Business Tax Apprenticeship
James Cowper Kreston
Oxford, Reading, Southampton
Closes on Sunday 31 January 2027
Posted on 3 November 2026
Contents
Summary
If university isn't the right route for you, our School Leaver Apprenticeship Programme offers a practical way to kick-start an exciting career in tax. You'll be studying towards the ACA and CTA qualifications through two separate apprenticeship programmes - a Level 4 (ACA), followed by a Level 7 (ACA CTA).
- Wage
-
£23,000 a year
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
We operate a structured salary ladder such that apprentice salaries generally increase every 12 months. This means that by the time you are fully ACA qualified you will be earning £45,000 per year (based on current salary ladders).
- Training course
- Professional taxation technician (level 4)
- Hours
-
Monday - Friday 9.00am - 5.30pm.
37 hours 30 minutes a week
- Start date
-
Monday 23 August 2027
- Duration
-
2 years
- 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
Business Tax is about much more than tax returns. It's about helping businesses understand and manage complex tax matters while supporting growth and important commercial decisions. You'll work with a wide range of organisations, helping them understand their tax obligations and supporting them as they grow and change.
You'll start by building your understanding of the fundamentals of tax and how businesses operate. As your knowledge and confidence grow, you'll take on increasing responsibility, become involved in more complex work and begin building relationships with clients.
You'll work alongside experienced Managers, Directors and Partners who will support you as you develop your technical knowledge and professional skills.
During your first year, you'll start developing the skills to:
- Understand how corporation tax computations and returns are prepared
- Build an understanding of different Business Tax matters
- Research tax rules and technical issues
- Support colleagues with client assignments and advisory projects
- Attend client meetings alongside more experienced colleagues
- Communicate confidently and professionally with clients and colleagues
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 taxation technician (level 4)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Collate, analyse, and use financial information to support evidence-based, sustainable tax decisions for stakeholders, such as individuals and businesses.
- Undertake taxation activities within the scope and limits of their role and tax specialism, such as the preparation of tax information for individuals, sole traders, partnerships or limited companies, escalating issues to more senior colleagues where appropriate.
- Apply relevant principles and legislation when undertaking taxation activities to ensure records are compliant.
- Apply professional scepticism when undertaking taxation activities, being alert to conditions which may indicate possible misstatement of information due to error or fraud, establishing the facts sensitively and being aware of unconscious bias, and using those facts to inform and evaluate decision making in the context of providing accurate information to HMRC.
- Interpret information for tax purposes, such as using judgement to determine the correct way to report transactions or items of income or expenditure.
- Participate in or support others with quality improvement activities, for example the improvement of personal working practices.
- Use software packages to assist with taxation tasks in line with cyber and data security requirements, using data securely and safely, including backing up data.
- Deliver taxation tasks with a critical eye to trends, demonstrating a ‘right first-time approach’.
- Use workload management principles to plan, organise, and prioritise own tasks and manage time effectively, such as systems for managing key tax filing dates, penalty dates, and enquiry deadlines.
- Use taxation information to add value to stakeholders through use of data visualisations, analysis, and interpretation, and communicate tax information in a way that non-tax specialist stakeholders can understand.
- Undertake file management activities, such as preparing and collating information, making accurate file notes and managing version control.
- Build and maintain collaborative, professional relationships with internal and external stakeholders to deliver taxation tasks, recognising the importance of equality, diversity and inclusion.
- Communicate taxation information through different media to facilitate stakeholder understanding, considering the risks and benefits to the organisation of social media and other digital applications.
- Collate, analyse, and use financial information to support evidence-based, sustainable tax decisions for stakeholders, such as individuals and businesses.
- Undertake taxation activities within the scope and limits of their role and tax specialism, such as the preparation of tax information for individuals, sole traders, partnerships or limited companies, escalating issues to more senior colleagues where appropriate.
- Apply relevant principles and legislation when undertaking taxation activities to ensure records are compliant.
- Apply professional scepticism when undertaking taxation activities, being alert to conditions which may indicate possible misstatement of information due to error or fraud, establishing the facts sensitively and being aware of unconscious bias, and using those facts to inform and evaluate decision making in the context of providing accurate information to HMRC.
- Interpret information for tax purposes, such as using judgement to determine the correct way to report transactions or items of income or expenditure.
- Participate in or support others with quality improvement activities, for example the improvement of personal working practices.
- Use software packages to assist with taxation tasks in line with cyber and data security requirements, using data securely and safely, including backing up data.
- Deliver taxation tasks with a critical eye to trends, demonstrating a ‘right first-time approach’.
- Use workload management principles to plan, organise, and prioritise own tasks and manage time effectively, such as systems for managing key tax filing dates, penalty dates, and enquiry deadlines.
- Use taxation information to add value to stakeholders through use of data visualisations, analysis, and interpretation, and communicate tax information in a way that non-tax specialist stakeholders can understand.
- Undertake file management activities, such as preparing and collating information, making accurate file notes and managing version control.
- Build and maintain collaborative, professional relationships with internal and external stakeholders to deliver taxation tasks, recognising the importance of equality, diversity and inclusion.
- Communicate taxation information through different media to facilitate stakeholder understanding, considering the risks and benefits to the organisation of social media and other digital applications.
Training schedule
- You start by studying a Level 4 apprenticeship over two years to complete the Certificate Level of the ACA qualification
- You will then progress to a Level 7 apprenticeship to complete the ACA CTA Joint Programme, which will take a further three years to complete
- Training will be a mix of classroom based courses and self-study
- Classroom sessions will be block release and generally take place at First Intuition's premises in central Reading
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English Language (grade 4 or higher)
- Maths (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
- Resilience
- Adaptability
- Enthusiasm to learn
About this employer
James Cowper Kreston is a leading firm of accountants and business advisers with offices across the Thames Valley and South Coast. We work closely with our clients, offering a wide range of services and helping them navigate challenges, seize opportunities and maximise their potential.
We pride ourselves on blending professional excellence with a supportive and friendly culture. We're big enough to offer exciting career opportunities, yet small enough that you'll quickly feel part of a close-knit team.
We're looking for motivated school and college leavers to join our growing Business Tax team. If you're ready to start your career, earn while you learn, and work towards professional qualifications without going to university first, our School Leaver Apprenticeship Programme could be the perfect place to start.
https://www.jamescowperkreston.co.uk/school-leaver-opportunities/ (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
- Paid time off for college and exams
- 23 days annual holiday, plus birthday as extra day
- Flexible benefits package including cycle to work scheme
- Health Cash Plan to reimburse common medical expenses such as dental check ups, eye tests, minor treatments etc
- Pension scheme
- Life assurance
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
After completing your ACA Level 4 apprenticeship, you'll continue your studies with the ACA CTA Joint Programme as a Level 7 apprenticeship.
As you build your career with us, and once you are ACA qualified, you will progress to Assistant Manager and beyond. Potentially following a route all the way to being a partner in the firm.
Five of our current partners started as trainees with the firm.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
James Cowper Kreston
Sarah Pearce
spearce@jamescowper.co.uk
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000062361.
Apply now
Closes on Sunday 31 January 2027
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.