Mazars
apprenticeship

Accounting School Leaver Apprentice - (Small to Medium Enterprise) - Leicester - September 2024

Job description

At Mazars we have a wide range of opportunities for you to gain experience in a firm that truly cares about your aspirations. Our business is an engine for rapid and consistent career progression, and we are known for giving ambitious people early responsibility and exposure.

Are you a school leaver with strong analytical skills and attention to detail looking for a great start to your career? Do you enjoy building trusted client relationships? If you are committed to self-development and learning, this is a great opportunity to gain an excellent technical grounding and real responsibility.

About the role

The role is to ensure accurate and timely preparation of statutory financial statements and tax compliance for a range of SME clients. You will work under the direction of Seniors, Assistant Managers and Managers, providing high quality advice on their year-end compliance process and work with other teams to deliver an excellent client experience.

We are now operating a hybrid working model, so as a trainee you will split your time between working from home, visiting the office, client sites when required or studying for your professional exams.

During your first two years you will:

  • Learn how to use accounting and tax software and systems in order to prepare less complex financial statements and tax returns.
  • Develop an understanding of financial statements and the nature of the clients' business.
  • Be able to obtain relevant information from other departments and clients whilst building good communication with both.
  • Work closely with your colleagues to encourage teamwork and asking questions to proactively aid your development.
  • IXBRL tagging.

During your third year you will:

  • Manage your own assigned client work, with a focus on efficiencies to maximise business performance also.
  • Self-review your own work, ensuring minimal review points are raised by managers.
  • Have confident knowledge of accounting standards which you apply to a given set of year end financials.
  • Prepare the corporation tax, personal tax and P11D returns and computations for less complex clients.
  • Develop a sound technical knowledge of up to date accounting and tax matters.
  • Coach and lead more junior team members.
  • Work directly with our clients and begin developing relationships with those clients to deliver on repeat engagements.

In your final year:

  • You will be expected to be able to take responsibility for the junior members of your team. You will train them and review their work.

About the team

Our Accounting and Outsourcing team works to support our clients to better run their finance functions, understand their financial position and performance, and to ensure they are compliant with changing accounting and tax legislation. With the relentless pace of technology change you will need to be able to advise clients in areas such as process and digitalisation, business performance and financial reporting, while building enduring relationships that positions Mazars as a trusted adviser. Our successful team of more than 250 professionals is growing across all areas including cloud accounting, payroll, financial reporting and company secretarial.

An introduction to our SME team

The SME team specialise in providing a wide range of accounting, tax and advisory services to the SME market. The clients will usually be owner managed businesses, typically below a £10m turnover, that have few complex issues, but who appreciate a service provided by a single team so that all information about the business and their personal objectives are understood by the Mazars team members that they work with. Clients can be limited companies, partnerships or sole traders, where we prepare their accounts, business tax computations and personal tax returns. The team provides a wide range of support and advice that is relevant to SMEs, covering aspects such as digital accounting systems, tax mitigation, trading internationally and simply being a sounding board for our clients.

About you

We are looking for exceptional candidates to join our team who demonstrate the following:

  • Interpersonal skills; the ability to build client relationships with a foundation of trust and responsibility.
  • Analytical skills; the ability to think critically, research and solve problems.
  • Attention to detail and strong time-management skills.
  • Commitment to self-development & learning.
  • Affinity with our values; in particular, respect for individuals, diversity and integrity.

Strong academic performance is important; however, we understand that things don't always go to plan. Our recruitment process looks at your whole self – academic achievements as well as other experiences in which you have grown and developed. We balance your academic results alongside the aptitude assessment within our recruitment process to ensure that you will be successful in your role with us.  

Inclusion and diversity

Being inclusive is core to our culture at Mazars; we want to ensure everyone, whether in the recruitment process or beyond, is fully supported to be their unique self and provided with a level playing field. To read more about our approach click here.

Training

Learning and development

We offer a diverse range of experiences, with prestigious clients and dynamic projects across a range of sectors and geographies. We offer an excellent technical grounding and real responsibility from the start, with early exposure to clients and partners. We have a culture of coaching, feedback, mentorship and one-to-one support, so you will learn from working closely with accessible colleagues and leaders who have so much to share. Most importantly, we give our people the tools and support they need to define their own career path and realise their full potential. As part of your training, we offer the opportunity to gain a professional qualification whilst earning a competitive salary and gaining invaluable experience.

You will receive full support to study towards the AAT qualification. Upon successful completion of this you will move onto study towards your ACA qualification. Both will be funded by Mazars. We would encourage you to research what is involved in these qualifications. You will have time off to study, attend college and complete online courses. Your professional qualification is only part of the story at Mazars; we support all our trainees with a blended approach to training and development including classroom study, 1:1 coaching, and soft skills training.

You will be supported by a mentor and an appraising manager to keep your career and aspirations on track. And you will be allocated a buddy who will support you to settle into the team and navigate your first year at Mazars.

In addition to this, you'll earn a competitive salary and gain invaluable experience whilst making great connections in a fun environment.

Additional job details

Location
Leicester
Salary
Competitive salary

How to apply

At Mazars, we are one diverse, multicultural, multi-generational team with a huge sense of connection and belonging. If you are looking to join a firm where you can take ownership of your career, get involved, believe in yourself and put your ideas into action, then we think you will be a great addition to our team.

We recruit on a rolling basis, which means that we make offers throughout the season as we meet exceptional candidates. Roles will be closed as soon as we find the right people, so to avoid disappointment we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible.

International applications – Please note that the deadline to apply for international candidates who require visa sponsorship is 15th March 2024. Applications received after this date will not be progressed.

Click Apply to start your application now. This job will be available on Prospects until 31 May 2024

Don't forget to mention Prospects to employers when you contact them.

Closing date:  31 May 2024

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