Finished high school and want to start your career without needing to go to university first?
KPMG’s Chartered Accountant High School Leavers Program is a paid, full‑time pathway designed to help you start work straight away while studying towards becoming a Chartered Accountant.
You’ll work full-time at KPMG, gain valuable hands-on experience, and study – all while earning a steady income.
Earn while you learn
Our entry‑level program combines full‑time work at KPMG with structured study through CA ANZ (Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand) pathways.
You’ll earn a salary, build real workplace experience, and progress through your studies at the same time – setting you up for long‑term career options at KPMG and beyond.
What you need to know
To join KPMG’s High School Leavers Program, you must meet the following eligibility criteria:
What you’ll learn
Throughout the program, you’ll build the skills and confidence you need to succeed in a professional environment – even if this is your first full‑time role. Your learning is structured to grow with you as you gain experience.
In your first year, you’ll focus on building strong foundations to support your transition from high school into the professional workforce.
The KPMG High School Leavers Program is designed for high school graduates and equips you with essential professional, business and accounting skills to start your career in professional services. You’ll follow a structured learning plan through CA ANZ’s CA Fundamentals pathway, learning through a mix of workshops, presentations, drop‑in sessions, on‑the‑job training and mentoring.
You’ll build capability across four key areas:
- Workplace fundamentals – everything from communication, adapting through change, wellbeing and professional conduct.
- Business fundamentals – business writing, using tools like generative AI responsibly, decision-making and critical thinking.
- Accounting fundamentals – bookkeeping, accounting principles, financial statements to internal controls and cash.
- Study skills – how to study, time management, assessment guides and developing digital skills.
As you gain experience and confidence, you’ll progress to CA Foundations – a flexible pathway that builds on your initial learning and develops deeper technical knowledge to support your ongoing role in Audit.
You’ll then move into the Chartered Accountant (CA) Program, which includes core and elective modules alongside practical experience completed under the supervision of a qualified Chartered Accountant. This practical experience is gained through your role at KPMG as part of the CA High School Leavers Program.
How the program works
You’ll join KPMG as a permanent employee and progress through a structured learning pathway alongside your role.
You’ll start by building strong foundations through CA Fundamentals, then continue developing your skills through CA Foundations and the CA Program as you gain experience on the job. Throughout this journey, you’ll be supported by mentors and qualified professionals.
As you progress through the pathway, you’ll work towards achieving a Graduate Diploma of Chartered Accounting.
Why choose KPMG?
At KPMG, you’ll start your career in a supportive, structured environment where learning is part of the job. You’ll work alongside people who want to help you grow, build real skills on the job, and gain a recognised qualification with clear pathways for the future.
We focus on creating an inclusive environment where people feel supported, respected and able to do their best work – especially when they’re just starting out.
Keen to learn more?
To be the first to know when applications officially open, complete this short form and we’ll be in touch.