Professional Qualifications

Professional Pathways, Early Careers

All of our trainee programmes (both graduate and school & college leavers) will have an associated qualification that you will need to complete. There are several different training programmes and pathways available. The qualification you undertake will depend on the role you apply to. Please refer to the job advert of the role that you have applied to, or would like to apply to, for details of the qualification related to that specific role. Below, we break down the length, level and requirements for each Professional Qualification.

Audit, Tax or Accounts and Business Advisory

ATT/CTA Qualification

The ATT-CTA Joint Pathway is a streamlined qualification route for those pursuing a career in tax. It allows students to achieve both the ATT (Association of Taxation Technicians) and CTA (Chartered Tax Adviser) qualifications in a more efficient timeframe, combining foundational tax knowledge with advanced advisory skills.

Entry Requirements:

2 A Levels (grades A-E) (or equivalent) and 3 GCSEs (or equivalent) (grades 9-4 / A-C) or learners must have a relevant job role with 6 months experience.

This route is ideal for those looking to fast-track their career in tax advisory, combining the practical skills of ATT with the advanced technical knowledge of CTA.

ACA

ACA is a structured pathway to becoming an ICAEW Chartered Accountant. It shows you have undertaken three years of training, passed your exams, and committed yourself to continued professional development. The qualification comprises four elements that provide students with a combination of finance knowledge, accountancy skills and real-world business experience. It typically takes between 3-5 years to complete your ACA training. This qualification is suited to graduates or those who have already completed a level 4 qualification such as AAT.

ICAS

The ICAS qualification is a prestigious and globally recognised professional certification for accountants. It equips individuals with skills and expertise to purse successful careers in accounting, audit, finance, and business management.

You can study ICAS under the two following routes;

Graduate route – this will take approximately 3 years to complete including all assessments and work experience.

School leaver route – this will take approximately 5 years to complete including all assessments and work experience.

AAT

The AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians) qualification is a highly respected credential for those pursuing a career in finance and accounting. It is designed to provide practical skills and knowledge needed for various accounting roles, from entry-level positions to more advanced accounting tasks.

The entry requirements for AAT Level 3 (Diploma in Accounting) are generally as follows:

Prior Knowledge: It is recommended that students have a good understanding of basic accounting principles.

Qualifications: While there are no strict formal grade requirements, having GCSEs in Maths and English (grades 9–4 or A*–C) is beneficial, as the course involves numerical calculations and written communication.

Experience: Alternatively, practical work experience in a bookkeeping or finance role can also prepare students for Level 3.

Age Requirement: There is no age limit, and the qualification is open to school leavers, career changers, or anyone looking to advance their accounting skills.

Other Qualification Routes

Whilst we recruit the majority of our students into Audit, Tax or Accounts and Business Advisory, we do recruit smaller numbers of students into the following business areas where students complete qualifications specifically aligned to that area, for example:

Payroll – CIPP
Internal Audit – CIA
Wealth – CII

Please reach out to our Early Careers if you required any additional information:

earlycareersrecruitment@azets.co.uk

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Early Careers FAQ

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Our Application Process

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