AOS - Small to Medium Enterprise School Leaver Apprentice - 1 September 2025 - Leicester

Service line:
Accounting & Outsourcing Services
Business unit:
SME
Office:
Leicester

AOS - Small to Medium Enterprise School Leaver Apprentice - 1 September 2025 - Leicester (4222)

Forvis Mazars : who are we?

Forvis Mazars LLP is the UK firm of Forvis Mazars Group. In the UK we have over 3,300 employees across 14 locations, delivering an outstanding client experience. Forvis Mazars is an engine for rapid and consistent career progression, offering career paths that help you pursue your interests, match your changing needs, and explore your true potential. We work with diverse, prestigious clients across a range of sectors and geographies, giving you the opportunity to constantly update and grow your skills for lifelong professional development. You can find out more about our firm here.

Accountancy & Outsourcing at Forvis Mazars

Our Accounting and Outsourcing team works to support our clients to better run their finance functions, understand their financial position and performance, and to ensure they are compliant with changing accounting and tax legislation. With the relentless pace of technology change you will need to be able to advise clients in areas such as process and digitalisation, business performance and financial reporting, while building enduring relationships that positions Mazars as a trusted adviser. Our successful team of more than 300 professionals is growing across all areas including cloud accounting, payroll, financial reporting and company secretarial.

About the Small to Medium Enterprise Team

Our Small to Medium Enterprise (SME) team are part of the Accounting and Outsourcing service line which works to support our clients to better run their finance functions, understand their financial position and performance, and to ensure they are compliant with changing accounting and tax legislation. With the relentless pace of technology change you will need to be able to advise clients in areas such as process and digitalisation, business performance and financial reporting, while building enduring relationships that positions Mazars as a trusted adviser. Our successful team of more than 250 professionals is growing across all areas including cloud accounting, payroll, financial reporting and company secretarial.

The SME team specialise in providing a wide range of accounting, tax and advisory services to unaudited entrepreneurial businesses and individuals. The clients will usually be owner managed businesses, typically below £10m turnover, who appreciate a relationship-based service provided by a single team so that all information about the business and their personal objectives are understood by the Mazars team members that they work with. The team provides a wide range of support and advice that is relevant to SMEs, covering aspects such as digital accounting systems, tax mitigation, trading internationally and simply being a sounding board for our clients.

‘Current SME trainee Jack says;'

Over the past year, my experience working at Forvis Mazars has been incredibly rewarding. Unlike larger firms, I feel valued as an individual, not just a number. The supportive environment has given me the opportunity to grow and learn, with colleagues who are always willing to help when I need guidance. I can confidently see this as a career for life, where I'm able to grow while having the space to maintain my personal commitments.

Every story is different at Forvis Mazars. Our people have amazing, personal experiences so the best way to learn about life here is to hear it first hand, click here to hear their stories.

About the role

As a school leaver apprentice here's what will await you during your four-year training contract. The role is to deliver a high-quality compliance service to a range of SME clients. The services we deliver include (but are not limited to) unaudited statutory accounts, corporation tax returns, iXBRL tagging, personal tax returns, P11D's, VAT returns and management accounts. This means there is excellent variety in the work which is key as part of your development. It also serves to develop you as a more rounded accountant and advisor.

You will be client-facing and given responsibility from an early stage, working under the direction of Seniors, Assistant Managers and Managers, to provide high quality advice on clients' year-end compliance process and work with other teams to deliver an excellent client experience.We are now operating a hybrid working model, so as a trainee you will split your time between working from home, visiting the office, client sites when required or studying for your professional exams.

During your training contract you will:

• Learn how to use accounting and tax software and systems in order to prepare financial statements and tax returns, as well as IXBRL tagging.

• Develop an understanding of financial statements and the nature of the clients' business.

• Be able to obtain relevant information from other departments and clients whilst building good communication with both.

• Work closely with your colleagues to encourage teamwork and asking questions to proactively aid your development.

• Learn and gain exposure to other services we deliver including VAT returns, management accounts, P11D's and personal tax returns

• Proactively manage your own assigned client work, with a focus on efficiencies to maximise business performance also.

• Self-review your own work, ensuring minimal review points are raised by managers.

• Develop your knowledge of accounting standards which you apply to a given set of year end financials.

• Develop a sound technical knowledge of up to date accounting and tax matters.

• Coach and lead more junior team members as you progress through your contract

• Work directly with our clients and begin developing relationships with those clients to deliver on repeat engagements.

Who we're looking for

On track or have obtained A-levels, BTEC or equivalent qualifications. Strong academic performance is important; however, we understand that things don't always go to plan. Our recruitment process looks at your whole self – academic achievements as well as other experiences in which you have grown and developed. You can read about our approach to academics in our FAQs.

Deep curiosity to learn new things and is naturally inquisitive;

The ability to think critically solve problems and share knowledge with others;

A commitment to self-development and learning;

Strong sense of ownership of duties and high levels of responsibility to deliver on promises;

Always looks to try their best in all they do and always looking for ways to improve;

Enjoys meeting and engaging with new people with an underlying respect for individuals, diversity, and integrity;

Works well under pressure and have a positive ‘can-do' attitude if faced with challenging situations;

Excellent time management skills;

A willingness to travel and adhere to our flexible working environment.

Learning and development

Fully funded professional qualification for this role: Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT)/ Associate Chartered Accountant (ACA)

Additional qualification(s): Level 4 & Level 7 apprenticeship

Our supportive culture includes coaching, mentorship, and one-on-one guidance. In addition to funding qualifications, we provide time off to study, and a blended training approach including in person and virtual learning. You will be allocated a buddy before joining who will support you to settle into the team and navigate your first year at Forvis Mazars.

You will also receive comprehensive quality training and development to excel in your professional career; this includes development in professional excellence, client excellence, digital excellence, and technical excellence. Our goal is to support you in reaching your full potential and become a standout talent. To understand more read our FAQs.

Inclusion and diversity

Being inclusive is core to our culture at Forvis Mazars; we want to ensure everyone, whether in the recruitment process or beyond, is fully supported to be their unique self and provided with a level playing field. To read more about our approach click here.

Next steps

Roles will be closed as soon as we find the right people, so to avoid disappointment we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible. If you are an international applicant and/or require a visa please view our FAQs before applying to be aware of deadlines and important information you need to know before applying.