ASPIRING accountants can now apply to join one of the country’s most successful financial services firms.

Armstrong Watson is continuing its commitment to the next generation, launching its annual recruitment process to find the industry’s next rising stars.

The firm, which has offices across Cumbria, Scotland, the North East and Yorkshire, is looking to make 11 new hires through its AAT/ATT apprenticeship programmes.

New recruits will join the accounting teams in Cumbria and Yorkshire, receiving hands on experience alongside classroom study as they work towards their qualifications.

Talent Acquisition Partner David Ramsay: “At a time when it would be very easy to slow down recruitment of roles at this level, Armstrong Watson is continuing to recruit. Despite a challenging 12 months for all sectors, it is vital that we continue to invest in the next generation of accountants and advisers to enable us to support our clients into the future.

“We have a long history of growing our own talent and those who join us will not only have the opportunity to become future business leaders, but as a top 30 UK firm, they will work at the cutting edge of legislative and technical changes in accounting.”

The positions available last year saw 300 applications, this year Armstrong Watson is taking on 10 AAT trainees and one ATT trainee across the business. The AAT qualification focusses on accounts preparation VAT book-keeping and accounts reporting, whereas the ATT qualification focuses mainly on tax computations. Over the three-year course, trainees will be equipped with invaluable skills and experience to set them up for a successful career. There is also the opportunity to progress to become a chartered accountant through the ACA qualification.

Entry criteria is a achieved or predicted at least 5 GCSEs graded A*-C / 9-4, including maths and English but applications from older candidates looking to retrain are welcome.