Saffery

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Professional Services3 apprenticeship typesIntake

Saffery recruits A-level (or equivalent) school leavers as trainees in its Audit, Accounts, Tax and Payroll teams, studying towards professional qualifications with ICAEW (ACA), ICAS, ACCA, ATT, CTA or CIPP depending on the role and office, and aiming to qualify in about 4 to 4.5 years. There are two intakes: applications open in September for the following September, and later in the year for a January start.

Programmes

1 tracked · status for the next intake that is recruiting

2027 intakeSchool Leaver Programme
Apprenticeship · Legal, finance and accounting
TBC, from ~Sep
Opens~Sep 2026
ClosesTBC

Apprenticeship types

3 offered · degree apprenticeships first

School Leaver Accounts Trainee (AAT or ACA)
Level not published
Accounts · Fully qualified within 4 to 4.5 years
More about this programme: School Leaver Accounts Trainee (AAT or ACA)
Qualification
AAT Level 3 (2 papers) and Level 4 followed by an ACA apprenticeship, or an ACA apprenticeship only
Business areas
Accounts
Locations
High Wycombe
Evidenced from the closed September 2025 High Wycombe advert; no 2027 school-leaver advert was on the first page of the live listing (graduate roles only).
Source for School Leaver Accounts Trainee (AAT or ACA)
School Leaver Trainee Chartered Accountant (ACA)
Level not published
Audit / Accountancy · Duration not published
More about this programme: School Leaver Trainee Chartered Accountant (ACA)
Qualification
ACA (ICAEW)
Business areas
Audit, Accounts
Locations
Manchester
Title from a January 2024 advert.
Source for School Leaver Trainee Chartered Accountant (ACA)
School Leaver Audit Trainee (AAT-ACCA/ICAS) - Scotland
Level not published
Audit · Duration not published
More about this programme: School Leaver Audit Trainee (AAT-ACCA/ICAS) - Scotland
Qualification
AAT then ACCA or ICAS
Business areas
Audit
Locations
Inverness
Title from an August 2025 advert.
Source for School Leaver Audit Trainee (AAT-ACCA/ICAS) - Scotland

Apprenticeship types offered by Saffery, degree apprenticeships first
Apprenticeship	Level	Discipline and duration
School Leaver Accounts Trainee (AAT or ACA)Source for School Leaver Accounts Trainee (AAT or ACA) More about this programme: School Leaver Accounts Trainee (AAT or ACA) Qualification AAT Level 3 (2 papers) and Level 4 followed by an ACA apprenticeship, or an ACA apprenticeship only Business areas Accounts Locations High Wycombe Evidenced from the closed September 2025 High Wycombe advert; no 2027 school-leaver advert was on the first page of the live listing (graduate roles only).	Not published	AccountsFully qualified within 4 to 4.5 years
School Leaver Trainee Chartered Accountant (ACA)Source for School Leaver Trainee Chartered Accountant (ACA) More about this programme: School Leaver Trainee Chartered Accountant (ACA) Qualification ACA (ICAEW) Business areas Audit, Accounts Locations Manchester Title from a January 2024 advert.	Not published	Audit / AccountancyDuration not published
School Leaver Audit Trainee (AAT-ACCA/ICAS) - ScotlandSource for School Leaver Audit Trainee (AAT-ACCA/ICAS) - Scotland More about this programme: School Leaver Audit Trainee (AAT-ACCA/ICAS) - Scotland Qualification AAT then ACCA or ICAS Business areas Audit Locations Inverness Title from an August 2025 advert.	Not published	AuditDuration not published

Saffery does not publish the standard or the university or provider for any of these.

Entry requirements

Accepts UCAS pointsFrom 120 UCAS points

A levels: A minimum of 120 UCAS points from your top 3 A Levels (or equivalent), excluding General Studies and AS Levels
UCAS points: 120
GCSEs: A minimum of B (or 6) in GCSE Maths and English Language (or equivalent)
Equivalents: A Level equivalents accepted
Other: One application per recruitment season; no previous work experience needed

As Saffery publishes them; requirements differ between programmes, so check the advert before you apply.

