Get your career off to a great start by joining a Moore Kingston Smith training programme, enabling you to study toward professional qualifications while gaining on the job experience. Through our Level 7 apprenticeship you will gain the ACA qualification and become an ICAEW Chartered Accountant while working with a variety of nonprofit clients.
We’re an accredited training firm, committed to giving everyone who joins us first class training in a personal and friendly working environment. Completing our comprehensive apprenticeship training programme over three years will equip you with the knowledge and skills required to excel in the role and deliver our stellar client service.
Our award-winning nonprofit team delivers comprehensive auditing and accounting services, as well as advice on governance and strategy. We have been voted the top firm for overall service in Charity Finance’s Audit Survey 2023/24, out of the leading top 10 charity specialist firms in England – an accolade we have now attained for the last 9 years in a row.
We are renowned for working with a broad range of social impact organisations including NHS charities, museums, arts and culture charities and many more. The team are also a leader in the education sector, working with over 200 educational organisations, focusing on independent schools, academies and Oxford colleges. Becoming part of our nonprofit team means gaining significant experience with a diverse range of charities, as well as corporate experience through working with trading subsidiaries and corporate membership organisations. The nonprofit team comprises around 60 people and there’s a huge focus on growth, development and support to trainees.
Key Responsibilities
From the get-go, you’ll work with all kinds of nonprofit clients, getting to know their organisations, uncovering the obstacles they face, their preferences and the nuances of the nonprofit sector. We encourage you to take responsibility early on, and you’ll get to grips with all aspects of the role. You’ll predominantly work nonprofit team, but can also benefit from experience across other teams, sectors and services.
In addition to internal and external training, you’ll learn on the job through a range of key responsibilities including, but not limited to:
- Conducting audit fieldwork on behalf of a wide variety of nonprofit clients, with support from the wider audit team.
- Reviewing accounts in accordance with the relevant Financial Reporting Standards/Statement of Recommended Practice and legal requirements.
- Drafting basic corporation tax computations.
- Assisting with managing client expectations and deadlines.
- Drafting recommendations for improvements to clients’ financial systems and controls
- Attending client meetings with the wider team.
- Supporting with drafting of close out audit meeting agenda and points for discussion.
- Maintaining knowledge of all relevant ISA requirements and MKS internal policies in producing audit files.
- Demonstrating a solid understanding of double entry accounting/bookkeeping.
- Working with other trainees to deliver assignments and assisting them with their personal development.
- Attending client gatherings or client seminars on an ad hoc basis and to pursue specific areas of interest.
Your third year will bring the opportunity to add more strings to your bow with other experience through secondments. Trainees have moved into our data analytics, tax, corporate finance and digital transformation teams, while some choose to stay generalist.
Whatever path you choose, we have clear progression routes, and there’s plenty of opportunity to take your career in the direction you desire at Moore Kingston Smith. In fact, many of our partners started our as trainees here and through hard work, commitment and drive have gone on to leadership roles.
Who are we looking for?
The ACA training programme is open to graduates from any degree discipline, whether straight out of university or someone looking for a career change or return to work.
Skills this role requires:
- Enthusiasm for building strong relationships and collaborating with clients and colleagues, with close support from your manager.
- A proactive, results-driven attitude that ensures excellent client service.
- Strong commitment and reliability, enabling you to balance your studies and exams (with paid study leave) alongside your full-time role and responsibilities.
- A growth mindset and adaptable approach, with a willingness to continuously acquire new skills and knowledge, supported by your manager, apprenticeship coach and dedicated early talent team.
In order to be eligible for the programme, you will also need:
- Have obtained at least 112 UCAS points from three A-Levels, or equivalent qualifications
- Have achieved a 2:2 or above, from a degree in any discipline
- Be available and permitted to work in the UK, from the start date of the programme