Assistant Accountant L3 Apprenticeship

Apprenticeships

Level 3 Assistant Accountant Apprenticeship

What is an Assistant Accountant?

An Assistant Accountant apprenticeship equips apprentices with the necessary skills and knowledge to carry out routine financial activities and provide crucial support to businesses and organisations of all types and sizes.

Throughout the Apprenticeship, participants learn how to manage financial records, process transactions, assist in budgeting, and prepare financial reports.

This programme is ideal for those with a keen eye for detail, strong numerical aptitude, and an interest in business operations.

By the end of the Apprenticeship, you will be well-prepared to embark on a successful career as skilled Assistant Accountants, contributing to the financial stability and success of businesses and organisations in various industries.

The primary duties we cover on this apprenticeship...

Assist with monthly and year-end reporting of financial and accounts information. This will include the timely collation of data from a range of sources, such as different functions within one organisation, or a range of external clients if operating in a practice. This includes both foreseeable finance and accounting data requirements and unexpected requirements.
Maintain financial and accounting records including the timely collation of data from a range of sources. For example, different functions within one organisation, or a range of external clients if operating in practice. This includes both foreseeable requirements and unexpected requests, often to tight timescales.
Safeguard against suspicious activities for example anti-money laundering.
Assist with the compilation of accounting and financial records, for example, to inform direct and indirect tax returns under supervision, audit documentation or control account reconciliations.
Deliver financial and accounting information and data to stakeholders to ensure that key messages are communicated.
Assist in the maintenance and use of digital systems by using software applications and packages to support the delivery of accurate and timely financial and accounting information.
Use digital systems safely to ensure that the cyber security of the organisation is not compromised, and data handling legislative requirements are met
Use digital systems safely to ensure that the cyber security of the organisation is not compromised, and data handling legislative requirements are met
Collaborate with people both internally and/or externally at appropriate levels with a view to delivering a service that meets customers’ needs with a commitment to professional and ethical standards, for example, professional code of conduct and duty of confidentiality as appropriate.

Apprentices will benefit from:

Earn a wage, whilst studying a fantastic course

Gaining experience in a fast-paced & competitive industry

No learning costs for the Apprentice

Careers

Potential career paths of Assistant Accountant Apprentices…

Accounting technician
Accounts clerk
Assistant Accountant
Assistant Cashier
Bookkeeper
Finance Assistant
Purchase ledger clerk
Sales ledger clerk

more Information

More about the Occupation

This occupation is found in all sectors and industries, including the private and the public sector. This ranges from small organisations through to large global corporations and government bodies.

The broad purpose of the occupation is to support internal and external customers in the administration of their financial and accounting activities. They may work as an assistant accountant in a practice or alternatively within the finance function of an organisation. An assistant accountant helps in the operation of day-to-day financial activities. These may include data entry to month end management accounts and year-end financial statements. In addition, the assistant accountant may find themselves involved in regulatory financial requirements. These may include the completion of VAT returns or assisting in the preparation of tax computations.

In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders to deliver accurate and timely accounts services. This will include their line manager and team members, together with the workers and the clients of the organisation they are managing accounts for. They may liaise with software departments, or houses, where the accounts system is hosted externally.

An assistant accountant will be responsible for managing their own caseload and time whilst reporting to a more senior accountant.

Duration

Typically 15 months

Professional Recognition

This apprenticeship aligns with AAT for Qualified Bookkeeper.

How will I be assessed?

What is an end-point assessment and why it happens

An EPA is an assessment at the end of your apprenticeship. It will assess you against the knowledge, skills, and behaviours (KSBs) in the occupational standard. Your training will cover the KSBs. The EPA is your opportunity to show an independent assessor how well you can carry out the occupation you have been trained for.

Your employer will choose an end-point assessment organisation (EPAO) to deliver the EPA. Your employer and training provider should tell you what to expect and how to prepare for your EPA. The length of the training for this apprenticeship is typically 15 months. The EPA period is typically 3 months.

The overall grades available for this apprenticeship are:

fail

pass

merit

distinction

When you pass the EPA, you will be awarded your apprenticeship certificate.

EPA gateway

The EPA gateway is when the EPAO checks and confirms that you have met any requirements required before you start the EPA. You will only enter the gateway when your employer says you are ready.

The gateway requirements for your EPA are:

achieved English and mathematics qualifications in line with the apprenticeship funding rules

for the professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio, you must submit a portfolio of evidence

passed any other qualifications listed in the occupational standard

For the assistant accountant, the qualification required is:

AAT Advanced Diploma in Accounting

Level 3 Diploma in Accounting

Assessment methods

Multiple choice test

You will complete a multiple-choice test. It will be open book, meaning you can have access to some books or reference materials.  In the test you can have:

Apprentices may bring with them pens, pencils, erasers, and a scientific or accountancy calculator.

Calculators must not emit audible tones or function as any other digital device.

Apprentices must not have access to the internet for the duration of the assessment. This includes any potential technological, web-enabled sources of information such as, but not limited to, iPods, mobile phones, MP3/4 players, smart watches which have a data storage device.

No other equipment is allowed.

The test will have 40 multiple-choice questions. You will have 150 minutes to complete it.

Professional discussion

You will have a professional discussion with an independent assessor. It will last 60 minutes. They will ask you at least 10 questions. The questions will be about certain aspects of your occupation. You need to compile a before the EPA gateway. You can use it to help answer the questions.