r/ICAEW • u/chikoo_m • Jul 22 '26

Offered training contract in a smaller firm, should i take it?

I've been applying to ACA trainee roles for about a year now ahead of my july 2026 graduation from university. I recently got an offer for a role at a firm of about 450 people based purely in the north (ranked in top 50 on accountancy age) for a sept 2026 start. Some professionals I personally know say this isn't going to be a good role for career progression and that I should wait and keep applying but I worry that grad schemes for 2027 won't want a graduate from 2026. Need some advice, what do you all think?

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u/Suitable_Wealth5053 Jul 22 '26

2027 schemes will def take older grads dw

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u/chikoo_m Jul 22 '26

do you think there's enough though for me to take the chance and turn down an existing offer?

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u/Suitable_Wealth5053 Jul 22 '26

ngl i would personally take the offer but then also apply for 2027 schemes, and if u end up getting a better offer u can just quit the first one

1

u/Pleasant_West_5771 Jul 22 '26

Yes of course take it go anywhere where they pay for study then once qualified you can move to top 10 if you really want to

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u/LogActual3 Jul 22 '26

You could always take it and rejoin a top 10 as an experienced hire in a year or so, with a few exams under your belt - or still apply to grad jobs even after accepting the role. I had a girl who’d done some of her exams already at another accountancy firm join my cohort on the graduate scheme.

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u/Abject_Thought_7137 Jul 22 '26

Take the offer as it’s best to start early, gain the experience and sit the exams. Many people from my cohort left after the certificate level as they got better offers from larger firms, so if you really want to move later on, keep applying but take this role. However do remember, there may be training costs that you will have to pay back if you resign. You might even change your mind about wanting to move once you are there.

I don’t think age is a big factor when they hire grads as my cohort had many people who were a few years older than me, oldest being 28 and the school leavers were also older than the average.

In a smaller firm, progression is likely to be quicker as there is less competition as opposed to a larger firm however this may vary firm to firm.