Chartered Accountants since 1919
In a nutshell
You'll join us as a trainee accountant where, over the next three years, you’ll be supported to study for and achieve the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) professional qualification via an apprenticeship. We are ranked on the Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers list for the second year in a row, making this a brilliant place to embark on your accountancy career.
What you'll be doing
One thing we can guarantee is that no two days will be the same. Every client is different, so you’ll be challenged with new opportunities daily. You’ll work across a variety of sectors, experiencing a wide range of high-quality clients, from start-ups, AIM-listed companies, and inspirational not-for-profit organisations. As a trainee accountant you will work in either our audit & assurance or business advisory teams.
In Business Advisory you’ll learn the fundamentals of bookkeeping and accounting by helping our clients prepare year-end accounts, management accounts, forecasts, and projections. As you develop you'll advance onto managing budgets and evaluating financial performance, as well as personal and corporate tax.
In Audit & Assurance you’ll regularly visit clients’ premises, so every day is different. You get to work in small project teams (typically 2-4 people) on a wide range of medium sized and large businesses for 1-2 weeks at a time. This is a great way to learn and develop technical, commercial and personal skills. You’ll identify key issues and risks facing a business each year and use data analytics tools as part of ensuring information reported is accurate and reliable. You’ll also gain experience in preparing annual statutory accounts and tax calculations, as well as assessing forecasts and projections.
Each year that you are with us, you will build upon the knowledge and experiences that you have gained and be given more responsibility as you grow and develop.
About You
You’ll enjoy this job if you like….
Studying alongside working is demanding. As an AAT trainee accountant, you’ll need to do regular independent study outside of working hours and to revise for your professional exams.
Fast Track Programme
We offer a fast-track apprenticeship programme suitable for ambitious individuals. This intensive programme gives you the opportunity to study for your AAT & ACA qualification over 5 years, making it a quicker route to becoming chartered. Individuals suitable for this pathway will be identified at one of our assessment centres and our early careers team will guide you every step of the way.
Your Development
All our trainee opportunities follow apprenticeship standards, which we fully fund so in addition to learning on the job with support from experienced colleagues, you’ll spend time studying via a leading professional training provider, through a mix of online and classroom-based learning.
We recognise that personal development training is essential in helping you to become a trusted business adviser, so you will receive support and learning not only for your professional qualification but also towards the skills and behaviours that are required to be a successful accountant. You will be allocated a buddy who’ll be in touch before you join to help with any questions leading up to your first day and beyond. Your line manager will be there to support you from day one to ensure that you are on track with both your professional qualification and career aspirations.
Entering the work environment can be daunting. But the support network here at PKF Francis Clark is endless. Everyone from you, your Manager to the Partners is treated respectfully and is made to feel valued. And you’ll be joining with lots of other trainees just like you.
What we’re looking for
AAT apprenticeships are perfect for non-graduates looking to start an accountancy career. If you are finishing Sixth-form or College, or looking to switch and start a new career this is the route for you.
You’ll be expected to demonstrate the following:
We recruit on a rolling basis for our opportunities and consider applications as we receive them. We recommend applying ASAP as we close roles early if we receive enough applications to fill all our opportunities.
As the largest firm of independent chartered accountants and business advisors in South West England, joining PKF Francis Clark brings opportunities to develop your career in a direction that interests you.
Having celebrated our centenary in 2019, we’re a team of nearly 1,000 people, based across our offices in Bristol, Exeter, Plymouth, Poole, Salisbury, Southampton, Taunton, Torquay and Truro.
Our culture is flexible and supportive, enabling you to be the best you can be. We work hard to ensure you can be yourself, develop and be part of a forward-thinking team that makes brilliant things happen. But don’t just take our word for it.
PKF Francis Clark is certified as a Great Place to Work. In 2024, we climbed nine places to 24 out of 105 large organisations on the list of the UK’s Best Workplaces.
We’re also ranked among the UK’s Best Workplaces for Women (33 out of 90 large organisations), Best Workplaces for Development (30 out of 100) and Best Workplace for Wellbeing (44 out of 100).
Workplace culture experts Great Place to Work also highlighted PKF Francis Clark as a top achiever among the UK’s Best Workplaces in Consulting & Professional Services.
And in recognition of our outstanding training programmes for graduates, school leavers and career changers, we’ve been ranked among England’s Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers for two years running.
Whilst we’re proudly independent, PKF Francis Clark is a member of the PKF Global family of firms – together we’re the 12th largest provider of accountancy services in the UK. Being part of a global community of business advisors in 150 countries provides opportunities to expand your horizons by connecting with PKF colleagues around the world.
Financial benefits:
• Pension
• Group life assurance - up to four times your core salary
• Group income protection
• Health cash plan to help cover the costs of everyday healthcare
Health & Wellbeing benefits:
• Option to buy 5 extra days holiday*
• Counselling and support for you and your immediate family
• Virtual GP for you and your immediate family
• Cycle to work*
Other benefits:
• Medicash Extras providing you with shopping and gym discounts
• Gifts for career and family milestones
• One volunteering day per year to support local organisations
• Emergency funding from the Francis Clark Charitable Foundation
Please note
* These benefits are provided via a salary exchange and are subject to employee’s post exchange hourly rate remaining above the national minimum wage.
To apply for the AAT Accountancy Apprenticeship - August 2025 start role click the ‘Apply now’ button below. It should take no longer than 10 minutes to complete your application.
If you would like an informal chat about the role before applying then please contact Joe Mitchinson on: [email protected].
PKF Francis Clark is an Equal Opportunities employer with a strong and passionate commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We’re dedicated to fostering a work environment that supports, inspires, and respects all individuals. We do not discriminate based upon age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, or any other applicable legally protected characteristic.
We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and all aspects of employment at PKF Francis Clark are based on merit, qualifications, and business needs. We’re committed to providing reasonable adjustments or accommodations for applicants, so if you need assistance or support during the recruitment process please let us know. We promise to reply to all applications.
