Audit & Assurance BrightStart Higher Apprenticeship - Southampton

Programme

BrightStart Higher Apprenticeship

Career Path

Audit & Assurance

Location

Southampton

Start Date

September-2027

Programme Description

What does this team do?

Audit matters to everyone, even if you've never heard the word before. When a company shares its financial results, people need to know those numbers are accurate. That's where audit comes in. We check company financial reports independently, so the public, investors and businesses can trust what they're seeing. It's a job that protects people, and it genuinely makes a difference.

The landscape for audit reporting is changing fast, creating demand and evolving the services we provide. We’re increasingly using AI and other technologies to automate and standardise processes, as well as improve accuracy. Businesses are using AI technologies too and it’s changing how they operate. We need to audit their AI financial systems and processes too, which means the scope of the work we do is always growing. We’re shaping the future of audit, and there’s never been a more exciting time to join us!

What skills and academic qualifications do I need?

• You’ll need to have obtained or be studying towards at least 104 UCAS points (260 UCAS points pre-2017) for your A levels (or equivalent) to be eligible for this programme.
• We have identified 10 core skills that are essential to all of our roles in Early Careers.
• To learn more about these skills and their detailed descriptions, please visit the 'Discover What We Look For' section in our Candidate Zone.

What kind of work will I do?

• People from a wide range of backgrounds can thrive on our inclusive BrightStart Apprenticeship programme.
• It’s a rewarding leap into the world of professional services that allows you to gain real-world experience while being paid to learn and progress.
• By joining us you’ll have the chance to work directly with major organisations, as well as building your skills through our excellent training programme.
• You’ll deliver quality services that make a real difference to our society.
• Early on in your career you’ll be given responsibility for developing people and managing teams, supported by us every step of the way.
• You’ll get involved with different organisations, helping you to understand how they operate and learning about the economic and industry issues that matter to them.
• You’ll have the opportunity to think creatively and work together to solve problems.
• Alongside this you’ll be learning critical skills to quickly adapt and use technology to help future proof your career.

Our Audit business has two core areas. Choose your preference:

• Large & Complex Audit which includes listed companies (corporate and financial services), their subsidiaries in the UK and internationally, as well as other public interest entities such as banks, insurers, large private companies and public sector organisations.
• Portfolio Audit which spans a wide range of sectors including both emerging growth and large private corporates, real estate funds, pension schemes, financial services brokers and investment managers. Portfolio business offers the opportunity to work with privately-owned, dynamic, entrepreneurial and high growth businesses.

Where will I work?

At Deloitte we recognise how important face-to-face interaction is for your development in a new role. We also understand that our people need flexibility, which is why we operate a hybrid system, with a combination of office and home working. If you’re in a client-facing role, you might be expected to attend client sites on certain days, while your meetings will be a mix of online and in-person events. Please note your final assessment and induction will also be in-person, to give you the opportunity to network and build relationships.

All our workspaces are accessible, however, if you require further flexibility due to a health condition or caring responsibilities, please discuss this with our team. You can find further information on our parent and carer policies here.

What’s in it for me?

• You’ll join a world-class training scheme in a full-time permanent role, with a market-leading salary, benefits and a professional qualification that supports your long-term career.
• We challenge and we rise to the challenge: We’ll support you to achieve your potential through an outstanding training scheme, an internationally recognised professional qualification and ongoing investment in your development throughout your career.
• We include everyone: You’ll be part of an inclusive culture where different perspectives are valued, learning is shared and you can build a strong professional network.
• We do the right thing: You’ll do work with purpose in a place where you can be yourself, grow professionally and personally, and make an impact that underpins the public interest and confidence in financial reporting.

How will I develop?

Technical skills

Our Early Careers training programme provides you with all the foundational knowledge and skills needed to perform audits and assurance engagements. Our programme is complementary to the professional qualification training you will receive.

Soft skills

We’ll invest in your professional development through training courses and on-the-job learning, helping you build skills in communication, professional scepticism, decision-making, resilience, project management and leadership. You’ll also develop the knowledge to use digital tools, data analytics and emerging technologies, including AI, to support high-quality audit work, identify insights and automate routine tasks.

Qualifications

As part of your BrightStart role you’ll study towards either the Associate Chartered Accountant (ACA), the Chartered Accountant (CA) qualification with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) or the Institute of Chartered Accountants Scotland (ICAS), depending on where you’re based. Both qualifications are globally recognised and will help you build technical knowledge, apply your learning to day-to-day audit work and develop professionally as you progress.

You’ll receive funded tuition, paid study leave, and access to a strong support network, including a student support adviser, coach and a dedicated exam manager who will have recently completed the same qualification journey. We’ll also cover the cost of mandated courses, permitted exam attempts, and membership fees required for your professional qualification.

Additional support and benefits information

• We’re a collaborative, inclusive firm and we want to help you to use your unique talents and perspectives in the workplace.
• From diversity networks to wellbeing and much more, we aim to support and reward you in the best way possible.
• Please use the links below to discover more about our processes, benefits, values and culture.
• You can learn more about the full recruitment process here.
• Do you have accessibility requirements or need reasonable adjustments for the interview or assessment process? Find out how we can help.
• Learn more about our values, culture and purpose as a firm.
• Want to hear from some of our people to inspire your future career? Check out our Life at Deloitte page.
• At Deloitte we value diversity, and we’re committed to ensuring that our people thrive through a wide range of initiatives and diversity networks. Discover more about inclusion and wellbeing.
• We value our people and recognise their hard work. Learn about the rewards and benefits available at Deloitte.

Apply

Application deadlines

Application deadlines: There is no specific deadline for this role, but we recommend getting your application in as soon as possible. Please note, some of our roles may close quickly if we experience high demand.

Assessment deadlines: Once you’ve applied to this role, you’ll receive an email from our recruitment team outlining next steps and the relevant deadlines for you to complete the following stages of our process.

We operate a strict one application per year policy across our Early Careers opportunities. We recommend only submitting an application for a role that you feel is right for you.

Please note that the salary for this role does not meet the minimum threshold required under the Immigration Rules for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship and therefore we’re unable to progress applications from candidates who require Skilled worker sponsorship.

What matters to you? Make it happen at Deloitte.

How to apply

To apply for this role and to find out more, please click on the apply button. Please note that applications may close before the application deadline, so apply early to avoid disappointment.