Application process

Online application form with CVUp to 20 minutes
Online assessments
Early Careers interview
Interview Day (in person)
Offer and onboarding

Online application form with CVUp to 20 minutes
Online assessments
Early Careers interview
Interview Day (in person)
Offer and onboarding

1
Online application form with CV
When: Up to 20 minutes
Choose a second location and service line
2
Online assessments
When: Part 1 up to one hour; Part 2 up to 30 minutes; six days to complete
General Ability Test (inductive, deductive, numerical), competency assessment and Rare contextual recruitment questionnaire
3
Early Careers interview
When: 30 minutes, Microsoft Teams
Motivational and competency questions
4
Interview Day (in person)
When: Case study: 1 hour to prepare, 10 minutes to present
Plus a 30-minute senior leadership interview
5
Offer and onboarding
Pre-joining events

Typical timeline

Opens: September (for the following September); later in the year for the January intake
Closes: Rolling; roles may close before the stated closing date
Assessment: Not published
Offers: Not published
Starts: September or January

Windows for the 2027 intake, September 2026 to August 2027

TBC, from ~SepSchool Leaver Programme

Locations and universities

Locations: Bournemouth, Bristol, Edinburgh, High Wycombe, Inverness, Leeds, London, Manchester, Peterborough
Universities and training providers: ICAEW (ACA), ICAS, ACCA, ATT / CIOT (ATT, CTA), CIPP (payroll), AAT

Salary and benefits

Starting salary: Not published
Progression: Not published
Notes: 'Competitive salary and benefits package'; no figure published
Benefits: Contributory pension (5% matched from joining, per a 2025 school-leaver advert)
Life assurance at 4 x salary
Profit-Sharing Plan (usually c. £1,000 per the 2025 advert)
Flexible working around core hours of 10am-4pm
Buy and/or sell holiday; health cash plan, dental and critical illness options; cycle-to-work
Working from home allowance of £25 a month

Cohort size and intakes

Intake years: 2027 intake

What stands out

Uses the Rare contextual recruitment system; two school-leaver intakes a year (September and January).

Sources

Where every fact above comes from

1
saffery.com/careers/early-careers/school-leavers
Accessed 3 Oct 2026 · Audit, Accounts, Tax and Payroll teams.
2
saffery.com/careers/how-to-apply
Accessed 3 Oct 2026 · September and January windows, rolling recruitment, five-stage process with timings, Rare CRS.
3
saffery.com/careers/life-at-saffery/pay-and-benefits
Accessed 3 Oct 2026 · Core and flexible benefits.
4
saffery.kallidusrecruit.com/Search.aspx
Accessed 3 Oct 2026 · First page all graduate September 2027 roles (offices Peterborough, Bournemouth, High Wycombe, Bristol, London, Edinburgh, Inverness, Leeds, Manchester, Dublin). Further pages need a form postback and were not read.
5
saffery.kallidusrecruit.com/VacancyInformation.aspx?VId=30112
Accessed 3 Oct 2026 · Qualified in 4-4.5 years; 5% matched pension; profit share c. £1,000; £25/month WFH allowance.
6
saffery.kallidusrecruit.com/VacancyInformation.aspx?VId=30186
Accessed 3 Oct 2026 · School Leaver Audit Trainee (AAT-ACCA/ICAS), Inverness, August 2025.
7
saffery.kallidusrecruit.com/VacancyInformation.aspx?VId=29927
Accessed 3 Oct 2026 · School Leaver Trainee Chartered Accountant (ACA), Manchester, January 2024.

Apprentice Atlas is not affiliated with Saffery. This information comes from Saffery’s own pages and job feeds, linked under Sources. Report an error or ask for a takedown.