Scrutton Bland Early Careers

Scrutton Bland is proud to be part of the Sumer Group – one of the UK's fastest-growing accountancy practices. Together, we're creating brighter futures for our people, our clients, and our communities.

Whether you're finishing college, graduating from university or looking for a career change – there's more than one way to begin your career with us in accountancy, audit or tax. Our trainee roles are designed to help you learn on the job, gain a professional qualification, and build a future you can be proud of, whichever path you take to get there.

We're now inviting applications for our Early Careers Trainee Programme, designed for those ready to take their first step into a rewarding career in accountancy. Whether your passion lies in Audit, Accounts or Tax, you'll gain the skills, qualifications and experience to become a fully qualified professional, supported every step of the way.

At Scrutton Bland we work with a variety of clients, each of different sizes and with various complexities. Some may be start-ups looking to gain finance to kick-start their business. Others may be family-owned businesses preparing to pass the company on to the next generation, or large corporations with offices throughout the UK and overseas.

Our clients operate across a wide range of sectors including agriculture, charities, tech and construction. There is a broad mix of work to get involved with, giving you exposure to different industries and challenges.

Whether your passion lies in Audit, Accounts of Tax you'll be joining a friendly, professional team where enthusiasm, curiosity and commitment are valued as highly as experience. From day one, you'll work with a range of clients — learning how to prepare accounts, support audits, and provide insightful tax and business advice.

As your confidence grows, so will your responsibilities. You'll have opportunities to work directly with clients, contribute to projects, and gain a real understanding of how successful businesses operate.

We'll equip you with the technical training and personal skills development you need to progress, ensuring you build a strong foundation for a long-term career in accountancy.

You'll join a training contract, combining practical client experience with professional study towards your qualification (AAT, ACA, ACCA, ATT or CTA).

Alongside your qualification, you'll become part of the Sumer Academy – our dedicated early careers development programme. The Academy runs alongside your studies, offering a blend of online, virtual and in-person learning focused on building both your technical skills and the soft skills that will help you thrive in your future career.

You'll also train as part of a group-wide cohort, connecting with other trainees from across the Sumer Group to share experiences and learn together.

To apply, you'll need a strong A-Level or equivalent academic background, including a minimum of a Grade C/5 in English and B/6 Maths at GCSE level (or equivalent).

You'll also be:

• An effective communicator – confident in listening and expressing ideas clearly with clients and colleagues.
• Collaborative – a team player who enjoys sharing ideas and working together to achieve great results.
• Time efficient – able to balance work and study with good organisation and prioritisation.
• A problem solver – curious, adaptable and ready to take on challenges.
• Results focused – proud to deliver a high standard of work and service.
• Keen to learn – enthusiastic about developing your skills and career.

Applications will close on Friday 24 October at 5pm. If your application is shortlisted you will receive a link to our online assessment via our partner provider, Canditech, around the 28 October where you will have 7 days to complete this.

The final stage is our in person assessment centre, the dates of these are the 18 and 25 November in our Ipswich office.

Belong @ Sumer

At Sumer, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse work environment, not just as buzzwords, but as the heartbeat of our team. Our recruitment practices reflect this commitment, welcoming individuals from all backgrounds. We p2rioritize creating an environment where every candidate feels respected and supported throughout the hiring process.

Everyone is unique and we understand that each individual may have distinct needs to showcase their best selves during interviews. Our commitment is to offer personalized support for all candidates. Let our team know how we can bring out your fullest potential.

• Full study support, including paid study leave and course fees
• Buddy and mentoring systems to help you settle in and progress
• Group-wide cohort training through the Sumer Academy
• Opportunities to grow your career beyond qualification
• Exposure to a diverse range of clients and project
• Starting salary from a minimum of £22,000
• Flexible working in a hybrid environment
• Commitment to continued learning and development
• 36 days holiday (including 8 bank holidays and 3 days Christmas closure)
• Option to purchase a further 5 days holiday
• Life Assurance up to 4 x salary and contribution towards the Firm's pension scheme
• Access to our health cash plan (Health Shield) day one, where you can claim towards your dental, optical, health and wellbeing expenses
• Employee health and wellbeing programme

Scrutton Bland is one of the UK's top 15 accounting firms, focused on serving the SME market. In 2024, we became part of Sumer, a collaboration of leading regional accountancy practices with a shared vision to champion local small to medium-sized enterprises. We are a forward-thinking accountancy practice that values creativity, collaboration, and innovation. With our team-focused culture and commitment to delivering excellence, this is an exciting opportunity for someone ready to make a real impact.