AAT Finance Assistant Apprentice; Apprenticeship

Finance Assistant Responsibilities

• Support the effective day‑to‑day operations of the Finance Department, ensuring tasks are completed accurately and efficiently.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for finance‑related enquiries, liaising professionally with both internal teams and external stakeholders.
• Accurately process purchase invoices and receipts in a timely and organised manner across multiple business entities.
• Assist in the preparation and timely distribution of sales invoices in line with company procedures.
• Support the reconciliation of company bank accounts, including the identification and resolution of discrepancies.
• Contribute to the preparation of regular and ad‑hoc financial reports for management.
• Monitor and reconcile staff expense cards, ensuring all expenditures are correctly documented and authorised.
• Maintain up‑to‑date and compliant financial records in accordance with internal policies and relevant regulations.
• Monitor financial activity through Spendesk and assist with coding, tracking departmental spend, and ensuring documentation supports internal controls.
• Maintain up‑to‑date and compliant financial records across the purchase ledger, sales ledger, general ledger, bank reconciliations, and supporting schedules, ensuring all information is accurate for month‑end deadlines, audit requirements, and financial controls.
• Support the production of weekly Accounts Payable reports, including preparing weekly pay run summaries, identifying invoices pending approval, overdue items, and supplier queries for review by the Finance Manager.
• Utilise Xero daily for posting, coding, reconciliation, ledger accuracy, and maintaining clean and up‑to‑date financial records across all entities.
• Assist with budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning activities by providing accurate data and supporting the Finance Manager with spend monitoring and departmental reporting.
• Support the month‑end process by completing assigned reconciliations across AP, AR, bank accounts, and ledgers, contributing to management reporting packs and audit documentation.
• Highlight any discrepancies or issues identified during ledger and reconciliation reviews, providing commentary and escalating when appropriate.

A key role within any accountancy and finance function, individuals undertaking this apprenticeship will hone their ability to create, verify and review accurate and timely financial information. This apprenticeship can suit a variety of financial functions as there are a range of qualifications available to suit your organisation. Our Professional Accountant / Taxation Professional apprenticeship programme offers a choice of professional qualification with work‑based projects, ensuring that learning and skills are directly applied to the apprentice’s role, and maximises the time used as part of off‑the‑job training.

The course is made up of three mandatory units and five optional units. You must pass all the mandatory assessments and two optional unit assessments to achieve the qualification.

• Drafting and Interpreting of Financial Statements (DAIF)
• Applied Management Accounting (AMAC)
• Internal Accounting Systems and Controls (INAC)

• Business Tax (BNTA)
• Personal Tax (PNTA)
• Audit and Assurance (AUDT)
• Cash and Financial Management (CSFT)
• Credit and Debt Management (CRDM)

You will also be required to complete an End Point Assessment (EPA), which will include a role simulation exam and discussion or reflective statement with supporting portfolio. Training will be provided by attending either face‑to‑face classroom based lessons or Live Online. An apprenticeship has to be relevant to the job you are undertaking and you must dedicate 20% of your time towards it.

• GCSE grades 9/A* - 4/C including Maths and English.
• Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
• AAT level 3 (would consider someone who has AAT level 2 to do level
  3).
• A‑Levels, BTEC OR sufficient work experience.

• Basic understanding of Accounts Payable processes.
• Basic understanding of Accounts Receivable.
• Willingness to learn Xero accounting software.
• Posting simple transactions.
• Basic…