HAT Group 2025 graduate opportunities

Company Company profile

Joining a HAT firm means you will get the very 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. HAT are totally committed to your development. 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. Full paid study leave is given and approximately 24 weeks are spent at tutors during your training contract. As well as passing the exams, you will also attend high quality practical courses, which are written and run by HAT. These courses will teach you how to carry out efficient practical work.

It’s not all about courses; you will have a lot to learn in the workplace too. We will ensure you get the right mix of practical experience and early recognition and responsibility. 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; that’s why on average, 88% of our students pass first time.

Case studies

Name: Hannah Evans

I began training with a HAT member firm in January 2012 after graduationg from the University of Exeter in Molecular Biology. The firm is a West End accountants who have a large variety of exciting clients across many industrial sectors. I have been training for 12 months now and have completed 7 out of the 15 ACA exams to date, I hope to have completed 12 by the summer of 2013 at which point I will be part qualified. The exams are not easy but I get a great deal of support from the tutors at college and colleagues at work which puts me in a good position to perform to the best of my ability.

I applied to the HAT group for a number of reasons. In my opinion working at a smaller firm allows me a wide range of advantages and opportunities which I may not have seen in a larger firm. The early responsibility I have been given has boosted my confidence and really allowed me to undertake a genuine role in the firm, learning quickly on the job and allowing me to understand and envisage the wider influence of my work. I have had the opportunity and the challenge of working on a variety of jobs including audit and accounts preparations for companies, charities, LLPs, sole traders, partnerships and pension funds, as well as having an introduction to tax, both corporate and personal, all with the benefit of using HAT's well developed training programs and courses.

There is a strong emphasis on the team at my firm, with a busy social calendar throughout the year and additionally at HAT with the annual bowling and quiz evening. The environment at the firm is friendly and welcoming and the working hours allow time to prepare for exams in the evening when necessary

Name: Nicholas Vassiliou

On graduation in Economics from University College London (UCL) in 2011, I was set on qualifying as an accountant and working in practice. I applied to the HAT because I wanted to pursue a career in a medium sized firm and HAT offered me the perfect gateway to do so. I first interviewed with Anna Boast from HAT before my details were forwarded to a firm where I had my final round interview. I felt this whole process was very smooth with HAT quick to answer any queries I had and ensuring I was up to date with the employment positions on offer, I was delighted to join a graduate programe in Business Advisory Services (BAS) division.

Since starting in January 2012, I have experienced a wide veriety of work as well as studied towards my ACCA qualification. I feel the work/study balance of my role provides the perfect transition from university to working life.

So far, I have prepared the financial statements for a diverse range of clients as well as completed audit work for significantly larger entities. I have also taken on work from both our tax and financial services devisions within the firm. This has allowed me to gain a greater understanding of the services we provide to our clients.

My firm has been incredibly supportive in my ACCA studies and to complement this, I have been on a number of courses to help build on key competencies and professionalism within the industry.

Overall, it has been a great experience and I have really enjoyed working alongside my colleagues. I very much look forward to my future and would like to thank Anna and the HAT Group for this opportunity.

Name: Rachel Cooper

My name is Rachel. I graduated from Durham University with a degree in Natural sciences in August 2010. I applied to a HAT late in 2011 because I was interested in working for a smaller firm in order to gain experience. I started work in January 2012 in the Business Services Department. The main line of work is audit, but i have also undertaken some accounts preperation. There is a great variety of work within audit, and i have had the opportunity to work on statutory ordits for both listed and unlisted clients as well as charity, grant and academy audits. The highlights so far have been traveling to Drussels, Prague and the USA. Balancing work with studying for the ACA is difficult but achievable once a routine is set up. I would revoment the HAT group to other prospective applicants as there is a great range of firms across different location to choose from, and the application process is helpful and efficient.

Training & profiles

MINIMUM ACADEMIC CRITERIA:

You will need at least 5 GCSEs (grade A-C) including a B grade in Mathematics and English, 320 UCAS Tariff points (A,B, B) plus an expectation of at least a 2.1 degree classification in any discipline, with consistently strong module results throughout your degree. (The UCAS Tariff points are achieved from your top three A-levels or equivalent, excluding General Studies and Critical Thinking, completed in the same academic year).

SELECTION PROCEDURE:

Our selection procedure is super simple. You can apply with just a CV. If we are interested in your application, we will invite you to complete one, short online assessment. If that goes well, it’s a zoom interview with Anna our Graduate Recruitment Manager. Successful candidates are then passed to our member firm for a final face-to-face interview. The best part is that one application to HAT means that you may be considered for up to two vacancies within the group and Anna will help and guide you through the process, offering you practical feedback and advice for your final interview.

VACANCIES & LOCATION:

We have up to 60 roles each year. We have two intakes, in January and August, but we accept applications all year round. Most vacancies are in central London, but there are also opportunities in Surrey, Kent, Essex, Hertfordshire and Manchester. We do not operate a fixed closing date. When all of our roles have been filled, we will stop accepting applications.