Legal, Finance and Accounting Apprenticeships

Entry requirements

Individual employers will set the selection criteria for their Apprenticeships. Most candidates will have Level 1 Maths and English, ideally as part of 5 GCSE A-C grades or equivalent. Other relevant or prior experience may also be considered as an alternative. Those without Maths and English will need to complete these alongside their course at Level 1 as well as, attempting the Level 2 Maths & English exams.

Qualification outcomes

AAT Level 2 Foundation Certificate in Accounting

Job Role

Accounts administrator, Accounts assistant, Accounts payable, Assistant bookkeeper, Business accounts administrator, Cost accountant assistant, Finance assistant junior, Junior cashier

Overview of role

An Accounts or finance assistant is an integral part of the team responsible for maintaining an efficient and accurate finance function within a business. The Accounts or 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 or 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 or finance assistant can work in almost any sector. Potential employers include corporate businesses, sole traders, partnerships, Public sector, not-for-profit organisations and educational institutions. Accounts or finance assistant may work in-house for an organisation or they might work for an accountancy firm, bookkeeping practice, Shared Service provider, self-employed or on behalf of several different clients.

Progression

Upon completion, students may go on to study for a level 3 Assistant Accountant or a level 4 Professional Accounting & Taxation Technician.

Entry requirements

Individual employers set the selection criteria, but this is likely to include 5 GCSEs, including Maths and English, although some employers will accept other relevant qualifications and experience, including a relevant Level 2 qualification. Apprentices without English or Maths at Level 2 must achieve this prior to taking the end point assessment.

Qualification outcomes

AAT Level 3 Certificate in Accounting

Job Role

Assistant Accountant / Trainee Accounting Technician / Accounts Clerk/ Cashier Finance Assistant / Purchase Ledger Clerk / Sales Ledger Clerk

Overview of role

An Assistant Accountant provides support to internal and external customers and will work predominately either as an assistant accountant within practice or alternatively within the finance function of an organisation. Part of their role will involve assisting in the day to day financial activities such as data entry to month end management accounts and/or year-end financial statements. In addition, the Assistant Accountant may find themselves involved in regulatory financial requirements such as the completion of VAT returns or assisting in the preparation of tax computations.

Progression

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

Entry requirements

Individual employers will set the selection criteria for their Apprenticeships. Most candidates will have Level 1 Maths and English, ideally as part of 5 GCSE A-C grades or equivalent. Other relevant or prior experience may also be considered as an alternative. Those without Maths and English Level 2 will also need to attempt these exams.

Qualification outcomes

Level 2 Legal Studies – CILEx

Job Role

Paralegal

Overview of role

Provide legal support whilst working under supervision. Typical activities that may be carried out, but are not exclusive to this role include:

· Managing data/records

· Reviewing documents

· Drafting and producing legal documents and standard forms

· Assisting with the inception, progress and completion of client files

· Carrying out research

· Handling confidential and sensitive information

· Understand and utilise basic financial information

· Communicating (written and oral) with internal and external clients

Progression

With further study, you could qualify as a legal executive or solicitor.

Entry requirements

Individual employers will identify requirements in terms of previous qualifications however, it is likely to be AAT level 2 and 3 as well as, Level 2 maths and English (equivalent to GCSE grade C or above), ideally as part of 5 GCSE A-C grades or other comparable qualifications. Apprentices without English or maths at Level 2 must achieve this prior to the completion of the apprenticeship.

Qualification outcomes

AAT Level 4 Professional Diploma in Accounting

Job Role

Assistant auditor, Assistant management accountant, Assistant financial accountant, Accounts payable and expenses supervisor, Commercial analyst, Payroll manager, Senior bookkeeper, Senior financial officer, Tax investigations officer, Personal tax assistant and Business tax assistant.

Overview of role

Individuals in the role of a Professional accounting or tax technician will have responsibility for creating, and/or verifying and reviewing, accurate and timely financial information within the organisation in which they are employed or on behalf of another organisation. This will be performed in order to meet relevant ethical, professional and legal standards, and will utilise the individual’s knowledge of the business systems and processes, as well as standard accounting and tax practices. This role may exist in an accounting practice, a professional services company, HMRC or the accounting function of a business or other organisation.

Link to professional registration

The Professional accounting or tax technician standard allows student registration with a number of UK professional bodies in this sector. If a candidate seeks to become a member of a professional body there may be other requirements specific to the relevant professional body, which may be taken as part of, or alongside, the Apprenticeship at the employer’s and candidate’s discretion.

Completion of the professional accounting or tax technician apprenticeship may lead to the candidate receiving credits towards the completion of the Professional accountant or tax apprenticeship or chartered Accountancy or taxation qualifications provided by the relevant professional bodies. Completion of the professional accounting or tax technician apprenticeship may also result in credits being awarded towards relevant undergraduate degree programmes.

Progression

Learners may choose to go on to study for the full ACCA and become a chartered accountant.