The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) can provide you with an interesting career within the public sector, gaining a professional accountancy qualification as part of the package.

CIPFA is one of the leading accountancy bodies in the UK and the only one dedicated to the public services. With public services now accounting for 30-40% of the global economy, this really is a sector that will give you excellent career prospects.

Gaining a Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies (CCAB) accountancy qualification like CIPFA will open doors for you and give you the opportunity to reach the very top in management.

Employers

There are many public sector employers currently looking to recruit graduates to study for the CIPFA qualification, such as the Audit Commission, Department for Work and Pensions, NHS, Hackney and Islington London Boroughs and the Metropolitan Police.

There are also many private sector companies training for CIPFA, such as Baker Tilley, KPMG, PKF, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Grant Thornton.

To see a full list of employers currently taking on trainees please go to www.cipfa.org.uk/trainee

The course

The CIPFA Professional Qualification will take on average three years to complete. The course is broken into three stages, with each stage awarding a recognised qualification and designatory letters that you can use after your name.

The course covers the full range of professional skills required by organisations to enable you to operate effectively and successfully in today’s demanding world. It has been designed to reflect the work that trainees are required to do in the workplace. Dovetailing your work programme with your CIPFA studies will mean that you will be able to give more back to your employer, quicker, giving you the best opportunities for rapid promotion.

Some qualifications and accountancy degrees may provide exemptions from parts of the CIPFA course, and our team of Educational Advisers will be able to help with your particular situation.

Fast Facts

Main business activity
CIPFA can provide you with an interesting career within the public sector, gaining a professional accountancy qualification as part of the package.

Number of employees
The public sector is the largest employer in Europe.

Number of graduate places
See www.cipfa.org.uk/trainee.

Occupation areas
Traineeships in finance, accountancy or auditing.

Salary and benefits
Please discuss directly with employing organisations.

Application procedure
Please apply directly to employers.

CURRENT VACANCIES

Introduction
Register to receive free email alerts on graduate trainee vacancies . Sign up to receive information direct to your inbox on new graduate vacancies as soon as they are posted on our site www.cipfa.org.uk/trainee.

It is not a comprehensive list - it includes only those vacancies which CIPFA has been specifically asked to publicise. Details of many others can be found in local and national press, careers directories, or through Careers Advisory Services. If you have any queries about any of the vacancies listed, you should contact the employer directly.

Main body
With public services now accounting for nearly half of the global economy, this really is a sector that will give you excellent career prospects. Gaining the CIPFA Professional Qualification will open doors for you and give you the opportunity to reach the very top in management. Graduates of the CIPFA qualification include finance directors of large public services organisations as well as senior bankers and partners in the biggest accountancy firms and chief executives in public, private and not-for profit organisations.

Details of vacancies for financial management trainees with a variety of organisations can be found on the CIPFA website; http://www.cipfa.org.uk/trainee