The role will include various accounting & payroll administration duties with the aim to develop and have more responsibility during your apprenticeship. The role will include some of the following areas:
Bookkeeping
- Processing receipts, sales invoices and payments
- Processing Expenses, Purchase Invoices and payments
- Maintaining financial records which accurately record the business’ incoming and outgoing.
- Completing VAT return forms
- Ensuring that accounts are accurately monitored and recorded
Payroll
- Assist payroll team with duties and submissions to HMRC.
- Maintain ‘simple’ monthly payrolls
- Advance to more detailed payrolls after a period of training and progression
- Organise, distribute and chase payroll year end questionnaires
- Assist with payroll year ends
- Set up new payroll client files
- Archive old payroll files and roll forward year end files
Accounting
- Prepare accounts for a variety of businesses including sole traders and partnerships
- Leading on to the preparation of small Limited companies in line with the Companies Act
General
- To comply with policies and procedures relating to safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person.
- To be aware of and support difference and ensure equal opportunities for all.
- To contribute to the overall ethos/work/aims of the organisation
- To attend meetings as required.
- To maintain constructive relationships and communicate with other agencies/professionals.
- To participate in training and other learning activities and performance development as required.
- To recognise own strengths and areas of expertise and use these to support
- To maintain confidentiality and to prevent disclosure of confidential and sensitive information.
- Other duties commensurate with the grade of the post as directed by the managers.
Professional Development/Training
- The Apprenticeship Training Programme forms part of your duties as well as helping your personal and professional development; the requirements to complete the programme are as follows:
- Attend and be punctual for all induction, work-based training/support sessions and AAT lessons
- Complete all required assignments, build up your portfolio of evidence on-going.
- Access support from your tutor/assessor, manager and other college staff and attend mentoring sessions
The above is not an exhaustive list of duties and you will be expected to perform different tasks as necessitated by the organisation which is relevant to your post within the company to meet the overall business objectives.
What training will the apprentice take and what qualification will the apprentice get at the end?
Accounts Finance Assistant Standard Level 2:
The Accounts / Finance Assistant is responsible for assisting the team of accountants with junior accounting duties. These can vary massively depending on the team structure and size of business.
An Accounts / Finance Assistant’s work could include basic bookkeeping activities, working with sales and purchase ledgers, running calculations to ensure that records and payments are correct, recording of cash and data entry.
Accounts / Finance Assistants can work in almost any sector. Potential employers include corporate businesses, sole traders, partnerships, Public Sector, not-for-profit organisations and educational institutions. Accounts / Finance Assistants may work inhouse for an organisation or they might work for accountancy firm, bookkeeping practice, Shared Service provider, self-employed or on behalf of several different clients.
Requirements:
All Accounts / Finance Assistants will demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours
Knowledge:
Accounting Systems and Processes
General Business
Understanding your Organisation
Basic Accounting
Ethical Standards
Skills:
Attention to Detail
Communication
Uses Systems and Processes
Personal Effectiveness
Behaviour:
Personal Development
Team Work
Customer Focus
Professionalism
The AAT (Association of Accounting Technician) Certificate in Accounting Level 2 is as part of this apprenticeship standard.
This qualification comprises four mandatory units:
Introduction to Bookkeeping
Principles of Bookkeeping Controls
Principles of Costing
The Business Environment
The following Functional Skills are part of the apprenticeship standard:
Maths Level 1 then 2
English Level 1 then 2
Candidates are required to have already achieved maths and English GCSE Grade C/4 or above or an equivalent. Evidence is required.
The duration of the apprenticeship is 12-15 months, to allow confirmation of successful examination results/re-sits as well as completion of the required End Point Assessment.
The two End Point Assessment methods are:
1. Structured interview (supported by a portfolio of evidence summary) will cover the following: Teamwork, Professionalism, Customer focus, Ethical standards, General business, understanding your organisation, Personal effectiveness, Communication, Personal development and Uses systems and processes.
2. In-tray test will involve the following:
Accounting systems and processes, Basic accounting and Attention to detail.
What is the expected career progression after this apprenticeship?
Potential for the right candidate to secure a full-time role and to progress on to further qualifications.
Things to consider
Please check journey times and cost of travel – You will be required to travel to Kirklees College in Huddersfield Town Centre to study your apprenticeship.
The rate of pay is likely to increase based on satisfactory performance at work and college requirements. The rate of pay is negotiable.
