Graduate Accountant - Accounts & Advisory

Location: Newbury, Oxford, Reading, Southampton
Qualification Pathway: ACA or ACCA

About Us

James Cowper Kreston is a leading firm of accountants and business advisers with offices across the Thames Valley, London and South. We work with clients, not just as accountants but as an integral part of their team, offering a full range of advisory services and working with them to unlock and take advantage of available opportunities.

We are a team of over 250 people, where everyone gets to play their part in helping achieve our goals. We have a strong team ethic, but always recognise the individual contributions. That’s why we make a great investment in individual career development and helping you maximise your potential.

We are currently looking for the next generation of accountants to join our growing team.  If you have already obtained your degree, or are about to do so, then our Graduate Trainee Programme offers a practical way to kick-start a rewarding career in accountancy. 

The Programme

Our three-year Graduate Trainee Programme offers a structured route to achieve either the ACA or ACCA qualification. You’ll combine structured classroom-based learning with hands-on experience across a variety of client engagements, as well as developing key soft skills to help advance your career. This is a practical and rewarding way to launch your career in accountancy. 

The Role

In the Accounts team we prepare unaudited statutory accounts. This means that we do not complete any audit testing to verify the accuracy of our client’s figures. Instead, we are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements – and often corporation tax returns.

In addition to the above we also prepare forecasts, share-based payment calculations, and post year-end journals in our client’s software. Often, we are the main point of contact with our clients and field a whole range of queries across the different service lines.

Your initial focus would be on preparing basic financial statements and corporation tax returns and you will undergo training – both internal and external – to help you understand the role. You will work for a variety of managers within the team, exposing you to several different sectors and interesting projects.

By the end of your first year, we aim for you to be able to:

·       Tag accounts for submission to Companies House and HMRC.

·       Perform first reviews of basic financial statements and corporation tax returns.

·       Post adjustments to financial statements and corporation tax returns.

·       Assist managers on other projects.

·       Be comfortable liaising with clients for accounting records and queries.

What We're Looking For

·       A minimum 2:2 in any undergraduate degree subject.

·       At least 112 UCAS points from your top 3 A-levels (excluding General Studies, Critical Thinking & Extended Project).

·       Minimum Grade 4 in GCSE Maths and English Language.

·       A genuine interest in accountancy and finance.

·       Strong communication and organisational skills.

·       Resilience and the ability to adapt to challenges.

·       Effective teamwork and collaboration skills.

·       A valid UK driving licence, or already be learning.

·       The right to work in the UK for the duration of the training contract.

What We Offer

·       Full study support including exam fees and paid study leave.

·       23 days annual leave plus your birthday off.

·       Pension scheme and flexible benefits (e.g. cycle to work, dental insurance, life assurance, flu jabs).

·       Agile working and mental health support.

·       A dedicated buddy and line manager.

·       Active social committees and monthly pizza lunches.