Develop your career at Wilson Gunn

We are looking for a graduate or post-graduate trainee to join our Manchester office to work towards the qualifications of Chartered Patent Attorney and European Patent Attorney starting in Autumn 2026.

In addition to patents, you will also have the opportunity to become involved in other aspects of intellectual property, such as trade marks, designs and copyright.

Patent attorneys require a scientific/engineering background to be able to understand and protect ideas and inventions across a wide range of industries, and so candidates for this role must have a scientific academic background.

We are interested in candidates with at least a 2:1 honours degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Physics or a related discipline, who are based in or keen to relocate to Manchester.

The candidate we are looking for will also:

• Have excellent communication skills, particularly in writing
• Be highly organised and have very good attention to detail
• Have strong analytical skills and the confidence to defend the reasoning behind their opinion
• Be motivated and ready to put in the effort required to obtain the challenging professional qualifications – which usually takes around 5 years
• Be based in or around Manchester

In return, we are offering:

• A fascinating and rewarding career
• A competitive salary (plus bonus and pension)
• 25 days holiday plus statutory holidays. Additional holidays are accrued with service
• Flexible working
• Full training, involving day to day mentoring and structured in-house training (delivered both in person and via video conferencing) supplemented by external courses and tutorials
• Examination support and study leave

We are looking for a graduate or post-graduate trainee to join our Manchester office to work towards the qualifications of Chartered Patent Attorney and European Patent Attorney starting in Autumn 2026.

In addition to patents, you will also have the opportunity to become involved in other aspects of intellectual property, such as trade marks, designs and copyright.

Patent attorneys require a scientific/engineering background to be able to understand and protect ideas and inventions across a wide range of industries, and so candidates for this role must have a scientific academic background.

We are interested in candidates with at least a 2:1 honours degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Physics or a related discipline, who are based in or keen to relocate to Manchester.

The candidate we are looking for will also:

• Have excellent communication skills, particularly in writing
• Be highly organised and have very good attention to detail
• Have strong analytical skills and the confidence to defend the reasoning behind their opinion
• Be motivated and ready to put in the effort required to obtain the challenging professional qualifications – which usually takes around 5 years
• Be based in or around Manchester

In return, we are offering:

• A fascinating and rewarding career
• A competitive salary (plus bonus and pension)
• 25 days holiday plus statutory holidays. Additional holidays are accrued with service
• Flexible working
• Full training, involving day to day mentoring and structured in-house training (delivered both in person and via video conferencing) supplemented by external courses and tutorials
• Examination support and study leave

We are looking for two new graduate trainees to join our established trade mark team in Manchester and work towards qualification as a Registered Trade Mark Attorney.

We are interested in candidates with a 2:1 degree or above in law, science, engineering or humanities.

The candidates we are looking for will also:

• Have excellent communication skills, particularly in writing
• Be highly organised and have very good attention to detail
• Have strong analytical skills and the confidence to defend the reasoning behind their opinion
• Be motivated and ready to put in the effort required to obtain the challenging professional qualifications – which usually takes at least 2-3 years
• Be based in or around Manchester

In return, we are offering:

• A fascinating and rewarding career
• A competitive salary (plus bonus and pension)
• 25 days holiday plus statutory holidays. Additional holidays are accrued with service.
• Flexible working
• Full training, involving day to day mentoring and structured in-house training supplemented by external courses and tutorials
• Examination support and study leave

 

We are now looking for a Senior Accounts Assistant to join our head office in Manchester on a permanent, full-time basis, working 35 hours a week.

The Benefits

• Competitive salary, dependent on experience, with a salary review upon successful completion of probation
• Hybrid working and flexible hours
• Christmas bonusAuto-enrolment pension scheme (after three months’ service)
• 25 days’ annual leave, increasing to 30 days with length of service
• Holiday buy/sell scheme (after 12 months’ service)
• Full training and ongoing support
• Cycle to Work scheme (after successful completion of probation)

If you are an experienced Accounts Assistant looking to develop your career within one of the UK’s leading intellectual property firms, we’d love to hear from you.

At Wilson Gunn LLP, we are committed to learning and development and provide our employees with the support they need to achieve their full potential. You will play an important role in supporting the finance function, helping to maintain accurate financial records and contributing to the smooth running of the department.

We offer a flexible and hybrid approach to working, enabling employees to balance office and home-based working. While there is flexibility around working patterns, this role requires regular attendance at our Manchester office, with a minimum on-site presence expected each week to support collaboration and the effective operation of the finance team.

The Role

As a Senior Accounts Assistant, you will support a wide range of finance activities across the business. While your day-to-day responsibilities will focus on specific areas, you will be encouraged to develop knowledge across the wider finance function to provide cover and support when required.

Working to high standards and meeting agreed deadlines, your responsibilities will include:

• Ensuring internal accounting records are accurate and up to date
• Providing administrative support to the finance team
• Maintaining Intellectual Property Office deposit accounts
• Maintaining cashbooks, including posting receipts and payments to Sage and performing bank reconciliations
• Maintaining sales and purchase ledgers, including posting disbursements, sales invoices and overheads to Sage
• Reviewing and checking disbursements entered into the practice management system
• Processing supplier and client payments
• Processing and issuing monthly invoices
• Assisting with month-end procedures and other finance-related tasks as required

About You

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• Previous experience in an Accounts Assistant or Senior Accounts Assistant position
• AAT qualification (or higher) or equivalent accounting experience
• Strong working knowledge of Sage accounting software (Sage 200 preferred)
• Excellent IT skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel
• GCSEs (or equivalent) at Grade 4/C or above in English and Mathematics
• Excellent attention to detail and a high level of accuracy
• The ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines
• Strong organisational and communication skills
• The ability to work independently and use initiative
• A collaborative approach and the ability to work effectively as part of a team
• A positive attitude and willingness to learn

If you are ready to take the next step in your finance career and join a respected and successful professional services firm, we would be delighted to hear from you.