Recruitment

Trainee Accountants

At Bright Brown we have been training accountants from the day the business started. We are very proud of the fact that more than 75% of our qualified accountants and tax advisors, three of our current directors trained with Bright Brown. We are also very proud that we recruit locally, recognising our corporate responsibility to provide professional training and jobs to members of our local community. Every trainee we take on is guaranteed a permanent position at the end of their training.

At Bright Brown we strongly believe that the best way to build a team is to train and develop from within. We have been fortunate over the last few years in that we have grown our business to the extent that has enabled us to take on new trainees each year. In 2013 we have taken on five new trainees, a graduate and four that have just completed A levels. We are finding more and more that students sitting A levels are opting out of the traditional University route, preferring to gain experience in the work place whilst studying towards accountancy qualifications.

We normally start interviewing in May with a view to trainees joining us during June and July. If you join us after A levels or with a non relevant degree, you will initially take a book-keeping course in August, half a day per week for five weeks, and following the successful completion of the exam at the end of the course you will be exempt from the first year of the Accounting Technician’s (AAT) course. The remaining two levels of the AAT are normally completed over two years on half day release at the Isle of Wight College. We work in partnership with the lecturers at the Isle of Wight College to ensure the work you do in the office complements the modules you are studying.

With the AAT under your belt we will then sit down with you and decide whether you should go on to study towards the Chartered Accountant’s (ICAEW) or Chartered Certified Accountant’s (ACCA) qualification. There is a big step up from the AAT to the ICAEW / ACCA and not everybody goes on. If you look at our staff profiles you will see that there are plenty of opportunities for progression if you decide to stop training at this stage.

For those who do go on, or for those joining Bright Brown with an accountancy degree, you will be entitled to a number of exemptions from the ICAEW and ACCA exams, normally around half. Studying towards these professional qualifications takes place at Kaplan in Southampton. Kaplan is a commercial educational establishment that specialises in teaching students sitting the professional accountancy exams. Study leave is normally in weekly blocks, and you will be expected to work through modules on your own between periods of study leave. It normally takes between two and three years to complete these exams.

At Bright Brown you are paid during periods of study leave and we pay the course fees, books, student registration fees, exam fees and travel costs for your first attempt at each examination.

We also offer work experience to those who are not sure whether Accountancy is the right career path for them. Normally this will be over one or two weeks and you will spend the time preparing accounts and doing some book-keeping work. Unfortunately, due to the cost of supervision we are not able to pay you for your time but we do ensure you get comprehensive work experience, doing the type of work that a first year trainee will do. We expect you to dress appropriately for working in a professional office and you need to be at least 16 years old. The hours of work are 08:45 to 13:00 and 14:00 to 17:00.

If you are interested in joining Bright Brown or undertaking work experience, you should email your CV and a covering letter, to Betty Fokias at b.fokias@brightbrown.com, detailing whether you are applying for a training position or work experience. If you are applying for a training position, the best time to email your details is April or early May.