What we offer
Our Tax Apprenticeship Programme supports your ambition to progress a career in tax straight from school. Our strong training programme gives you experience and responsibility and balances real client work with studying for the ATT & CTA qualifications. Learn while you earn.
You will study towards the ATT and CTA qualifications which form a four-year Level 4 & 7 apprenticeship programme. On achievement of the ATT (Association of Taxation Technicians) qualification and with two years' practical tax experience you will qualify as a Taxation Technician. Following this, you will complete further studies to gain the CTA (Chartered Tax Adviser) qualification and become a member of the CIOT. The CTA is a global qualification and recognised as the pinnacle in tax education.
Our Tax Apprenticeship Programme provides a platform for continuous learning. There is ample opportunity for you to grow, not only your technical skills & knowledge, but personal skills too. This happens through work and social initiatives, helping you build communication, planning, judgement, research and team working skills.
We are committed to supporting you during your learning and development journey. Our environment ensures everyone feels part of the team, focused on the same goals. The door is always open, with guidance and support from all levels across the firm, be it from a buddy, tax co-ordinator, managers, partners and our dedicated professional development team.
Future career path
You will study towards the ATT and CTA qualifications which form a four-year Level 4 & 7 apprenticeship programme. On achievement of the ATT (Association of Taxation Technicians) qualification and with two years' practical tax experience you will qualify as a Taxation Technician. Following this, you will complete further studies to gain the CTA (Chartered Tax Adviser) qualification and become a member of the CIOT. The CTA is a global qualification and recognised as the pinnacle in tax education.
Personal development
Our Tax Apprenticeship Programme provides a platform for continuous learning. There is ample opportunity for you to grow, not only your technical skills & knowledge, but personal skills too. This happens through work and social initiatives, helping you build communication, planning, judgement, research and team working skills.
Supportive team
We are committed to supporting you during your learning and development journey. Our environment ensures everyone feels part of the team, focused on the same goals. The door is always open, with guidance and support from all levels across the firm, be it from a buddy, tax co-ordinator, managers, partners and our dedicated professional development team.
Meet our school leavers
Tax Apprenticeship Programme
Since joining Dixon Wilson in August 2021 straight out of school, I've found the perfect balance of work, study, and social life in their apprenticeship scheme. I have always been interested in finance and Dixon Wilson’s reputation and core values was appealing to me.
"From the beginning, I've felt supported in my growth. The welcoming atmosphere at Dixon Wilson encourages questions and continuous learning."
Tax Apprenticeship Programme
I joined Dixon Wilson in August 2022 after deciding not to continue with an Accounting and Business Management degree at Brunel University. I always felt unfulfilled during my time at university, however my desire to work in accountancy stayed with me. I realised that I wanted to be in an environment where I could gain more practical experience.
"The firm has created a comprehensive training plan that has enabled me to balance work with my studies, resulting in me passing all my exams first time to become ATT qualified."
FAQs
What makes Dixon Wilson different from other firms I’m looking at?
People are at the heart of what we do. We place a strong emphasis on ensuring our staff enjoy the work they do to remain happy, engaged and motivated. By joining our Tax Apprenticeship Programme you will work within our private client tax team, where support is at hand no matter what, be it from our growing cohort of tax trainees, a buddy, your trainee tax co-ordinator, senior tax managers or our dedicated professional development team.
You will learn from the best. The technical expertise of our partners and staff is outstanding. This is supported by the number of industry and professional prizes awarded to the firm and staff.
With over 70 trainees from across our ACA Graduate Programme & Tax Apprenticeship Programme, the Firm recognises the importance of life beyond learning. Our active social committee, with the support from our partners, delivers a wide range of social and charitable activities such as our annual charity poker night, chess evenings, puppy yoga, netball, cricket and tennis to name a few! These events are a great way to get to know colleagues at all levels across the Firm.
Our office in London, occupying the upper floors and roof terrace of a modern development on Chancery Lane, is an impressive and fun location to work with views across the city.
Are there minimum academic requirements to join the Dixon Wilson Tax Apprenticeship Programme?
You will need to be on target for or have achieved at least 112 UCAS tariff points (excluding General Studies) made up of three full A-Levels (or equivalent), and a Grade C or 4 or above in GCSE (or equivalent) English Language and Mathematics.
When & how can I apply?
Applications for our Tax Apprenticeship Programme open each year in January to start in September of the same year.
Apply via our website using the Apply Now buttons.
What is the application process?
Our application process is in 4 stages:
Stage 1: Online application form. You’ll start the application process by completing our online application form. This helps us get to know you and provides you with the opportunity to tell us why a career in tax appeals to you.
Stage 2: Online Assessments. If you are shortlisted and have met our academic requirements you will be invited to take an initial numerical reasoning test (NRT). Upon successful completion, you will be invited to sit a verbal reasoning test (VRT) and a critical reasoning test (CRT). Assessments must be completed within 5 days.
Stage 3: HR Interview. Candidates who successfully complete our assessments will be contacted and invited to an interview by one of our HR team. The interview is conducted by our Senior HR Advisor or HR Manager and held virtually via Microsoft Teams. It will take approximately 45 minutes and will explore your interest in completing the ATT & CTA qualifications and tax in general. We will also ask you some competency based interview questions. You will have the opportunity to ask questions as well, so please do! This is a chance for you to learn more about our Tax Apprenticeship Programme.
