ACA accounting qualification
Become a chartered accountant with an ACA qualification
ACA (Association of Chartered Accountants) qualifications are open to graduates from any degree background. You’ll study while working, with full support from us throughout your journey. The ACA is a Level 7 qualification, equivalent to a master’s degree.
This full-time, permanent role offers complete funding for your professional qualification, alongside three years of structured training, and hands-on client experience. You’ll earn a salary while developing practical skills, and from day one, you’ll be guided by a dedicated team to help you build a rewarding career with long-term progression. The awarding body is the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).
Why choose PKF Francis Clark for your ACA accounting qualification?
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We fund your training and professional qualifications
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The work is really varied – no two days are the same
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You’ll feel supported by your team and by a community of fellow graduates
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We’re a large firm able to offer great career progression opportunities
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You can live and work in the stunning South West
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Our ACA pass rates are well above the national average
Recognised as one of the Sunday Times Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers 2026
What do I need to apply for the ACA accounting programme?
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On track for, or have achieved, a 2.2 degree or above in any discipline
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Minimum of 112 UCAS points – obtained from three A Levels or equivalent, excluding general studies and EPQ
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GCSE Maths and English at grade 4-9
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Great communication skills to build trusted relationships
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A sense of fun and a desire to succeed
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Willingness to travel to client sites and other offices as required (audit only)
ACA vacancies
What to expect when you apply
What does an ACA trainee do?
Business advisory
You’ll help our clients prepare year end account, management accounts, forecasts, and projections. You’ll be able to get involved in areas such as corporate and business taxation, company secretarial duties, and VAT returns. This diverse exposure will equip you with a broad and rounded understanding of commercial, tax, and general accountancy practices.
Audit
You’ll typically work in a team at a client’s premises, so every day is different. You’ll be providing assurance services and professional advice, generally working in small teams of two or three. Audits can last anything from a few days to a few weeks, and while the work can be challenging, it’s an invaluable grounding for your accountancy career.
Professional practices
You’ll support law firms, doctors, and a range of other professionals. You’ll gain a great range of experience, including accounting, tax (partnership, company and personal), audit and preparing analysis, forecasts and projections.
Your ACA training programme
You’ll have a structured induction at the firm before starting your formal accountancy studies. This includes:
- Meeting your new team and manager
- Going to an induction event for introductory training and to meet our senior leaders and all the other new trainees
- Functional onboarding within your department – getting to grips with the basics of the work you’ll be doing to set you up for success
- A range of other training focused on cybersecurity, anti-money laundering and how to act commercially
Following your induction, your training will quickly start to build a breadth and depth of experience, and in addition there are opportunities to do a placement with another department.
You’ll alternate between studying with an independent training provider and working on-the-job. In between studies you are a working accountant. You’ll have regular reviews with your line manager and the training provider to ensure you are on track.
As an ACA accounting trainee, you’ll spend some of your time training in person with First Intuition, the award-winning accountancy training provider. This is often ‘block release’ where you train for several consecutive days at a time. Depending on your location, overnight stays may be required.
You are expected to do independent study in your own time. This varies by person but is typically at least 10 hours per week and can be a lot more, especially when you are revising for your professional examinations.
You’ll have a student counsellor, who is an experienced Chartered Accountant, to support you with feedback and advice. You’ll also have a buddy, a current trainee who’ll partner with you before you start and during the first few weeks. The buddy’s role is to welcome you, answer any questions and invite you along to work social events.
Chartered Accountant (or ACA) is a level seven qualification. It takes three years to complete, and the firm pays for your exams and training. You’ll be assessed by examination. For the latest syllabus see the Institute of Chartered Accountants In England and Wales (ICAEW) website.
Meet our ACA trainees
"PKF Francis Clark stood out because of its reputation in the region and the opportunities it offers trainees to learn and develop. I was particularly interested in business restructuring because of the problem-solving nature of the work and the variety that comes with every case being different."
Harry, ACA trainee accountant
