Visit an Office, call 08452 770660, or email info@hhllp.co.uk
Graduate & Work Placement (Gap Year) Opportunities for 2012
We have now completed our ACA and gap-year university placements for 2012.
We will not accept applications for 2013 for ACA and gap-year university work placements until we start our recruitment on 1st September 2012.
Qualifying as a Chartered Accountant with Hillier Hopkins LLP
When considering a career in accountancy you need to decide what kind of firm you want to work for and the training environment it will offer. Our friendly and approachable working environment is centered on support and teamwork. The professional training and development of our people is seen as key to our continued success.
We aim to provide a personal and proactive service to all our clients with a bespoke approach, treating every client and their circumstances as unique. This helps us tailor our advice and support to them.
- Chartered Accountancy Training Scheme
- Study
- How we select our Graduates
- A Social Firm
- About Us and Our Clients
- Applications
As a top 60 firm of Chartered Accountants we aim to give you a greater degree of involvement with the clients and more responsibility from an early stage than the big four firms. You will gain a broad understanding of the different types of audit and accountancy work and how these fit together, giving you a high level of competency.
"I have progressed to become an exam qualified audit senior currently supervising the group audit of one of the firm's largest clients...I believe the experience and training gained here at Hillier Hopkins is invaluable towards my future career as a Chartered Accountant" - 3rd Year Student
The role of the accountant
The role of the accountant continues to develop into the role of consultant and business adviser, and is fast becoming the first port of call for many clients to discuss business ideas and developments before taking action. The understanding you gain from close and regular contact with clients is key to developing trust and mutual respect, which makes for a rewarding relationship.
Facts, figures and looking forward
You will become the person the client turns to for facts and figures regarding their business. Through your training, and with support from your team, you will develop skills in getting the numbers right and in understanding what they mean for the client, both now and in planning for the future.
Chartered Accountancy Training Scheme
Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW)
Are you a graduate .....
- looking to qualify as a Chartered Accountant?
- with a first or 2:1 Degree and A-Level results, or equivalent, equating to at least 300 UCAS points?
- who is enthusiastic and keen to take responsibility?
The Training Programme
We aim to provide the best possible start for those graduates looking for a career within the accountancy profession. Working closely with the firm's qualified staff and your personal mentor you will quickly put your professional training into practice for, and amongst, our clients. Bespoke internal training courses will also give you the skills to ensure your development into a rounded business professional.
"I have gained a great deal of technical knowledge due to the continuous training I receive...all work carried out is backed up by the theoretical knowledge I receive through my ACA studies. All these factors combined lead to me being able to offer a professional and specialist service to our clients, which creates a great sense of satisfaction and achievement" - 1st Year Student
Are you looking for a gap year Work Placement whilst at University?
- for a period of one year, normally commencing around June, to gain experience in conjunction with your chosen University Degree?
- to gain experience similar to that which you would achieve whilst undergoing a 3 year Chartered Accountancy Training Contract?
- and have A-Level results, or equivalent, equating to at least 300 UCAS points and looking to achieve a first or 2:1 Degree?
We are unable to offer short term work at any of our offices other than the above 1 year Work Placement.
Work Assignments
Working together in small teams with other trainee accountants you can expect to enjoy a wide variety of assignments throughout your 3 year Training Contract. You may find yourself working on an audit of a large Owner-Managed Businesses, or working on the audit and accounts of a national charity. By your second year you will be leading audits on site at clients' premises and by your third year you will be involved in the planning and review of other trainees' work.
"I enjoy the work relationships that I have formed and being able to take on a lot of responsibility from early on in my training career" - 2nd Year Student
Your professional study is based around a 3 year ICAEW Training Contract starting in September. We would normally expect you to take the "Early Hurdle" exams in the December, with the remaining exams of the Professional stage being taken in two sittings over the next 12 months. At this stage, with successful passes, you will be part qualified, and in your third year you will be taking your final exams! We will provide you with time off for professional training, which is currently provided by the specialists BPP.
Once qualified you have the potential for a variety of different roles that could be taken up to suit your particular preferences and skills.
Below is a typical timeline a student will progress along during their 3 year training with us:
Year 1
Welcome to the firm: Before your professional training begins, you will go through our induction programme where you will get to know the firm, your colleagues and the other graduates. You will also be introduced to your nominated student counsellor who will be your mentor throughout the training contract and with whom you will have 6 monthly progress reviews. We will be available to give you as much support and guidance as you need throughout your time with us.
In-house training: You will go through in-house training sessions on health and safety, money laundering, and dealing with clients. We will talk through what to expect from the training programme and what your first few months will hold in store. You will also get to talk about what you hope to get out of the programme and how we can best support you in your goals.
To start you off: To ensure that you have the best start in your training, we fund you through a 2 week bookkeeping course. This will ensure that everyone has an understanding of the basics before you start your professional training with our chosen provider.
Professional Training: During your first year you will be working within the audit and accounts departments, spending around 6 months in each.
Your training will be through a leading professional organisation, with additional training alongside this provided internally by Hillier Hopkins LLP.
