Why choose PKF Francis Clark for your accountancy apprenticeship?

An apprenticeship can be an excellent route to becoming an accountant, with opportunities available regardless of whether you’ve been to university, are still focused on finishing school, or are considering making a career change.

Far from being an uninspiring desk job, life as an accountant can be incredibly varied; possible career paths include corporate finance, taxation, and business restructuring. Trainee accountants might spend time on-site with clients and work closely with colleagues to solve challenges.

Plus, it isn’t true that you must be good at maths to be an accountant! Qualities and skills such as curiosity, relationship-building, and problem-solving are more important.

At PKF Francis Clark, we’ve been recognised as one of the best apprenticeship employers in the country, ranking on both the 2023 and 2024 Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers lists.

We take on dozens of trainees every year, who all get personal support along their career journey, surrounded by a supportive team, many of whom were trainees themselves.

Here are five reasons to consider doing your accountancy training with us here at PKF Francis Clark.

1. Local offices and international partners

PKF Francis Clark has offices across the South West in Bristol, Exeter, Plymouth, Poole, Salisbury, Southampton, Taunton, Torquay and Truro. As one of the largest employers in the South West, PKF Francis Clark offers opportunities for graduates in the region and others who wish to start a career in one of the most beautiful areas of the UK.

This factored into Rosanna’s decision to join our accountancy apprenticeship. After graduating with a Psychology degree, she was looking for ways to build a career in the South West. Now, Rosanna is an Audit Manager in our Truro office.

“My goals were to earn a good salary and develop a career path in Cornwall. This, combined with the fact I could continue my education by studying for the ACA [Chartered Accountant] qualification, meant that PKF Francis Clark was a great fit for me,” she explains.

In addition to benefiting from bases across the South West, trainees at PKF Francis Clark also have access to a large network of accountancy professionals through our membership of PKF International, a network of over 200 companies in 150 countries globally.

2. Be supported by your peers

PKF Francis Clark employs around 980+ people, at least 240 of whom are trainees. As a result, our apprentices find a supportive community among their peers with whom they can learn and study.

Trainees come from various backgrounds; it doesn’t matter whether you’ve already been to university or are just leaving school. Additionally, we also offer routes for people who want a career change.

“I was a bit nervous that I would feel out of place as a trainee, but I don’t feel that way at all, as there are so many people in a similar position,” says Marion, one of our trainee accountants who decided to make a career change to accountancy after over 20 years in software engineering, project management, and marketing.

“The way that PKF Francis Clark so openly embraces career changers means that there are a lot of us! I feel that it’s really easy to be yourself here. Everyone is really supportive in helping answer questions, and there’s a real sense of shared purpose,” Marion adds.

Trainee apprentices spend about 80% of their time learning on the job. That includes working closely with managers and directors at PKF Francis Clark, learning from professionals with years (or decades) of experience and gaining opportunities to work hands-on with clients from day one.

3. Experience diverse tasks on a day-to-day basis

As a trainee at PKF Francis Clark, no two days are the same. Whether you’re working in our business advisory, audit and assurance, or professional practice departments, you’ll get to explore diverse tasks and responsibilities.

As the largest firm of independent chartered accountants and business advisors in South West England, we work with clients ranging from family businesses and start-ups to not-for-profit organisations and AIM-listed companies.

“I love that I get to do the accounts for local businesses,” says Joshua, an accounting trainee. “It’s so interesting; I’d say it’s the opposite of boring as every day you encounter a new client or a new problem you need to solve.”

4, Work somewhere your wellbeing matters

PKF Francis Clark consistently ranks as a great place to work. Between 2023 and 2024, we rose nine places in the UK’s Best Workplaces (Large Organisations) ranking, finishing in the top 25 of workplaces. We rank as one of the UK’s Best Workplaces for Wellbeing too!

Our wellbeing initiatives highlight the importance of mental, physical, and financial health, and we offer regular wellbeing seminars to support employees in the various challenges they might face.

We also champion hybrid working arrangements. So, while trainees benefit most from working in the office during the early periods of their apprenticeship, you’ll have increased flexibility to work from home over the course of your career.

5. Build your career in accountancy

As an accounting apprentice at PKF Francis Clark, your journey doesn’t end once you’ve passed your exams. Many of our apprentices become future leaders of the firm, whether as department managers or partners; these opportunities are scarcer at larger, global accounting and professional services corporations.

Lucinda Coleman joined PKF Francis Clark as a graduate trainee 20 years ago. Today, she’s a partner in the business recovery team.

“Right the way through my career, I felt that everything that I’ve had to say has been listened to and I’ve really impacted the way the firm is managed,” she says.

“I’ve found PKF Francis Clark to be somewhere that really develops its people and their values and contribution.”

Three trainees doing a team building exercise on training day.

A trainee doing a team building exercise.

A trainee socialising with a drink on a training day.

Becoming an accounting apprentice at PKF Francis Clark

Are you interested in seeing where an accounting apprenticeship at PKF Francis Clark could take you?

We advertise trainee accountant positions at eight of our nine locations (Bristol, Exeter, Plymouth, Poole, Salisbury, Taunton, Torquay and Truro), and these typically open in September for graduates and December for non-graduates.

To ensure positions are accessible to a range of applicants, we limit the requirements necessary to apply. However, we do ask that you demonstrate the following:

On track to achieve or have obtained a 2.2 or above in any degree discipline or a level 4 Accountancy qualification (for graduate trainees only)
Minimum of 112 UCAS points (obtained from three A Levels or equivalent excluding General Studies).
Grade 4-9 or C or above in GCSE Maths and English.

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