At Watkins Bradfield we are always looking to strengthen our team.

We often have vacancies for school / college leavers and graduates for trainee positions. If you can demonstrate a good academic record, great interpersonal skills and a real desire to work and train to become an accountant, please contact us.

Further explanation of the types of opportunities are given below.

Graduates

We are an approved training office of the ICAEW and are able to train people for the ACA qualification.

As such most graduates join us on a 3-year training contract and start their ACA training straight away. As an alternative we have also trained students towards the ACCA qualification. Both are premier financial business qualifications, which are respected worldwide and provide a great qualification for future business leaders.

We will invest in your training and ensure that you get the support and professional experience you need to become a successful accountant and business adviser. Your training will consist of a series of modules designed to test your understanding of accountancy techniques, financial concepts and principles as well as legal and tax issues. These are all tested via examination and through work based learning. In addition through working at Watkins Bradfield you will learn how to apply your technical skills and to respond to genuine problems that arise in commercial situations.

We are able to offer you the chance to train in a firm with strong links to the local business community. We have all the benefits of a independent practice and are small enough to recognise your individual commitment and contribution. We will give you an early opportunity to get out to visit clients and really see how their business works.

By the end of your training contract you will have the commercial understanding and confidence to consider and interpret business issues faced by accountants and business advisers every day. Accounting is a rewarding career but you need to be prepared for the hard work along the way.

We will work closely with the professional bodies to ensure that your work prepares you for the exams but your study will involve a huge time commitment every week, you need to be realistic about the long hours and the amount of hard work.

School and College Leavers

Most school and college leavers start their training with us at AAT level. The Association of Accounting Technicians qualification provides a good grounding in accountancy and finance and is usually studied at a local college on day release or evening study. Some trainees will go on to study ACA or ACCA with the benefit of having studied for an additional qualification along the way.

We recruit trainees to study the AAT qualification both from school and from college. You should have achieved good academic results in your GCSE's and/or A levels, including passes at A or B in English and Maths.

For more information on the AAT qualification structure visit www.aat.co.uk.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a degree to become a Chartered Accountant?
Not necessarily, although many of our students do have degrees we are happy to support employees who have demonstrated they are capable and committed to a career with us through AAT qualification.

When should I apply?
We begin the recruitment process in the Autumn for employment starting the following summer. Our initial interviews are usually held around December / January. You should ensure that we receive your application as early as possible.

Is an accountancy and finance degree an advantage?
You can have a degree in any discipline to become an accountant. It is useful to have an understanding of business and finance but this can be gained through work experience not necessarily through your degree studies.

What is a training contract?
As a graduate you will usually enter a 3-year training contract. We undertake to ensure that you gain the professional skills and knowledge that you need to become a Chartered Accountant through a mix of work and formal study; you undertake to learn, work hard and study for your professional exams. Within the training contract we will set out what is expected in terms of exam success.

Is it all work and no play?
Not entirely, but there is a lot of commitment needed to become a Chartered Accountant. You need to be prepared to study in the evenings even though you may have had a long day at work.

What does the interview process entail?
Our recruitment process includes an interview with our partners. We can also provide you with an opportunity to meet other trainees or newly qualified staff who can explain to you what it is really like.

Given our commitment to provide a personal service we rely upon our staff. Therefore, drive, enthusiasm and motivation are important qualities that we look for in our recruitment processes.

Contact Us

If you would like more information on careers you can contact one of our partners for an informal chat on 01639 635555, or you can send us an email detailing your qualifications and experience.