Graduate / Chartered Trainee Accountant or Chartered Tax Adviser (Newcastle)

About Us

Armstrong Watson are a trusted and leading independent Accountancy and Business Advisory firm based in the North of England and Scotland. Our services and advice are all centred around our Quest to support our clients to achieve prosperity, a secure future and peace of mind, which cannot be achieved without the expertise of our dedicated and valued colleagues.

With approximately 700 colleagues situated across 19 offices, our people and our culture are at the heart of what we do. We recognise the unique impact we have on not only our clients, but also our colleagues, and the communities in which we operate. Our success is dependent on every colleague embracing all four of our core values: Honesty, Humanity, Trust and Passion.

We have plans for growth that are not only ambitious but well within our reach. We're going places and are looking for motivated individuals to join our growing team to help us get there!

The Role

We are currently looking for our next promising cohort of Chartered Accountants and Chartered Tax Advisers to start with us in Summer 2025 although typically we would look to bring successful individuals in over the spring months if available.

We have positions available across our Carlisle, Leeds, and Newcastle offices.

We've designed our three-year programme to take you on a journey to become a professionally qualified business adviser. You will help us provide market leading business advice and service to support our clients' growth. It's a busy 3 years with lots of exciting challenges and rewarding career development opportunities.

With full study support for the ACA (Audit & Assurance) or ATT/CTA (Tax Consultancy) qualification, you will pack in lots of learning and new experiences alongside your formal study and revision for exams.

You will be sitting within either our Audit and Assurance or Tax Consultancy teams, working with our large portfolio of clients. You will be interacting with our clients face to face, and building relationships with them. This is a fantastic opportunity to kick-start a promising career and gain invaluable experience from industry experts.

Having the ability to think commercially about how a business operates, whether to increase market share and / or increase a profit, will give you an advantage. Additionally thinking how a business can manage its risk through its systems, controls and processes is equally as important; business owners don't want to be susceptible to fraud!

Upon successful completion of your training programme, you may find doors opening to exciting opportunities across various service lines. This could include areas such as Restructuring & Insolvency, where you could progress to become an Insolvency Practitioner, as well as Corporate Finance and Business Services, amongst others.

The Candidate

We want candidates who are team players, who are driven to succeed with a can-do positive attitude and strong work ethic. This is an exciting opportunity with mind stimulating challenges and rewarding career development opportunities.

• Candidates must possess either a 2:1 degree or above (achieved or predicted) in any discipline or the full AAT Level 4 qualification. A 2:2 degree may be considered depending on degree subject.
• Candidates must also hold at least 7 GCSEs at Grade 5 (C) or above (including Maths, English and at least one Science) or a minimum of 6 National Fives (including Maths English and at least one Science) at Grade C or above.
• Possess a minimum of 96 UCAS points (obtained at A Level or BTEC Level 3+).
• You must also possess a full and valid UK Drivers Licence before 1 July 2025 and have access to a vehicle which can be used to travel to client sites.

Recruitment Process & How to Apply

If you think this is the right opportunity for you and your career, please apply online with our simple application form where you will also be asked to upload a copy of your current CV.

We kindly ask that you apply for one vacancy only (as there are different vacancies listed due to multiple office options). If you are willing to work in more than one location this can be discussed at interview.

If we shortlist your application, you will be invited to complete online assessments which will help us to measure your numeracy and problem-solving skills. Once invited you will have two weeks to complete this assessment.

Following on from successful completion of the online assessments, we will invite you to attend a group video interview (using Microsoft Teams). During this interview, you will meet with one of our Partners and will be given the opportunity to ask any questions that you have about the firm and role itself.

Should you then be successful, you will be invited to attend one of our Assessment Centres, which will include a competency-based interview, a presentation, a career discussion and a group task. You will need to prepare a presentation in advance for one of the activities, details of which will be provided when invited to Assessment Centre.

Assessment Centres for these vacancies are expected to take place during January, March and April. Confirmation of exact dates and full arrangements will be provided at the earliest opportunity if you are successful in reaching this stage in the process.

All successful candidates will be expected to commence their employment either on or before 1 July 2025.

Sponsorship Visas - Please note before applying for one of these vacancies, we are not a registered employer, therefore we are unable to offer sponsorship to candidates.

All successful candidates will be asked to provide their education certificates prior to commencing their role.

The Benefits

In return for your hard work helping us shape our future growth and development; we will provide a competitive salary and a positive benefits package which includes:

• Salary Sacrifice Employer Contribution Pension Scheme including Life Cover (4x salary) and Income Protection
• Competitive Annual Leave entitlement up to 26 days, plus Bank Holidays
• Annual Leave Purchase Scheme allowing you to buy up to 5 additional days annual leave each year
• Health Shield Cash Plan (cash back on a range of Health benefits and discounts on holidays, fashion and entertainment)
• Employee Assistance Programme (24/7 confidential support for wellbeing and health)
• Paid flu jabs and eye tests
• Introductory Commission Scheme (financial reward if you refer a new client)
• Employee Referral Scheme (financial reward if you refer new AW colleagues) enabling you to claim up to £2,500 for each referral
• Ongoing access to online training courses and materials
• Paid professional membership fees
• Charity of the Month
• Colleague of the Month
• Subsidised social events throughout the year

In addition to all the benefits you would expect from an award winning employer, you will be given the utmost encouragement and support to develop your career further.

When you’re with us... we’re with you.