👋 Meet Will.

Will is one of our Level 7 Accountancy apprentices. He is working towards his ICAEW ACA qualification. He is in his 3rd year of the apprenticeship having started his training contract in September 2021. We interviewed Will as part of National Apprenticeship Week 2024 to hear his thoughts on training as an auditor at Godfrey Wilson.

Why a career in accountancy?

After my degree in Biology, I was unsure of which career direction to take. I had friends who had started ACA training contracts, and after discussions with them I realised that a finance role might be a good fit for me. I had adaptable skills and an eagerness to learn. Taking on a level 7 apprenticeship towards my ACA qualification seemed like a great next step.

Why Godfrey Wilson?

I spent a long time researching the different training providers in Bristol – a mix of ‘The Big 4’ and corporate firms. I knew the ACA was the right choice but none of the firms really resonated with me. That was until I came across Godfrey Wilson. The team looked friendly and the culture inviting, with a number of perks not found with other training providers. The flexi-time 35 hour week and focus on charities really stood out to me. I wanted a role that was rewarding and helped me contribute to my community in Bristol. Auditing and advising charities really ticked this box. The initial interview confirmed my thoughts about the friendly nature of the firm, and I was set on getting the role here!

What’s the apprenticeship like?

The apprenticeship is hard work at times, but it’s definitely worth it. There are 15 exams to pass over 3 years, with regular college courses to work towards these. In between the courses we attend skills days, run by our training provider, to improve our real-world skills. Alongside the number-crunching, the skills days teach soft skills, developing our communication, critical thinking and business acumen. I’ve found these courses really help in the workplace, giving me confidence to tackle complex challenges and develop strong client relationships.

It can be tricky to juggle study alongside the day job, but I’ve found the team at Godfrey Wilson make this as easy as possible. We are given periods of study leave to attend college courses and we have an individual exam pathway which is tailored to us. When generating my pathway we realised my wedding clashed with an exam sitting, so my pathway was swiftly updated! In addition to this we have regular calls with our tutors at college to review progress. This structure helps make the apprenticeship manageable.

What would you say to any aspiring auditors?

When looking at graduate ACA training contracts, I had no idea that you could do it through the apprentice route. It’s both rewarding and challenging, but I’ve found the Level 7 Apprenticeship has been a great way to start my career as an auditor. Despite not starting out in a finance background, the apprenticeship has taught me the skills required to succeed in the role and I’ve never looked back. Keep an eye out for our September intake as it’ll be the best decision you’ll make!

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Training the next generation of accountants is a key part of what we do at Godfrey Wilson. As a values-driven firm working primarily in the charity sector, putting people above profit is central to our work. Not just in terms of service to clients, but also through our investment in our staff team.

More than 50% of our team are currently studying for professional accounting and payroll qualifications, including AAT, ACCA, ACA, and CIPP, and the vast majority of these are on apprenticeships. We are proud to provide a friendly, supportive and stimulating environment for people to learn and develop.

Why choose an apprenticeship?

Apprenticeships are a great way of gaining professional qualifications alongside real-life work experience. But it’s the wraparound support and development that makes apprenticeships so valuable. Alongside the technical curriculum, apprentices are taught “skills and behaviours” via interactive skills days covering the so-called softer skills of leadership, time management and problem-solving. They also have regular progress reviews with their Skills Coach enabling them to reflect on their development and set ambitious objectives for future learning. Mental health, wellbeing and safeguarding are also high on the agenda, ensuring apprentices achieve a healthy work-life balance throughout their apprenticeships.

Learn with First Intuition

At Godfrey Wilson, we work with First Intuition as our Training Provider. Working with FI feels like a true
partnership. They manage to balance the needs of the employer and the apprentice within the complex government apprenticeship framework. The teaching and wraparound support is second to none. This partnership means that, together, we are producing some very fine accountants who will be an asset to
the profession and (we hope) go on to train another generation of accountants to follow them!

Career opportunities

Godfrey Wilson has been a training employer since 2012 and we’re really proud of all the accountants, auditors and payroll specialists who learnt the ropes here with us. Many have gone out into the wider world of work to use their skills and make an impact, and it’s a pleasure to watch them flourish. Others have stayed with us, and we were particularly proud to promote former GW trainees, Guy Blake and Josh Turner, to Director roles earlier this year. This not only demonstrates our commitment to the development of our staff, but also the huge career potential that embarking on an apprenticeship can bring.

Join the team

We typically recruit 4 audit apprentices (ACA) and 2 accounting apprentices (AAT/ACCA) each year. No experience is necessary and we welcome applicants from all backgrounds – from school leavers, to graduates, to career-changers. Apprenticeships normally start in September but we also have ad hoc vacancies throughout the year. If you’re interested in learning more about apprenticeships at Godfrey Wilson, please contact us via hello@godfreywilson.co.uk or check out our vacancies page.

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