Year 2
Managing your assignments: You will have the first year under your belt and will be taking on more responsibility. You will be managing your own assignments and carrying out your work with confidence. We will be on hand to guide you and to help you develop your softer skills, such as management, leadership and teamwork.
Completion of Professional Stage: Once you have passed the professional stage exams you will be part qualified and working towards taking your final exams.
Year 3
Honing your skills: You will be technically competent and will be putting into practice all the skills and knowledge you have gained. During this final stage, you will be improving your skills and getting as many tips as possible from other students and colleagues.
Final Exams: In the November of your third year you will be ready to take your final exams. By then you will have gained extensive hands-on experience, alongside your theoretical knowledge and understanding gained through your study.
The Future: Following successfully passing your final exams you will continue to complete your practical experience until the end of the training contract period. By the completion of the contract, we will ensure that you satisfy all the relevant criteria to qualify as an ICAEW Chartered Accountant. Above this, we will also ensure your experience will prepare you to be confident in undertaking a successful career within the industry.
Type of Work
You will gain experience undertaking a variety of work within audit and accounts:
Accounts
Bookkeeping
Accounts Preparation
Management Accounts
Forensic Accounting
Investigations
Audit
Assurance
Internal Audit
Pension Scheme Audit
Charity Audit
Government Departments
As a medium-sized firm, you will have experience working with a wide variety of our business clients, all with very different accountancy and audit needs.
- Small to Medium-sized Enterprises
- Owner-Managed Businesses
- UK Subsidiaries of Overseas Firms
- Partnerships & Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs)
- Sole-Traders
- Charities and Not For Profit Organisations
- Pension Schemes
1. Your Application
All applications are reviewed to make sure candidates have the qualifications that meet our criteria. We are looking for graduates from all disciplines who have a first or 2:1 Degree and A-Level results, or equivalent, equating to at least 300 UCAS points.
2. First Interview
Candidates selected will be contacted to arrange an interview at our offices. The first interview will be with a senior member of the HR Team. During the interview we hope to discuss further your aspirations and reasoning behind choosing a career in accountancy. It also gives you the opportunity to meet us and find out if we are the right firm for you.
3. Second Interview
If you have been short listed following the first interview, we will ask you to come back and see us again. At this stage, the second interview will be with a senior member of the professional staff and in addition you will be asked to complete an aptitude test.
4. The Decision
If we decide that you are right for us we will let you know our decision as soon as possible and send you your offer, in writing, with further details and starting dates.
We understand the importance of a work life balance and invite all staff to join in with our social programme throughout the year.
Events
You will be invited to attend the Student Annual Dinner, a black tie affair, with fellow accounting students from across the Home Counties. All staff are invited to the Firm's Summer event.
Social
Throughout the year our social secretary organises a variety of events. Previous trips include murder mystery evenings, bowling, ice-skating, theatre trips, and dog racing. We also participate in and encourage fundraising activities and competitions for various charities.
Sport
Some staff are part of a 5-a-side football team and cricket matches are held against other local professional firms. We also have a number of keen golfers in the firm.
We are a Top 60 firm serving London and the Home Counties.
We currently have 21 partners and more than 100 staff.
At present our offices are based in Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire, and Hemel Hempstead and Watford in Hertfordshire, and Mayfair in London.
- We have a client base of approximately 5,000 personal and business clients.
- Hillier Hopkins LLP has held the "Investors In People" (IIP) accreditation since 1996 and were one of the first accountancy firms in Hertfordshire to gain the IIP accreditation.
- The firm started in Bedfordshire in 1933.
- We are a regionally focused firm, serving a local client base.
- Our firm belongs to the UK200Group, a national association of accountancy and legal firms with international connections.
"Every trainee has been assigned a Counsellor to whom we can report if we have any issues. Also we have 6 monthly briefings with them to discuss our progress...I am comfortable that for any situation that arises I can discuss it with any number of individuals" - 3rd Year Student
"Hillier Hopkins has an excellent support network, from the HR Team, through to audit managers and partners. Everyone at the company is very approachable, which means that the support is always there if you need it" - 3rd Year Student
Our Client Base
Our client base is varied. A large proportion of our work is for Corporate Clients - Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and Owner-Managed Businesses (OMBs) that require audits, statutory accounts and taxation advice. That is not to forget the companies' owners and staff who want personal tax advice for remuneration and benefits or advice on their investments.
Specialist Sectors
Within the firm we have teams of experts that deliver very specific services and advice for specialist sectors, including:
- Charities and Not For Profit Organisations.
- Doctors and Medical Practices.
- Pension Schemes.
- Golf Clubs.
- Solicitors and Partnerships.
- International Tax.
- UK Subsidiaries of Overseas Companies.
- Wealthy Individuals.
To apply for our graduate opportunities, please download and complete our student application form and send to us at the following address:
Amanda Randall, HR Training and Development Manager, Graduate Opportunities, Hillier Hopkins LLP, Charter Court, Midland Road, Hemel Hempstead, Herts, HP2 5GE.
T: 01442 220776
F: 01442 206077
E: recruitment@hhllp.co.uk
- Application Form (for graduate and work placement):
- Job Spec: