Our Trainee programme

Helping your career to thrive

Are you considering a career in accountancy?

Businesses large and small will always need good accountants. It’s a fantastic career choice for anyone who has a good eye for detail, a team player and can demonstrate commitment, ambition, and a willingness to learn.

You’ll have the opportunity to meet and work with various people in different industries as well as the different departments within the firm.

We are recruiting for our Autumn intake so if this is something you’re looking for, then we’d love to hear from you!

Whether you join us from school, college or university, our training programme will provide you with all the skills and experience you need to strengthen and broaden your knowledge, so that you can excel as a valued member of our team and eventually a trusted adviser.

Where will I train?

You will be based at one of our South-West offices (Bath, Bristol, Taunton or Yeovil), and as a trainee you will meet lots of supportive colleagues within your team and the wider specialist teams.

You will be able to study for your AAT/ATT/ACA/ACCA qualification from early on in your career. But don’t panic, if you haven’t decided or are not sure which qualifications you want to achieve, we will create an individual training plan, which is unique to you. The plan will include all the information and guidance you need to make sure the most appropriate qualification is chosen…as well as a buddy to help you along the way!

New Talent Pathway Programmes

ACCOUNTANCY

Our Graduate Pathway focusses on studying for the ACA qualification, which typically takes three years to complete. Our Non-Graduate Pathway looks at a qualification through the ACCA, which on average takes three to four years.

If you’re not looking to study for an accountancy qualification, taking the AAT qualification route could be an option. This typically takes 18 – 24 months to be complete.

TAX

For graduates looking to start a career in Tax, you will be required to take the ATT route followed by the CTA qualification, which takes approximately three to four years.

If you’re looking at joining our Tax team using our Non-Graduate Pathway, you can study the ATT qualification, which typically takes 12 – 18 months and if appropriate, followed by the CTA route.

Milsted Langdon is a great place to start your career, with a huge emphasis on the employee experience and helping our people thrive.

See below some stories of current senior staff who began their working life as our trainees, or click the Apply button to start your application – good luck!

Current vacancies

Reports to: Tax Manager/Senior Manager

Key Purpose

To provide an excellent level of service whilst working with clients across a range of industry sectors, including sole-traders, partnerships, and limited companies. This role will be reporting directly to the Tax management team. You will be a key member of the team in its day-to-day performance.

You will be focused on the delivery of work in line with budgeted recovery rates and are responsible for ensuring that our clients receive the best possible client experience. You will develop your own skills, knowledge and experience and also utilise these where appropriate to assist your less experienced colleagues to harness a culture where the team and clients continually thrive.

To be an ambassador of the firm’s values.

Key Objectives 

  • Preparation of tax returns.
  • Preparation of P11D forms.
  • Dealing with routine HMRC correspondence.
  • Dealing with routine client queries.
  • Participate and support senior team members.
  • Undertaking the work assigned to you in conjunction with relevant training.
  • Identifying and raising to the manager at the earliest possible point, if client records are of poor quality or scope of work is unachievable for the budget given.
  • Start more detailed contact with clients throughout the engagement and seek to understand their business and goals.
  • Raise queries directly with the client. Respond to any queries from the client and liaise with the supervisor/manager for support in responding.
  • Acknowledge all client correspondence in a professional manner.
  • Undertake software training in core products and ensure you keep your technical knowledge up to date.
  • Understand and complete the AML process for new and existing clients.
  • Effective communication, both internal and external (written and oral).
  • Build confidence in using the communication platforms promoted by the Firm.
  • Competently being able to manage your own time in context of work assigned with clear communication of progress to the management team.
  • Undertake internal training courses and apprenticeship training.
  • Take an active role in team meetings and discussions.
  • Learning to identify opportunities to go the extra mile for clients to exceed their client service expectations.
  • Deliver a high-quality service to in alignment with the firm’s quality ethos.
  • Plan and prepare budgets for assignments, ensuring that these are adhered to and opportunities for further fees are raised with the portfolio manager. Identify at the earliest opportunity areas of potential overrun with solutions to fix these. Seek assistance where further training is required.
  • Take ownership of your own time and work with effective reporting and communication with your managers.
  • Assist with administrative duties as required by the firm.
  • Assist fellow colleagues and peers as required by the firm.

Key Skills & Competencies

  • Good personal motivation, organisational skills, and the ability to manage your own workload.
  • Flexibility and approachability under pressure.
  • You must be proactive, tenacious, and always show initiative.
  • Good attention to detail and a high degree of accuracy.
  • The ability to communicate clearly, and effectively at all levels including ensuring the partner is aware of any client issues.
  • The ability to work closely with other members of the team and management team.
  • A learning mind-set with the ability to receive feedback to implement corrective advice ensuring achievement of key objectives and service delivery to clients.
  • A high level of professionalism to deliver client service excellence.
  • The ability to build excellent relationships with all colleagues through role model behaviour in line with the Firm’s culture and strategic objectives.
  • The ability to multitask and meet deadlines when required.
  • Effective time management.
  • To understand when it is necessary to escalate either technical or client experience issues to the partner or support specialists.

