Assistant Accountant Level 3 Apprenticeship

What will apprentices learn?
• The transactional processes and support provided by accountancy firms or the accounting function within an organisation.
• Their organisations business strategy including customer and supplier needs, in order to produce relevant and compliant financial information.
• How their role fits in with the wider organisation and sector they are working in.
• How to enter accounting transactions, perform a reconciliation, correct errors and produce a range of reports using a computerised accounting system.
• The systems and process of the organisation, within the responsibility of the position such as Sales, Purchase and Payroll.
• The use of all relevant office and accounting packages used within their organisation, relevant to their job role.
• The relevant Ethical Standards to protect their own and their organisation’s professional reputation and integrity.
• The importance of upholding relevant codes of conduct.
• The basic elements of double entry bookkeeping and accounting standards required to process financial documents and report financial information to users of accounts.
• The current financial standards for basic accounts preparation, in order to be able to make necessary end of year adjustments.

As well as ensuring full competency as an Assistant Accountant, this standard provides the foundation for progression into several career paths in the Accounting sector including Audit Trainee, Corporate Recovery Analyst, Credit Controller or Tax Accountant.

Level 2 AAT Certificate in Accounting or equivalent. Applicants are likely to have 5 GCSEs A*- C / 9 - 4, including Maths and English, or equivalent, and will need to demonstrate the ability to achieve all elements of the apprenticeship during their programme, including working in a suitable job role.

Free to apprentices. This apprenticeship has a £8,000 funding band. Small companies will need to make a contribution of £400; large companies could pay through the apprenticeship levy if they have funds available.

What skills will apprentices gain?
• Records and analyses financial data at the appropriate level using the organisation’s standard tools and processes.
• Communicates to all stakeholders to aid decision making to add value to the organisation, within the responsibility of the position.
• Works both independently and as part of a team within the organisation’s standards; competently demonstrates an ability to communicate both in writing and orally at all levels, using a range of tools and demonstrating strong interpersonal skills and cultural awareness when dealing with internal and external customers.
• Demonstrates the ability to communicate financial information in a way that non-finance staff can interpret and understand.
• Consistently delivers high quality, ‘right first time’ financial and performance data in a timely fashion in line with the organisation’s requirements, to aid decision making and planning.
• Demonstrates the ability to identify the appropriate systems and processes to work productively in order to complete required tasks.
• Demonstrates competent use of office and accounting packages.
• Able to maintain the security of accounting information using passwords and backup routines.
• Applies techniques to both common and non-routine problems, analysing where required and selecting the appropriate tools and techniques to produce solutions.
• Escalates or seeks guidance and support where appropriate.

What behaviours will apprentices develop?
• Embracing Change
• Adding Value
• Ethics and Integrity
• Personal Accountability
• Productivity
• Team working and Collaboration.