Audit Junior (Industrial Placement) - Colchester-September 2027

Location: Colchester

Application Deadline: 11th of January (Applications will only be reviewed once the deadline has passed)

Entry Requirements: Penultimate-year student predicted to achieve a 2:1 or above with at least 112 UCAS points.

This opportunity is aimed at undergraduates pursuing a 'sandwich degree' who are seeking practical work experience in audit and finance before committing to a career in the profession. We offer the chance to fully understand working life and the unique culture we have at MHA. This is a paid internship lasting for 12 months, where you will embark on a transformative journey where your skills will flourish, and your aspirations will be nurtured.

What Sets Us Apart

At MHA, people come first, our colleagues, our clients, and the communities we support. In 2026, we ranked as number 11 in the UK’s top accountancy firms and a proud member of Baker Tilly International, the world’s 8th largest network, we combine global insight with a strong local commitment.

Our people‑centred approach is what truly makes us different. You will be welcomed as a valued member of a collaborative, purpose‑led team. We are committed to continuous learning, growth, and creating an environment where everyone can thrive and be themselves.

We are proud to hold the Investors in People Gold award, recognising our commitment to supporting, developing, and valuing every individual.

Here, You’ll Go Beyond Numbers

At MHA, you will be surrounded by passionate professionals who are committed to making a difference. Your work in Audit will go beyond the numbers, we believe in hands-on learning. You’ll be doing real work on real projects, not just shadowing.

While you’ll receive mentorship and guidance, we prefer you to learn through extensive and practical on-the-job training.

Audit is a varied and highly client-facing career that gives you the opportunity to work with a wide range of organisations and understand how their businesses operate. You’ll spend time working at MHA offices as well as regularly travelling to and working from client sites, so you’ll need to be comfortable working in different environments, meeting new people, and representing MHA professionally. As some client locations may be more difficult to reach by public transport, being able to travel independently and having access to a car can be beneficial for this role. From an early stage, you’ll build relationships with clients, ask questions, and gather the information and evidence you need to support your work, while collaborating closely with colleagues across the audit team. You’ll develop your understanding of financial information and business processes, carry out testing and analytical work, and use your curiosity and professional judgement to explore anything that requires further attention. If you enjoy meeting new people, asking questions, understanding how businesses work and the variety of working with different clients and in different locations, Audit could be a great fit for you.

As an Audit Placement Junior, you’ll experience the power of collaboration as you work with diverse teams on real projects, building lasting connections with colleagues and start off by learning the fundamentals, including:

• Accounts preparation assignments,
• Working closely with your mentor on a wide range of client accounts,
• Working from source documents to final accounts,
• Corporation tax computations,
• Obtaining technical information on clients, where appropriate.

Rewards That Resonate

You’re more than a number to us; you’re someone with unique skills and aspirations. Our benefits are designed to support your wellbeing, foster your professional growth, and recognise the contribution you make.

• Agile working: Our flexible working policy gives you greater choice over how you structure your day. With core hours of 10am–2pm, you can start earlier or finish later to suit your needs, alongside the option to work from home up to two days a week. For trainees, we ask for full office attendance during the first six months to ensure you receive the training, support and experience needed for a strong start, with greater flexibility available after that.
• 30 days’ holiday , including bank holidays, plus the opportunity to buy or sell up to 5 days (28 days on a training contract, with the opportunity to buy 5 days).
• Employee recognition awards: Performance Award bonus and other recognition initiatives.
• Employee Assistance Programme: A free, confidential 24‑hour support service, including unlimited counselling sessions and access to virtual doctors for you and your family.
• And lots more!

Are You Ready to Elevate Your Career?

Apply now and be part of a team that celebrates diversity, champions innovation, and prioritises your success.

At MHA, we know that diversity, inclusion, and belonging lead to better decisions, stronger performance, and a workplace where everyone can feel included and thrive. That’s why we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences.

Disability Confident

We are a Disability Confident employer. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role, we will progress you to the next stage of the process.

If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process to help you perform at your best, please let us know and we will be happy to help.

Our application form takes just a few minutes to complete and includes some diversity questions. MHA is a committed member of Access Accountancy and as such, we track our diversity stats and actively work to improve on these, year on year, looking at new ways to promote our roles to the widest audience. Any data collected is fully anonymised before sharing with any external parties, as per our Data Protection Policy and is not visible to hiring managers, or used in any way during the selection process.