Getting started after graduation can be tough these days, but one company has been rated highly, here’s the word;
Claritas Tax has been named the UK’s best graduate employer in accounting and insurance at a time when opportunities for graduates have fallen to their lowest level since the pandemic.
Recognition comes as the majority of UK graduate scheme applications begin to open in September.
The business was ranked first in the accounting and insurance category and second across all UK sectors in TheJobCrowd’s 2026 Top Graduate Employers rankings.
Claritas Tax, which employs 110 people across eight UK offices, finished ahead of several long-established brands including a number in its own industry category.
Despite graduate job postings falling 7% year on year since the pandemic with overall UK job postings falling by 11% since the beginning of 2026 and remaining around a third below their pre-pandemic level, Claritas continues to invest in its graduate programme and has recruited 27 graduates since 2015, with 23 still working for the firm. Of these, 11 have been promoted into new positions, of which 3 are now Senior Manager.
TheJobCrowd’s rankings are based entirely on feedback submitted by graduates themselves, rather than nominations or information provided by employers. Graduates rate their organisations on areas including training, responsibility, career progression, workplace culture and support.
Sally Hunt, Head of People at Claritas Tax comments, “To be rated the best graduate employer in our industry and second across the whole of the UK is something everyone at Claritas is incredibly proud of. What makes this recognition particularly important to us is that it is based on the experiences of our graduates themselves.
“Graduates are facing a particularly challenging employment market, with many organisations reducing entry-level recruitment. We remain committed to bringing new talent into the profession and giving people the training, experience and support they need to build long-term careers.
“We do not see graduates as an additional pair of hands or give them the work that nobody else wants to do. They contribute to real client assignments, work alongside experienced advisers and are trusted with meaningful responsibility from an early stage.”
Claritas graduates have the opportunity to gain a breadth of experience across the service throughout the programme before deciding where they would eventually like to specialise. Graduates can gain experience across service lines such as corporate tax, transaction tax and private client work, while receiving structured study support towards ACA and CTA professional qualifications.
Sally Hunt added:
“We understand that graduates are making a major decision at the very beginning of their careers. We want them to experience different disciplines, understand where their strengths and interests lie and make an informed decision about their future.
“It is also important that studying, working and having a life outside work can exist alongside one another. Passing professional examinations is demanding, so the right practical and personal support can make an enormous difference.”
Suliman Ahmed joined Claritas Tax’s Manchester graduate programme in September 2025 and is currently working towards his ACA qualification. He comments:
“One of the best things has been the coaching and buddy system. My coach took the time to sit down with me and develop a study plan that was completely tailored to my situation. That made a big difference because there was quite a lot of ambiguity around my particular exam pathway and it would have been easy to feel isolated.
Claritas’ graduate programme has also helped employees build long-term careers with the firm. Faith Ross was the first Claritas graduate in 2015. She won the first ever Insider Media Young Professional Award for accountancy in 2023 and has since qualified as both a chartered accountant and chartered tax adviser, progressing to a Senior Manager position in 2024.
Faith Ross comments:
“There has always been a belief at Claritas that life is not just about work. We are valued as people, not just as employees. I have been supported professionally through access to experienced colleagues, meaningful client work and a culture that gives individuals room to develop. Having joined as the firm’s first graduate, it is particularly rewarding to see how the programme has grown.”
Claritas has grown from 5 employees in 2015 to 110 today and now operates from offices in Birmingham, Bristol, Sheffield, Glasgow, Leeds, London, Manchester and Nottingham.
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