax advisor 
• Forensic Accounting

Further studies 

• CTA 
• STEP 

ACCA Training combined Level 4 and 7 qualification

ACCA: Association of Chartered Certified Accountants is a global professional body for chartered certified accountants. Study for this qualification takes 3 to 5 years to become fully qualified. 

Possible Roles 

• Personal Tax Advisor  
• Corporate Tax Advisor 
• Audit and Assurance  
• Corporate finance 
• Business advice 
• Corporate tax advisor 
• Forensic Accounting

Further studies  

• CTA 
• STEP 

Trainee Chartered Financial Planner qualification

Trainee Chartered Financial Planner is an industry recognised financial planning qualification through the Chartered Insurance Institute. This is an exciting opportunity for a Trainee Financial Advisor to join the team within our Financial Planning Department.  

Possible Roles 

•  Chartered Financial Planner fee earner 
•  Case Management  

Further Studies 

• ACCA  

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How to apply for work experience

We receive a high volume of requests for work experience particularly during peak academic periods. Regretfully, it is not possible to grant every request.

We believe that work experience should provide a student with an authentic taste of employment. As such, we invite students to apply for work experience in the same way that they would a paid job.

In order to apply, please contact our Work Experience Co-ordinator by emailing recruitment@krestonreeves.com including the following:

• A brief paragraph on why you wish to gain work experience in accountancy and why you have chosen Kreston Reeves
• Your CV including the subjects that you are studying
• Your preferred dates and office location

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This article first appeared in Accountancy Careers.

Introduction

Growing up I had every intention of attending university and studying some sort of (International) Business Management degree, until I applied, and received all my offers. It was at that point I turned to my parents and told them I didn’t want to go to university. I began looking for school leaver jobs – I didn’t think about an apprenticeship. Like a lot of people, I thought an apprenticeship would mean I would be making coffees and doing filing. I spoke to my careers advisor at school who really explained what apprenticeships are about. If I’m honest there were times, I questioned whether I had made the right decision, when I chose not to go to university especially after seeing some of my closest friends move away, 18 months later and I am so glad I made the decision to did. If I had chosen to go to university, I would’ve spent three, maybe four years studying, and then a further three years after studying towards the ICAEW’s professional qualification.

Tell us about yourself?

Before starting at Kreston Reeves, I worked part-time in retail while studying Business, Sociology and Politics at A-Level. I started my Certificate in Finance, Accounting and Business (CFAB) in December 2019, and completed the qualification in November 2020 – CFAB is the first six exams of the ACA Qualification (Certificate Level). I have recently started my Professional Level studies and will hopefully be a fully qualified ICAEW Chartered Accountant in 2023. Alongside these courses, I have also attended a number of soft skills training courses, such as communicating ethically and customer orientation. Looking back to where I was when I first started, I have learnt so much already and grown as a person.

Why did you choose a job in this sector/profession?

I always loved numbers and was a maths over English kind of person, and the finance topics in A-Level business just confirmed this for me. It was my dad that suggested a role in accountancy to me, my instant response was “no way, you have to be super smart to do that”, I did however look at what the accountancy profession is all about and what the role entails and could instantly picture myself in this profession.

What skills are useful in this profession?

There are many skills that are useful in this profession, some of the key ones being: time management, good communication skills, computer literacy, attention to detail, resilience, and the ability to manage your own workload.

Do you have any advice for students wanting to enter the profession?

My biggest piece of advice would be do not be afraid to ask questions. When you are starting a new role especially as an apprentice always remember “there’s no such thing as a silly question” and I could not agree more. You are there to learn, so if there is something you’re not quite understanding, reach out and ask, I guarantee someone else has asked the exact same question when they were in your position.

Another key piece of advice would be to remember that you are not expected to know everything on your first day. When I first started, I thought I was meant to know what to do and remember everything I was taught the first time round. This is not the case at all, you are there to learn, so do not panic, if you find yourself asking a colleague the same thing more than once, they’re there to help and support your learning and development.

What is your role?

My role includes the preparation of year-end accounts for both incorporated and unincorporated businesses. I am involved in Solicitors’ Client Money Examinations (SARs), and the preparation of personal and partnership tax returns. I also was given the responsibility to train our new starter, when she joined the firm and we both assist our outsourcing department, in bookkeeping and client VAT Returns. I am also a member of the firm’s staff forum, where representatives from each office meet with the HR department, giving us an opportunity to share ideas, office updates and any issues that may have arisen on behalf of our constituents. Alongside this, I have an active role in our offices’ CSR activities, where we aim to raise funds specifically for our office charity. In summary, my role covers a range of areas, and no two days or clients are the same in this profession

Is it a 9-5?

In a sense yes. I work Monday – Friday 8am -4:30pm, in total, 37.5 hours a week. When I first started, I was working 9am – 5:30pm, but like a lot of students in the firm, I chose to change my hours, so I have more time in the evenings for studying. I had people saying to me before I started “why would you want to work 9-5, you’re only 18”, an apprenticeship isn’t just a 9-5, its so much more than that.

Why did you choose your training path?

The ACA qualification is one that is recognised globally, which offers well-rounded knowledge, ensuring I gain practical experience alongside my exam modules and ethics learning programme.

What challenges did you face and how did you overcome them?

I think my biggest challenge has been myself. When I first joined the firm, I put so much pressure on myself, thinking I was expected to know everything and ended up making myself more stressed. I ended up speaking to a couple of my colleagues, and they explained that I wasn’t expected to know everything, in fact I wasn’t expected to know anything, that’s why I’m there… to learn. Once I stopped stressing so much, I was able to focus on what was important which is developing my knowledge and skills.
It has been hard balancing full-time work and studying, no one likes studying, but having a timetable or some sort of routine really helps tackle the work that needs to be done. I also think it’s important to make sure you also take time for yourself, when you’re not studying and instead doing something you enjoy. Like anything, the ACA qualification is all about balance. I like to think of the qualification as short-term sacrifices for long-term gains.

To any current students questioning whether to go to university

It is completely your choice! You must think about what’s going to be best for you, where do you see yourself in 10 years? 5 years even? It’s important to know your options. Apprenticeships are so different to what a lot of people think they are (including me before I did my research) and can open you up to such a wide range of career opportunities.