Graduate - Audit Associate

Ballards Graduate Audit role gives graduates hands-on experience auditing clients’ financial reporting, systems, risks and controls while completing the ACA Chartered Accountant qualification.

Why Ballards?

Join an award-winning firm recognised as Audit Team of the Year 2026, where you’ll gain hands-on experience, learn from experienced professionals and build your career in a supportive, ambitious environment.

If you’re curious about what makes a business really work, Audit gives you a front-row seat. At Ballards, you’ll work with real clients from day one, getting to know organisations from the inside out. You’ll learn how to understand financial information, assess risks, ask the right questions and build the confidence to challenge the numbers, all while working towards your ACA qualification.

What you’ll do

• Work on live audit assignments across a range of clients and industries.

• Learn how businesses operate, from their financial reporting and systems to their risks and controls.

• Carry out audit testing, review financial information and investigate what sits behind the numbers.

• Work directly with clients and build professional relationships from the start.

• Develop your technical knowledge while gaining the commercial understanding that turns an auditor into a trusted adviser.
  

What you’ll get

• Fully funded ACA (ICAEW Chartered Accountant) qualification, training and study support

• Enhanced induction and internal training programme to support your development from day one

• Real client experience from day one

• Mentoring, feedback and structured career development

• Flexible hybrid working

• 25 days’ holiday plus bank holidays

• Pension, life assurance and Employee Assistance Programme

• Electric Car and Cycle to Work schemes

• Enhanced family leave
  

Who we’re looking for

You don’t need previous audit experience. We’re looking for graduates who are curious, analytical, ambitious, comfortable working with people and ready to learn.

You’ll be working towards, or have recently achieved, a minimum 2:1 degree in any discipline. You’ll bring strong attention to detail, good communication skills, an interest in working with numbers and technology, and the confidence to ask questions and take ownership of your development.

It’s about who you become along the way.

You’ll join a supportive, collaborative environment where your ideas are valued, your development is guided and your responsibility grows with you.