Level 2 Apprenticeship Standard in Accounts/Finance Assistant
Course Code: P271740
Key Information
Course type:
Apprenticeships
Campus:
Highbury Campus
Start Date:
January 2025
Duration:
Flexible
Attendance:
One day a week
Fees:
Free
An accounts or finance assistant is an integral part of the team responsible for maintaining an efficient and accurate finance function within a business. You will be responsible for assisting the team of accountants with junior accounting duties. These can vary depending on the team structure and size of business. The 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. Potential employers include corporate businesses, sole traders, partnerships, public sector, not-for-profit organisations, and educational institutions. Accounts or finance assistants may work in-house, or with an accountancy firm or bookkeeping practice.
We have partnered with Mindful Education to deliver this apprenticeship through our Online and On Campus model. Apprentices study online materials during allotted time at work, and also attend regular sessions with a college tutor.
Online lessons can be accessed at any time, using a mobile, tablet or desktop - meaning apprentices can fit their study around work commitments, minimising disruption in the workplace. Each lesson lasts around 45 minutes and is accompanied by animations and motion graphics to bring concepts to life. Exercises, interactive case studies and analytical tools help to enhance the learning experience further.
On campus, apprentices benefit from regular classes with an experienced college tutor, either in-person or virtually. A combination of tutor-led work, group exercises and discussion encourages apprentices to apply theory to real-life workplace situations. This modern, flexible approach to apprenticeship training empowers learners, minimises disruption to employers, and delivers tangible results in the workplace.
You must have access to real work, which is valid and productive, providing opportunities to develop, practice and evidence knowledge and skills that have been learned.
It is a government requirement that the employer is expected to provide and support the opportunity for off-the-job training for a minimum six hours per week. Defined as technical and knowledge development, this type of learning is undertaken outside the normal day-to-day working environment. It can include activities such as attending College, online learning, mentoring, role play, attendance to competitions and events, or revision and assignments set as course work and homework.
The apprenticeship contains four units which are assessed individually at the end of each unit, and there is a synoptic assessment at the end of the qualification, which draws on and assesses knowledge and understanding from across the whole qualification.
Units include:
- introduction to bookkeeping
- principles of bookkeeping controls
- principles of costing
- the business environment.
This flexible apprenticeship is delivered in partnership with Mindful Education, and combines online learning with regular sessions with a college tutor.
Start dates are available throughout the year.
To join this programme, you will need maths and English GCSE 9-4 (A*-C) or Functional Skills Level 2 and provide certificates. If you don't have the required GCSE/Functional Skills grades or can't provide your certificates, you will have to complete a maths and English assessment. You will not be able to achieve your apprenticeship without completing the required maths and English qualification.
One day a week, with three hours at the Highbury Campus during term-time and three hours' independent study online through Mindful Education. Our blended approach gives apprentices flexibility in when and where they choose to study. Additional attendance at College may be required during half-terms/holidays for workshops and revision sessions.
You are required to build a portfolio of your work. An assessor will be in regular contact to provide support, and to arrange on-site visits to observe your ability and skills in your daily role. It is important for you to take ownership of your own learning by seeking out opportunities to gain new skills on the job. You will be required to upload and submit your portfolio of evidence to SEPA for review.
Part of the end point assessment is a structured interview that is held in a Smart Room. The training provider is responsible for ensuring you can complete the discussion in a suitable environment, either the training provider's or employer's premises. Also, part of the End Point Assessment is an in-tray assessment. The entire process from discussion to results may take up to six weeks. The results from the in-tray test will also take up to six weeks to be issued.
Both assessment elements are graded individually. A minimum of 75% is needed to achieve a pass for the in-tray test, while the structured interview will be graded a fail, pass or distinction.
Both results will be combined to provide an overall grade for the apprenticeship.
You can progress to an AAT Level 3 qualification including a Level 3 apprenticeship.
The skills and knowledge you will gain throughout this qualification will qualify you for roles including Accounts Assistant, Finance Assistant, Credit Control Assistant or Purchase Ledger Clerk.
Level 2 Apprenticeship Standard in Accounts/Finance Assistant
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