Stage 4: Final Interview. You may be invited back to our final stage interview where you will meet a tax manager and/or partner. This is your chance to impress. They will want to hear about your career aspirations, skills you can bring to Dixon Wilson and your understanding of the commitment required to qualify as a Chartered Tax Adviser.
You will also get the chance to meet one of our current tax trainees. This is a great opportunity to ask questions and get a real understanding of our programme & the culture at Dixon Wilson.
If you are successful one of our HR team will contact you with an offer to join us.
Support needed?
If you need to request an adjustment or additional support in the recruitment process due to a disability, health condition and/or being neurodivergent, you just need to let our HR team know. They will ask you some questions to better understand your request and to ensure we provide personalised support.
How many places are available on the Tax Apprenticeship programme?
We have one intake each year, joining us in early September. Typically, we employ 2-4 trainees per intake. Joining us as part of a cohort of trainees means there is a strong sense of community, one where invaluable support from a peer is always on hand.
What are Dixon Wilson Looking for?
Aside from our minimum academic requirements and online assessment results, you must be committed to succeed in your examinations. We look for candidates who want to learn, are curious and enjoy problem solving; are adaptable when exposed to new situations and scenarios; that enjoy working with others, and have the aptitude to deliver a first-class professional service to our clients.
What subjects will I study as part of the ATT & CTA qualifications?
On your training pathway, you will firstly complete the ATT qualification and then the CTA qualification.
The ATT requires trainees to complete six exams - three computer based exams (CBEs) and three written papers. The CBEs are the same subjects for everyone – Ethics, Law and Accounting. Two of the ATT papers are also mandatory for everyone - Personal Taxation and Business Taxation. The third ATT paper is an optional subject - Dixon Wilson trainees complete Inheritance Tax & Trusts and Estates (IHTTE) as that is most relevant to client work at Dixon Wilson.
You won’t start exams straight away as we think it’s important for you to have a few months to settle in to working life at Dixon Wilson. There’s a lot to learn on the job and having foundational knowledge before college will set you up for exam success. Once you complete the ATT, you will discuss progression to the CTA with our professional development team.
The CIOT for the CTA requires trainees to pass the same CBEs as ATT (don’t worry, you don’t have to resit unless they time out) and complete three further written exams – two Advanced Technical (AT) papers and one Application and Professional Skills (APS) paper. We recommend you do the first AT in the first sitting, and the second AT with the corresponding APS paper in the second sitting – in the same subject means you maximise your study. Trainees at Dixon Wilson tend to do Taxation of Individuals and Inheritance Tax, Trusts and Estates (IHTTE) as that is most relevant to the client work that we do.
The list below shows a typical order of the subjects you will study:
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
How much time do I need to commit to studying?
The amount of commitment and home study required should not be underestimated, especially after a full day’s work. Study time will depend on what level of exams you have coming up and will naturally increase the closer you get to each exam. Assistance and encouragement is always available from your colleagues.
What formal training will I receive?
You will benefit from a comprehensive training programme taught by leading commercial tutors, which is designed to enable our trainees to pass the examinations first time.
In addition, we have a unique in-house training programme which is designed to develop your client work and technical abilities. These are delivered by both internal and external specialist tutors.
What about my remuneration & benefits?
As a school leaver on our Tax Apprenticeship Programme you will be paid a competitive starting salary. You will also receive a settling-in allowance, payable in the first month of employment, to help with any costs associated with starting a new job.
Our trainee salary progression framework is clear and transparent and rewards you based on successful completion of examinations. We hope that by knowing this ahead of time it’s not only motivating but also aids your financial planning. Going above and beyond in your work and applying advanced technical skills and knowledge is rewarded via our ‘Excel’ recognition scheme.
The London office working hours are Monday-Friday, from 9am to 5pm with an hour for lunch. Our trainees may be required to work overtime and this is paid at the relevant hourly rate. Excessive overtime is discouraged because of the need to prepare for examinations.
Benefits include:
Further perks consist of:
What happens after qualifying?
At the end of your four year programme, provided you have passed your exams, you will qualify as a Chartered Tax Adviser. That’s quite an achievement.
You may be offered the opportunity to continue your career with as a Tax Supervisor, taking full responsibility for your own portfolio of work and managing trainees. Thereafter our career progression & salary pathway from Tax Supervisor to Partner is clear.
At Dixon Wilson we have a 'never stop learning' culture - if you are interested in gaining additional relevant qualifications this is supported.
Outside of client work there are plenty of opportunities to further develop your skills. Become a software superuser, knowledge share lead, work on our website and social media or be a mentor or trainee co-ordinator.
I am an international student, can I apply?
Any employment offers are subject to an applicant providing the necessary right to work documents that demonstrate the right to work and reside legally in the United Kingdom (UK). We do not currently provide sponsorship for this level of role and therefore we’re unable to accept applications from candidates requiring visa sponsorship.
More questions?
We want to make sure you have all the information you need. If you have any questions we haven’t answered here you can get in touch by e-mailing us at careers@dixonwilson.co.uk
Ready to take your next steps?
Bring your curious and collaborative nature and let’s make your future happen. We’re here to support ambition.
