Level 2 Accounts/Finance Assistant

Content

• Accounts Administrator
• Accounts Assistant
• Accounts Clerk
• Assistant Bookkeeper
• Data Input Clerk
• Finance Administrator
• Junior Credit Control Clerk
• Junior Finance Assistant

An accounts/finance assistant is an integral part of the team responsible for maintaining an efficient and accurate finance function within a business. They are 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/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.

An accounts/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. They 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.

This standard is suitable for school leavers or those wishing to progress into accounts and finance.

Workplace behaviours development

• Supports colleagues and collaborates to achieve results.
• Builds working relationships within own team and other parts of the organisation.
• Builds and maintains customer satisfaction with the products and services offered by the organisation in line with company policy, regulation and practice.
• Delivers excellent service, identifying and meeting or exceeding customer expectations.

• Aware of the impact of technology on business and its accounting and finance functions.
• Understand transactional processes of accounting and their use within a finance function.
• Understand what makes a business or organisation successful, through either buying or selling products or supplying services to a market.
• Aware of basic accountancy concepts and double entry bookkeeping.
• Understand the importance of the need to keep up-to-date with relevant policies, procedures, and regulatory or system changes.

On completion, the apprentice will be able to apply for the appropriate level of professional membership aligned with this apprenticeship, dependent on the qualification chosen. Professional body memberships that are relevant to the options for this apprenticeship are:

• IAB – Associate level membership or ICB – Associate level membership.

Throughout the apprenticeship, the apprentice is supported by a work-based tutor and employer mentor to ensure that they are progressing at the right pace and developing the skills and knowledge expected

Months 1-6

• Induction
• Underpinning knowledge, skills and behaviours
• Registration and delivery of the relevant professional qualification
• On programme learning
• Portfolio tasks

• Development and practice of knowledge, skills and behaviours
• Delivery and completion of the relevant professional qualification
• Mock structured interview
• Mock in-tray test
• Portfolio review

• Completion of Functional Skills where applicable
• Mock End Point Assessment
• Revision and reflection
• End Point Assessment

Every apprenticeship includes off-the-job training – equivalent to one day per week. This takes place during time normally spent at work but does not include the usual daily duties and responsibilities carried out as part of their normal role. It can consist of work and tasks ranging from projects, lectures and seminars to day release, blended learning and training to use specialist equipment.

It can form part of regular weekly sessions or be combined for larger blocks of time, depending on the approach that works best for the employer.