Recruitment

HAT is a training consortium of 50 small to medium-sized firms of accountants. HAT recruits ACA trainees on behalf of our full member firms, which range in size from just two partners and five professional staff, up to 100 partners and over 500 professional staff. By joining a HAT firm, you will get the best of both worlds - early responsibility that comes from training with a small or medium-sized firm as well as a highly reputable training package.

For details of our member firms please click on this link.

VACANCIES

We look for up to 70 ACA trainees to join HAT firms each year. We have two intakes in January and August. Most vacancies are in central London, but there are also opportunities in Surrey, Kent, Essex, Hertfordshire and Manchester. For details of our current vacancies please click here.

CLOSING DATE

We do not have a closing date for vacancies; we accept applications all year round. If you apply for a vacancy that has been filled you will automatically be transferred to our next intake without having to reapply.

MINIMUM ACADEMIC CRITERIA

You will need at least 5 GCSE (grade A-C) including Mathematics and English, 300 UCAS points (B,B,B) plus an expectation of at least a 2.1 degree classification in any discipline.

SELECTION PROCEDURE

Our selection procedure comprises of an aptitude test, a telephone interview and a first round interview at the HAT office. Once we have received your online application form, we will check to see whether we think you've got what it takes to be an accountant. If we think you have got what it takes we will invite you to take our online aptitude test.

Our aptitude test comprises of questions on vocabulary, comprehension and numeracy. It takes an hour to complete in total. We aim to give you your aptitude test score within 48 hours of you taking the test.

If you pass the aptitude test we will invite you to take a 20 minute telephone interview. If you pass this, you will then be invited to attend a face-to-face interview at our office in London. This interview is a competency based interview and will take about 45 minutes.

If you do well at interview, you would then be recommended to those member firms to which we believe you would be best suited. You would then be required to visit them for a second interview, so completing the selection procedure.

Remember one application to HAT means you will be considered for all vacancies within the group.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

If you would like to apply to the HAT Group you must register with us and fill in our online application form at www.hatgroup.co.uk. We aim to respond to all applicants within 2 weeks of receiving your completed application form. Please note we do not accept CVs or paper based applications.

WHAT DOES THE ACA TRAINING INVOLVE?

To qualify as a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) you have to sign a 3-year training contract. During the contract you have to get the right level of approved practical experience and pass all of the professional stage and advanced stage exams. For details of the structure of the ICAEW exams please visit http://www.icaew.co.uk/careers/facts/Exams.htm

PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE

Training with a HAT firm will ensure you get the right mix of practical experience. By training with a HAT firm you won't spend months on one section of the same audit. You will soon be responsible for completing a whole range of assignments including accountancy, audit and giving business advice to a wide variety of clients. You will receive support every step of the way, from exam tutors, colleagues, your training partner and from the HAT team.

EXAM TRAINING

You will be joining a well-recognised, three-year chartered accountancy training programme coordinated by HAT. We look after student administration and oversee your professional exam training for the ICAEW exams with one of the leading accountancy tuition centres. In addition, we run our own comprehensive course programme to supplement your development. But it's not all about courses; you will have a lot to learn in the workplace too.

All our students train with a leading firm of national tutors. Full paid study leave is given and approximately 24 weeks are spent at tutors during your training contract.

HAT COURSES

As well as passing the exams, to ensure you are a competent accountant at the end of your training period, you will also attend high quality practical courses, which are written and run by HAT (these are not normally available if you chose to train with a small firm).

WHY CHOOSE A HAT FIRM?

• HAT offers you the best of both worlds, with all the variety of working for a medium sized firm and all the benefits of a larger training organisation.
• On average, 88 percent of our students pass all exams first time.
• You will work with firms that are totally committed to your development.
• Early recognition and responsibility.
• Competitive salaries and all training costs paid.
• Additional practical skills training courses that are not available to firms outside the HAT Group.
• Full study support from the HAT Group.