Tax apprenticeships (ATT/CTA)

Join our tax apprenticeship programme to become a Chartered Tax Advisor (ATT/CTA). You’ll earn while you learn, working whilst studying, and we'll support you every step of the way.

ATT stands for Association of Taxation Technicians and you’ll complete this qualification before you embark on the Chartered Tax Advisor, or CTA qualification. It typically takes three years to complete the two parts of the tax apprenticeship.

Why do a tax apprenticeship with us?

• You’ll earn while you learn
• We fund your training and professional qualifications
• The work is really varied – no two days are the same
• You’ll feel supported by your team and by a community of fellow graduates
• We’re a large firm able to offer great career progression opportunities
• You can live and work in the stunning South West
• You’ll be guided by senior colleagues and supported by your own mentor

Our tax apprenticeships are level 7 qualifications, equivalent to a Master’s degree. They are open to graduates with any degree, as well as candidates who already hold a level 4 accountancy qualification. Our specialist tax training is delivered by leading provider Tolley Tax Training.

You’ll join our teams in corporate tax, private client tax, tax advisory services or VAT, and develop your professional experience across all areas of tax compliance work and advisory work.

You’ll be supported to achieve the Association of Taxation Technicians and the Chartered Tax Adviser qualifications via an apprenticeship. This combination being the gold standard of quality for tax professionals.

What do I need to apply for a tax apprenticeship?

• A degree at 2:2 or above in any subject
• 112 or more UCAS points
• GCSE Maths and English at grade 4/grade C or above
• You’ll need to enjoy working with numbers, but we’ll teach you everything you need to know – for now we’re looking for aptitude and a willingness to learn!
• You’ll need great written and oral communication skills to build trusted relationships with clients
• An analytical mind and great problem-solving skills

What will I be doing as a tax apprentice?

Our tax teams enjoy diverse and varied roles providing tailored tax planning and advice to clients ranging from large corporate companies to family businesses and individuals.

You’ll work alongside other departments providing the specialist in-depth advice required for the ever-increasing complexity of tax law.

Tax is pivotal to so much accountancy work, so as a tax apprentice you’ll learn to interpret complex legislation and deliver solutions in a way that clients understand.

If you love deep research and want to hone your investigative skills, then the taxation apprenticeship will be a great choice for you.

Your training programme

During your first few weeks with us, you’ll be introduced to the firm, our systems, your department and your new colleagues. You’ll also undertake some essential training.

Following your induction, your training quickly starts to build a breadth and depth of experience, and in addition there are opportunities to do a placement with another department. Our internal training brilliantly complements your professional accountancy training.

As a tax trainee you’ll be training with Tolley, the leading tax training provider in the UK. You’ll spend 20% of your time training off-site with Tolley, as a ‘block release’ for three to five days at a time, so overnight stays may be required.

Chartered Tax Advisor (or ATT-CTA) is a level seven qualification. It takes three years to complete, and the firm pays for your exams and training. You’ll be assessed by examination – see Tolley’s website for the latest list of tax exams.

You are expected to do independent study in your own time. This varies by person but is typically at least 10 hours per week and can be a lot more, especially when you are revising for your professional examinations.