Apply to our intern programme
We’ve shaped our application process to be a little different from other firms; our focus is on getting to know you as a person and finding the right character fit for our team, not just the best number crunchers around! If you like the sound of our approach and feel you have something special to bring, we’d love you to apply.
*TO QUALIFY for consideration you must have achieved (or be on course for) at least a 2:1 degree in a finance or business-related subject, have attained 112 UCAS points from at least 3 A-Levels or equivalent, and have Grade B or above in GCSE Maths and English Language or equivalent.
The application process
- Stage One
Doors Open
Oct '23
Applications open on the 30th October 2023. Complete a simple form of basics then answer three key questions - what attracts you to accountancy, why SRLV could be the firm for you and what you can bring. Take time to craft these answers and be brave – we’re looking for you to stand out. Submit this form with a tailored CV and you’ll have an excellent chance of making it to shortlist. - Stage Two
Shortlisting
Jan '24
We receive many applications each year. Those where candidates have taken the time to research our industries and specialisms then tailor their CV to SRLV and the intern job description, stand out from the crowd. Beyond academic excellence, we’re looking for interesting details and clever ideas. If you make it to shortlist, we’ll be in touch to arrange a telephone interview. - Stage Three
Callbacks
Jan '24
The telephone interview isn’t something to feel nervous about. We’re not looking for scripted answers or to catch you out. It’s a 10-15 minute chat with our HR Team about your time at uni, work experience and career aspirations. We’d like to know why SRLV appeals and, if you did your early homework, this shouldn’t be intimidating. Just be yourself and remember to ask us any questions too! - Stage Four
Meet the team
Apr '24
If shortlisted following your telephone interview, we invite candidates to visit our buzzing West-End offices. Meet some of our senior team for a short interview to go over your career history and present for 5 minutes on a subject you feel passionate; so share a bit of what makes you tick. Then take a tour of our office and roof terrace to see what we’re all about. Ask questions and see if it feels like a place you’d like to be. - Stage Five
Making offers
Apr '24
After the interviews, we review all candidates and make our decisions swiftly so we don’t keep you hanging. Our HR Team will be in touch with feedback and, if you’ve been successful, an offer to join our one year Intern Programme. It’s an exciting time for all involved. - Stage Six
Open day
Jun '24
Held at a cool London hotel and hosted by a small senior SRLV team, we gather the new intake of interns for a morning of fun activities and lunch. This is your chance to get to know future colleagues and make new friends ahead of your start in August. The get together often ends in a pub!
Real life stories
Hear from recent graduates about life at SRLV and why they rate the pathway programme.
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Danielle Pike
Manager
Joining as an intern, Danielle was offered a graduate training contract in the Music Team. Now fully qualified, she explains how she's being helped to shape her own career.
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Adam Stanley
Director
Having first started his career with us in 2005, Adam is one of our longest serving former interns. Now qualified and a director, he has plenty of useful tips and insights to share.
FAQs
We expect you’ve got plenty of questions, so we’ve tried to answer as many FAQs which interns usually have below. The interviews are a great opportunity to ask us further questions too.
Whatever profession you go into, having an accountancy internship on your CV is a ‘foot in the door’ that gives you the best chance of getting a job once you’ve graduated. It’s valuable experience of the workplace and will help you to decide whether accountancy is the right career for you. Whilst most of our interns do go on to become accountants, if you don’t, you’ll still benefit as you’ll get ideas for other careers, as well as the sorts of companies that you might like working in.
Our interns gain incredible experience throughout their placements, working alongside the partners for music artists, record labels and many other creative industry clients. As we’re one of the top three accountants for music & entertainment in the UK, there aren’t many firms offering opportunities like this. Where interns are particularly successful, they may be encouraged to apply for a place on the graduate programme.
You will get to work with the partners, along with other senior staff, from day one. Whilst we are a mid-tier practice, we’ve retained the close-knit family feel of a much smaller firm. Our culture is about people and everyone working together; you only need to walk around the office to see the ‘open door’ policy here and that the partners are very personable.
Whilst you won’t see any difference in the quality of our work, clients or staff, our size allows interns to get more varied experience; for example, you can be involved with VAT work, bookkeeping, accounts preparation, and personal tax returns, as well as request to work in industries that you’re interested in. It is also a different experience socially. As an intern, you will get to know everyone in the office. At a Big Four firm, there are much larger teams for each specialism so it’s harder to meet people across the business.
Our placements aim to develop our interns’ business skills, knowledge, and confidence.
You will be trained to assist with a wide range of client work, including payments and bookkeeping, VAT returns, tour accounting and business management. As part of these day-to-day tasks, you’ll also be learning useful office skills, such as managing ‘to do lists’, answering the phone and communicating with lots of different staff and clients.
SRLV is a sociable place to work so being able to get on well with lots of different people is essential. We encourage individuality and look for interns who aren’t afraid to be themselves, express their own opinions, or ask questions if something isn’t 100% clear. There’s a lot to learn and as you’re training, we don’t expect you to always get things right so it’s important to be able to take responsibility for occasional mistakes and learn from them. Having an eye for detail, good organisational skills, and the self-motivation to go ‘above and beyond’ are also useful qualities for trainees to have.
We are always frank with interns when it comes to explaining just how fundamental their work is. One of the first tasks you’ll do as an intern is inputting receipts. It’s a digital process nowadays, but the importance of accurate data inputting and record keeping is still as paramount. It’s the first level of information there is about a client and lays the foundations for everything that follows; if you have accurate, high-quality data, you’ll get high-quality outputs from that.
There are up to six interns starting together each year and everyone’s made to feel very welcome. It’s a community and there’s always something happening so you get to meet everyone quickly. We have a social committee organising regular monthly events, including sports activities, drinks on the roof terrace, pizza Fridays and breakfast mornings, so there’s something for everybody.
Join our talent pool
If the programme is currently closed for applications, drop us a line anyway and attach your CV. We’re always keen to hear from talented people who like the sound of our business.