Six new trainees at Champion Accountants

Champion Accountants, which has offices in Blackpool and Preston, has appointed six new trainees, three of whom will work in Lancashire.

The latest cohort will work across the north west, which also includes offices in Manchester and Chester.

Five of the trainees join as audit and accounts trainees and one as a management accounts trainee. They will combine hands on experience with study towards their AAT professional qualifications.

Over the past 20 years, Champion has supported more than 100 trainees through the programme with several of the group’s partners having started their careers as trainees before progressing through the business.

Others have gone on to build successful careers in industry, including reaching finance director positions, with some subsequently returning to Champion as clients.

Leo Goring will work in the Preston office, while Marcia Rutter and Thomas Davies, will join the Blackpool team.

Ged Cosgrove, group managing partner at Champion Accountants, said: “Developing our own talent has been part of Champion’s culture for many years. We don’t see our trainee programme simply as a way of recruiting people into junior roles; we want to give ambitious young people the foundations on which they can build genuinely long-term careers.

“Technical development is obviously a major part of the programme, but becoming a great adviser takes more than technical knowledge. From day one, we want our trainees to learn how to communicate with clients, understand businesses, work as part of a team and develop the confidence to contribute their own ideas.

“Each new generation also brings a different perspective into Champion, so the learning very much goes both ways. We’re delighted to welcome Leo, Marcia and Thomas and look forward to seeing where their careers take them.”