Key Knowledge & Behaviours

  • Planning and organisation.
  • Self-motivation.
  • Flexibility and adaptability.
  • Excellent client service.
  • Familiarity with the Milsted Langdon IT systems.
  • Familiarity and an understanding of the relevant statutory compliance issues affecting the Firm including, GDPR, Money Laundering and the Health and Safety at Work Act.
  • Professional, personable, presentable, and punctual.
  • A desire to develop good technical knowledge.
  • Full driving licence, plus unrestricted access to a car.
  • Organised, accurate, and able to plan the use of time efficiently.
  • Good interpersonal skills in dealing with both clients, team members and colleagues.
  • Good communication skills.
  • Full driving licence, plus unrestricted access to a car.
  • Organised, accurate, and able to plan the use of time efficiently.

Qualifications

  • Where appropriate, working towards a professional qualification.

If you have any queries or would like further information about this role, please email teamML@milstedlangdon.co.uk.

The application process

Complete a short application form

This includes sending us your CV and a covering letter. This could include why you want to train at Milsted Langdon and gain a professional qualification, as well as detailing any relevant experience you may have.

If your application meets our requirements

We will invite you for an interview at your preferred office.

Get to know each other

This is an opportunity for us to get to know you better and for you to find our more about Milsted Langdon.

Next Steps

You will be informed shortly after the interview if you have been successful in gaining a position with us.

Before you join us

We will be in touch several times before your first day with us, so we can keep you posted of any relevant news, information, and offer you the chance to get to know your fellow trainees.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact TeamML@milstedlangdon.co.uk.

Our stories

Martin Johnson

General Practice Director

Martin Johnson
  • 2007 – Joined ML in the Payroll department
  • 2008 – Moved to General Practice
  • 2010 – AAT qualified
  • 2015 – ACCA qualified
  • 2016 – Promoted to Supervisor
  • 2017 – Promoted to Assistant Manager
  • 2018 – Promoted to Manager
  • 2020 – Fellow of ACCA
  • 2021 – Promoted to Senior Manager
  • 2023 – Promoted to Director

“I really enjoy working in part of such a supportive team at Milsted Langdon. I have a diverse client base as well as holding a large agricultural portfolio. This means every day is different and I really enjoy being out seeing clients. This is something that is essential with agricultural clients, so I can understand their business completely and tailor my advice to suit them.”

Darren Takle

General Practice Manager

Darren Takle
  • 1999 – Joined Milsted Langdon
  • 2004 – ACCA qualified
  • 2006 – Promoted to Supervisor
  • 2008 – Promoted to Assistant Manager
  • 2011 – Promoted to Manager

“At Milsted Langdon, there is a family feel, meaning I’ve made friends with my colleagues and formed great relationships with my clients. There is variety in the work I do and I have a great work life balance as the hours are flexible.”

Lyndsay Hardwick

Business Innovation Director

Lyndsay Hardwick
  • 2000 – Joined as trainee
  • 2004 – ACCA Qualified
  • 2005 – Gained BSc in Applied Accounting (through ACCA)
  • 2007 – Moved from Taunton to Yeovil office
  • 2008 – Promoted to Assistant Manager
  • 2009 – Promoted to Manager
  • 2015 – Moved to Taunton as Business Innovation Manager
  • 2023 – Promoted to Director

As Business Innovation Manager, no day is ever the same. The world of accountancy is changing at such a fast pace as technology is constantly evolving. As a dynamic and pragmatic team, we love to keep ahead of the curve.  We work closely with many different software providers which allows us to implement new changes across Milsted Langdon, making the lives of our colleagues and clients easier and more efficient.

Karen Holloway

Central Services Partner

Karen Holloway
  • 1998 – Joined as graduate trainee
  • 2002 – ACCA Qualified
  • 2002 – Promoted to Supervisor
  • 2003 – Promoted to General Practice Audit Manager
  • 2011 – Promoted to Practice Director
  • 2019 – Promoted to Central Services Partner

Milsted Langdon has provided me with numerous opportunities to develop my skills and career. Whilst training for my ACCA qualification I gained experience in our General Practice, Audit, Tax and Corporate Finance departments which enabled me to provide a broad range of advice and services to my client manager portfolio. In 2011 I was given the opportunity to use my portfolio skills to manage the internal finance and support functions of the Practice. Whilst continuing to use my accountancy skills, I have been to gain experience of business management, regulatory compliance and people management enabling me to progress my career from trainee to Partnership all through one firm.

Peter Manning

General Practice Manager

Peter Manning
  • 2001 – Joined as trainee
  • 2008 – ACCA Qualified
  • 2008 – Promoted to General Practice Senior
  • 2010 – Moved from Taunton to Bristol office
  • 2011 – Promoted to Assistant Manager
  • 2012 – Promoted to Manager
  • 2014 – Moved back to Taunton office

Building long-standing relationships with both colleagues and clients is what I enjoy most about my role. I have a broad portfolio of clients who vary in both size and industry sector and I enjoy the variety that this brings. I am able to work closely with clients out on site at their premises which helps to get an understanding of their business, its people and culture, putting me in a better position to help them achieve their business aims and objectives.