School Leavers

If university isn’t the right choice for you, then our School Leavers Apprenticeship Programme offers a practical way to kick-start an exciting career in accountancy. You’ll earn a competitive salary, gain valuable work experience and skills, and be fully supported to achieve a professional qualification. This is an opportunity not only to build your skills and confidence, but to build an exceptional career with one of the Thames Valley’s leading accountancy and business advisory firms.

What you'll do & Where it can take you

Our three-year School Leaver programme offers you the opportunity to combine on-the-job learning with structured, classroom-based training to achieve either the AAT accounting, or ATT tax, qualification. Your training will take place under a Level 4 Apprenticeship, which means that as well technical accounting and tax knowledge, you’ll also learn a range of personal, management and commercial skills that will help you become a fully rounded professional and maximise your potential.

We usually have school leaver apprenticeship opportunities in the following areas:

Audit (AAT) – exploring whether a business’s statements about their financial position are true, fair and accurate, and really getting to know them so we can provide insight, advice and expertise to help them succeed
Outsourcing (AAT) – working with business owners to provide support with bookkeeping, management accounts and VAT compliance, plus offering financial insight into their business’s performance via forecasting, budgeting, and data analysis
Business Tax (ATT) – Helping companies work out their tax liabilities and meet their HMRC reporting obligations, plus providing wide ranging tax advice to minimise their tax exposure and help the growth of the business
Private Client Services (ATT) – working with individuals to meet their annual tax filing requirements and minimise their liabilities, as well as advising on a wide variety of tax problems at all different stages of life.

Once you have obtained your AAT or ATT qualification there are opportunities to go on and study ACA, ACCA or CTA. You may even receive an exemption from some of those higher-level exams because of your previous study.

Audit & Assurance (AAT)

Outsourcing (AAT)

Business Tax (ATT)

What we offer

We will support you every step of the way of your qualification journey with a comprehensive package that includes:

A competitive salary (£21,000)
A full study package including the costs of all exam fees and paid time off to study, attend college and sit exams
A buddy, and line manager, to support you throughout your career
23 days annual holiday, plus birthday as an extra day off
Agile working
Pension scheme
Flexible benefits scheme including cycle to work scheme, dental insurance, life assurance, free flu jabs

What we are looking for

You do not need to have studied accounting, maths or business to join our apprenticeship scheme. Whatever your background you will have knowledge and skills that are transferable to a career in accountancy, and we welcome variety! If you have a genuine interest in accountancy, we would love to meet you, but you do also need to have the following.

At least 112 UCAS points (under the 2017 Tariff)
Minimum Grade 4 in GSCE Maths and English Language

Your application will not be based on academic qualifications alone and you will also need to show:

an enthusiasm to learn
a strong work ethic
an enquiring mind
effective communication skills
full UK driving licence
the right to work in the UK for the full duration of your apprenticeship

Key Dates

Applications opening date: 2 December 2024

Applications closing date: 31 May 2025

Assessment Days: 11 March, 1 July and 24 July 2025

How to apply

The first step is to complete our quick and easy online application form, to give us some essential information, and upload your CV.

If you successfully make it through the initial screening process, you will be invited to one of our Assessment Days where you will undertake various activities both individually and in a group.

After the Assessment Day, successful candidates will be invited to join our new intake of students, starting in late August 2025.

Please note we are not currently recruiting school leavers into our Private Client Tax team for our 2025 intake.

Top 50 SME Apprenticeship Employer 2024

We are delighted to be recognised as one of the nation’s leading SME apprenticeship employers, placing 14th in this year's Top 50 SME Apprenticeship Employers list. It is great to see our commitment to delivering high quality programmes recognised in this year’s rankings. We are proud to be featured alongside outstanding employers from a wide range of sectors and industries across the country.

FAQs

Here you’ll find answers to frequently asked questions about our Graduate and School Leaver programmes. Whether you're wondering about which offices offer apprenticeships, Right to Work requirements, or specific application details, we've got you covered.

If you don't find the information you're looking for, don't hesitate to contact us for further assistance.

I am currently working as a semi-senior in the Audit & Assurance department at James Cowper Kreston. Alongside this I am completing my level 3 AAT and will be shortly moving on to my Level 4 AAT, which helps me put into practice what I have learnt at college into my day-to-day job. The firm will support me in doing my ACCA, this will help me achieve one of my goals which is to become fully qualified. Since starting at James Cowper, I have learnt lots of new skills and due to working on different jobs I’ve learnt about companies, Charities, Academies, LLPs, and Farming Audits. I like how fast pace the job is as it keeps me engaged and there is always something to do. Everyone at James Cowper Kreston have been supportive and welcoming. They are always there to answer questions and will point you in the right direction.
Lana Landauro - Trainee Accountant
I joined James Cowper Kreston as an apprentice straight from sixth form, working in the Outsourcing team. Having been working for James Cowper Kreston for a little over a year, I feel reassured that I am in the right place, as the people around me have shown their passion in helping with my career progression. The firm have given me a chance to gain valuable skills that would have been unattainable without the constructive training programme that they provide. My team have been incredibly supportive from the day I arrived and this has helped me self-develop in both my studies and day-to-day client work. The opportunity to work with multiple clients means I am constantly facing new challenges and continuously learning new skills, which I would have never thought I’d be doing so early on in my career.
Cameron Langley - Trainee Bookkeeper
After leaving school, I joined James Cowper Kreston as a Trainee Accountant. This was a great way to kickstart my career in accounting. The firm has been a great place to work, with an amazing training programme and a very supportive team. I have gained great experience from dealing with and meeting different clients which has been a side to my job I have enjoyed. The knowledge I have gained from the training and learning during this apprenticeship has allowed me to apply this on a day to day basic within the workplace. There is a great level of support within my team and from my line manager who is always there to guide me.
Max Clift - Trainee Accountant