Business Tax CFAB Apprenticeship
James Cowper Kreston
Oxford, Reading, Southampton
Closes on Thursday 30 April 2026
Posted on 12 December 2025
Contents
Summary
If university isn’t the right choice for you and you have a genuine interest in tax and accountancy, our apprenticeship programme offers a structured pathway to achieve two chartered qualifications. You’ll begin studying the ICAEW CFAB (Level 4) and then progress to the ACA CTA Joint Programme (Level 7), taking 5 years in total.
- Wage
-
£23,000 a year
Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
We have a set salary progression ladder with a pay rise approximately every 12 months.
- Training course
- Professional accounting technician (level 4)
- Hours
-
Monday - Friday, 9.00am - 5.30pm.
38 hours a week
- Start date
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Monday 24 August 2026
- Duration
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1 year 6 months
- Positions available
-
1
Work
Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.
What you'll do at work
Working in our rapidly growing Business Tax team, your initial focus would be on understanding how a company’s corporation tax return works, how it links to the company’s accounts and some of the key components that make it up, along with tax technical rules around it. You would build this knowledge up in your early career until I your second and third years, you would expect to get more involved in advisory projects, working with managers.
You would learn how it interacts with third parties, such as our clients and HMRC, and work alongside experienced seniors, managers, directors and partners.
As an example, by the end of your first year, we aim for you to be able to:
- Perform first reviews of basic corporation tax computations and returns.
- Be aware and able to discuss principles around R&D relief, capital allowances.
- Assist Managers on advisory projects on an ad-hoc basis and when they arise for clients you are assigned to.
- Attend meetings alongside a manager and become a point of contact for some of the clients you work with.
- Be comfortable dealing with HMRC over the phone.
Where you'll work
You can select which locations you want to apply for in your application on Find an apprenticeship.
This apprenticeship is available in these locations:
- Pine Lodge, 201 Cumnor Hill, Oxford, OX2 9PJ
- Apex Plaza, Forbury Road, Reading, RG1 1AX
- White Building 1-4, Cumberland Place, Southampton, SO15 2NP
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
FIRST INTUITION SOUTH LIMITED
Training course
Professional accounting technician (level 4)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Collate and analyse financial information, and show how that information can be used most effectively to support value creation within an organisation.
- Apply accounting principles and adhere to legislation to ensure records are accurate and compliant with law or company policy when delivering accounting activities, such as the financial accounting of single entities, limited companies or partnerships or management accounting activities for an organisation.
- Apply professional scepticism when undertaking accounting activities to inform and evaluate decision making on the content of true and fair accounts, being alert to conditions that may indicate possible misstatement of financial information due to error or fraud, establishing the facts sensitively and being aware of unconscious bias.
- Interpret financial information for accounting purposes, such as using judgement to determine the correct way to report or account for transaction or undertaking ratio analysis.
- Participate in or support others with quality improvement activities, for example the improvement of personal working practices.
- Use software packages to assist with accounting tasks in line with cyber and data security requirements, using data securely and safely, including backing up data.
- Deliver accounting tasks with a critical eye to transactions and trends, demonstrating a ‘right first time approach’.
- Use workload management principles to plan, organise and prioritise own tasks, and manage time effectively.
- Use accounting information to add value to the organisation through use of data visualisations, analysis and interpretation, and communicate financial information in a way that facilitates understanding for non-finance stakeholders.
- Communicate accounting information through a variety of media to enable key stakeholders to understand what is required, considering the risks and benefits to the organisation of social media and other digital applications.
- Build and maintain collaborative, professional relationships with internal and external stakeholders to deliver accounting tasks, recognising the importance of equality, diversity and inclusion.
- Collate and analyse financial information, and show how that information can be used most effectively to support value creation within an organisation.
- Apply accounting principles and adhere to legislation to ensure records are accurate and compliant with law or company policy when delivering accounting activities, such as the financial accounting of single entities, limited companies or partnerships or management accounting activities for an organisation.
- Apply professional scepticism when undertaking accounting activities to inform and evaluate decision making on the content of true and fair accounts, being alert to conditions that may indicate possible misstatement of financial information due to error or fraud, establishing the facts sensitively and being aware of unconscious bias.
- Interpret financial information for accounting purposes, such as using judgement to determine the correct way to report or account for transaction or undertaking ratio analysis.
- Participate in or support others with quality improvement activities, for example the improvement of personal working practices.
- Use software packages to assist with accounting tasks in line with cyber and data security requirements, using data securely and safely, including backing up data.
- Deliver accounting tasks with a critical eye to transactions and trends, demonstrating a ‘right first time approach’.
- Use workload management principles to plan, organise and prioritise own tasks, and manage time effectively.
- Use accounting information to add value to the organisation through use of data visualisations, analysis and interpretation, and communicate financial information in a way that facilitates understanding for non-finance stakeholders.
- Communicate accounting information through a variety of media to enable key stakeholders to understand what is required, considering the risks and benefits to the organisation of social media and other digital applications.
- Build and maintain collaborative, professional relationships with internal and external stakeholders to deliver accounting tasks, recognising the importance of equality, diversity and inclusion.
Training schedule
- Professional Accounting Technician Level 4 Apprenticeship Standard
- You will complete the ICAEW Certificate in Finance, Accounting & Business (CFAB), and then be able to progress to the ACA CTA Joint Programme under a Level 7 Apprenticeship
- Training will be a mix of classroom based courses and self-study
- Classroom sessions will be block release and generally take place be at our training provider's premises in central Reading
More training information
Please note that for our August 2026 intake apprenticeship opportunities are available in our Reading, Oxford and Southampton offices but not Newbury or London.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English Language (grade Grade 4 or higher)
- Maths (grade Grade 4 or higher)
A Level in:
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- IT skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Customer care skills
- Problem solving skills
- Administrative skills
- Number skills
- Analytical skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Initiative
- Patience
- Resilience
Other requirements
Whilst not esssential, it is preferable that you have a full UK driving licence and access to a car. This is because, although you will have a base office, you will regularly need to travel to other James Cowper Kreston offices and to client sites, not all of which are easily accessible by public transport.
About this employer
James Cowper Kreston is a leading firm of accountants and business advisers, with offices in Newbury, Reading, Oxford, Southampton and London. We are passionate about enabling our clients and staff to maximise their potential, meaning that we approach everyone as an individual, not with a pre-set script. For over 100 years we have been working with clients, not just as accountants ensuring audit, accounts and tax compliance, but as an integral part of their team offering a full range of advisory services, working with them to unlock and maximise available opportunities. With over 200 staff we have a strong team ethic but always recognise the individual contributions to the team’s performance. That’s why we make a great investment in individual career development and help you maximise your potential. As a result, you can be assured that you will receive all the support and encouragement you need from us to kick-start an exciting career in taxation. So why not start your career with James Cowper Kreston?
https://www.jamescowperkreston.co.uk/school-leavers/ (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
- Paid time off for study, college and exams
- 23 days annual holiday, plus your birthday off
- Flexible benefits including cycle to work, holiday buy
- Health cash plan to reimburse minor medical costs
After this apprenticeship
- After achieving the CFAB qualifcation you can go on to study the ACA CTA Joint Programme to achieve two chartered qualifications within a total of five years.
- Plus progression to Assistant Manager, then Manager and potentially follow a route all the way to becoming a partner in the firm
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
FIRST INTUITION SOUTH LIMITED
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000004995.
Apply now
Closes on Thursday 30 April 2026
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After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.