School Leaver Programme, Accountancy

At S&W, we help our clients thrive by simplifying the complex, illuminating new paths, and shaping solutions that make a difference. As one of the UK’s top 10 fastest-growing accountancy firms, we have been a trusted partner since 1881—helping businesses and individuals meet challenges and seize opportunities across generations.

Built on expertise and driven by ambition, we provide a comprehensive range of services, including tax and accountancy, advisory and assurance, corporate finance, and restructuring. We are defined by our purpose—to help navigate challenges, unlock potential, and achieve the extraordinary.

**Introduction to the Accountancy team at**S&W**

As part of our Business Outsourcing Services team, you will be working with clients and their finance teams or bookkeepers, helping them with their year-end accounts, management accounts, bookkeeping, VAT returns and cloud accounting software support. This means providing services, advice and solutions that really make a difference. You will also have exposure to working with partners gaining invaluable experience and building your confidence with senior members of staff.

You’ll build valuable client experience, developing the knowledge and skills needed to be a trusted business adviser. Alongside your work, you will receive first-class professional training as you study for the Associate of Tax Technicians (ATT) and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) qualifications which will enable you to gain a full understanding of the technical aspects of audit, accountancy, and additional financial advisory services.

**What will you be doing?**

Progression within this team is fast, with responsibility from an early stage. By the second year, you will be taking on a more senior role and helping to supervise the new intake of trainees. As your experience grows, you may have opportunities to experience other ad hoc assignments that our clients request our help with such as: one-off software implementation projects, cloud accounting software ‘health-checks’ or client secondments to assist their finance function. You will also receive internal training from the professional services learning and development team.

You will be working in a client-facing, dynamic team, developing the knowledge and skills needed to be a trusted business adviser. Additionally, you will study towards the Associate of Tax Technicians (ATT) and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) professional qualification, developing essential skills sought out in the professional services sector.

**Your responsibilities will include**:

- Working as part of a team to provide clients with a range of services including statutory accounts, bookkeeping, management accounts, VAT returns, software implementation and ‘health-checks’ of their systems
- Developing an understanding of our clients and their businesses
- Keeping your manager fully informed of any issues and problems, ensuring the work is completed to a level agreed with the manager and recording clearly and concisely the work carried out
- Becoming familiar with our internal accounting software as well as other cloud accounting technologies
- Providing advice and solutions to clients in response to their accounting queries
- Using automation to improve efficiencies for our clients’ finance function
- Prioritising tasks for your own portfolio of clients, whilst monitoring time against budget

**To be successful in this role, you should**:

- Be committed to working towards the Level 4 Associate of Tax Technicians (ATT) and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), a Level 7 professional qualification.
- A Level: Predicted or obtained minimum 112 UCAS points in top three A Levels (or equivalent), excluding General Studies
- GCSE: Minimum Grade 5 (or equivalent), in English Language and Maths respectively

**Learning & Development**

You’ll be supported in completing your qualification; gaining the finance knowledge, accountancy skills and real-world business experience to jumpstart your career. And you won’t do it alone - you’ll be joining as part of a cohort with your own personal support network, including a buddy to offer first-hand experience. Your qualification training will be supported by a leading UK training provider, and you’ll be given the space and time to study whilst developing a variety of skills to become a well-rounded advisor. You’ll receive guidance and support each step of the way by our dedicated Learning & Development team and training contact for your department to make sure you have everything you need to realise your potential from day one.

**As a colleague here at S&W you will have access to benefits that include**:

- Competitive salary
- Private medical insurance
- Online GP service
- Life assurance
- Pension contribution
- Employee assistance program
- Employee discount scheme
- Two volunteer days per year
- Charity contribution match
- Holiday package
-