A Level 3 Assistant Accountant Apprenticeship will provide you with all the skills and assets you require to excel within a career in accounting. You will be working towards an AAT Advanced Diploma in Accounting.

A career within accounting will enable you to support both internal and external customers and organisations with routine and day to day financial activities and support with the administration associated with finances.

You have the options of working within a practice or within the financial function of an organisation.

Typically within the role of an accounts assistant your day to day roles and responsibilities can include-

• Data entry and timely collation of data

• Assisting with month end management accounts

• Completing year-end financial statements

• Being involved in regulatory financial requirements including completion of VAT returns and tax calculation preparations.

Within the role you will be interacting with both internal and external stakeholders in order to deliver accurate and timely services. You will be working with your line manager and team members and go onto liaise with the organisation in which you are managing the accounts for.

As part of this apprenticeship and qualification you will be studying and working towards four units-

• Business Awareness

• Financial Accounting: Preparing Financial Statements

• Management Accounting Techniques

• Tax Processes for Business

As an apprentice you need to be employed for at least 30 hours a week and attend college one day a week on a Thursday.

As an apprentice you will complete 15 months of practical training in the workplace and classroom study to gain the AAT Level 3 Diploma in Accounting which will be assessed through exams. Following this you will complete an End Point Assessment (EPA) over the period of 3 months.

The End Point Assessment (EPA) takes place at the end of your apprenticeship. This involves-

• A Knowledge test, with 40 questions where you have 150 minutes to complete the test. These questions will be based on four themes: Professional standards and ethics, digital and data security, financial investigation and queries and financial statements and bookkeeping.

• A Professional Discussion with an independent assessor, where they will ask you 10 questions which you have 60 minutes to answer regarding the occupation.

You will also be building up a portfolio of evidence throughout the duration of the programme to support you with your End Point Assessment.

For more deatails on the AAT Assistant Accountant Apprenticeship standard at Level 3 visit the AAT Accounting site.

For more detail on the Apprenticeship standard for this qualification visit the Institute of Apprenticeships and Technical Education.

Association or Accounting Technicians (AAT) qualifications are universally respected and internationally recognised. Organisations hire AAT qualified members for their knowledge, skills, diligence and enthusiasm because AAT represents the highest standards of professionalism.

AAT works across the globe with around 130,000 members in more than 90 countries. Their members are represented at every level of the finance and accounting world, including apprentices, people already working in accountancy and self-employed business owners.

AAT members are ambitious, focused accounting professionals. Many of their members occupy senior, well rewarded positions with thousands of employers – from blue-chip corporate giants to public sector institutions.

Upon completion of this course you will be competent and have strong foundations within the industry and be able to apply for jobs as an accounting technician, accounts clerk, assistant accountant, bookkeeper, finance assistant or a purchase ledger clerk. You could also progress onto Higher Education, onto a Level 4 course.

You can discover all the opportunities available to you by exploring the full list of careers in this industry.

You must consider the following:

• Level 2 AAT qualification or equivalent/ or occupational competence working in a finance role- subject to course tutor discretion

• Good communication skills

• Attention to detail

• Work well both individually and as part of a team

• Interest in the subject area

• Good time management

• Commitment to study (attendance, punctuality and behaviour)

• Commitment to regularly collecting evidence to support your portfolio.

5 GCSES at Grade 4/C or higher including English and Maths or Functional Skills Level 2.

Or the ability to demonstrate ability to this level through initial assessments.

If you would like to enquire for this Apprenticeship, please click 'Enquire' in the top right, follow the steps, and our Apprenticeship Team will be in touch with you. Alternatively, you can explore our current vacancies on the 'Apprenticeship Vacancies' page and apply now.

If you are already employed then please contact our Apprenticeship Team on 01524 521483.

Course code: A32690-A1A