Level 3 Assistant Accountant Apprenticeship Standard

Course Code: P237227

Key Information

  • Course type

    Apprenticeships

  • Campus:

    Highbury Campus

  • Start Date:

    Flexible

  • Duration:

    Flexible

  • Attendance:

    One day a week

  • Fees:

    Free

Level 3 Assistant Accountant Apprenticeship Standard

This apprenticeship is designed as a continuation from Level 2, or an entry level for someone who already has a good knowledge of basic accounting. The role in the accountancy profession can lead to a variety of careers with supporting professional qualifications. You will develop skills in bookkeeping, cost accounting, and the preparation of reports and returns. You will learn and master financial processes, including accounting principles and concepts, advanced bookkeeping, final accounts, VAT issues, management accounting costing techniques and ethical practices. This programme also develops software skills for accounting. An assistant accountant provides support to internal and external customers and will work predominately either as an assistant accountant within a practise or alternatively within the finance function of an organisation.

You must have access to real work, which is valid and productive, providing opportunities to develop, practice and evidence knowledge and skills that you have 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 6 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 five 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:

  • financial accounting: preparing financial statements
  • management accounting techniques
  • spreadsheets for management accounting
  • business awareness
  • tax processes for businesses.

You will need maths & 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 qualifications.

One day a week at the Highbury Campus during term-time. 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.

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 a synoptic assessment. The entire process from discussion to results may take up to six weeks. The results from the synoptic assessment will also take up to six weeks to be issued. Both assessment elements are graded individually. A minimum of 70% is needed to achieve a pass for the synoptic assessment, 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.

School Leavers under the age of 19 do not have to pay fees on any full time courses, though may have to pay for their second year if turning 19 during their studies. If you’re aged 19 or over you might qualify for an Advanced Learner Loan. It’s easy to apply for and you won’t have to pay anything back until you’re earning over £25,000. If you are studying a part-time course and you receive one of the following benefits, or you depend financially on someone who does, you may be entitled to have your tuition fees waived: Job Seekers Allowance, Income Support. You will, however, have to pay any awarding body/assessment fees (unless you are on a first full level 2 course). * If you are in receipt of Working Tax Credit or receive other allowances, you may be eligible to claim concessionary rates. If you are entitled to a fee concession you will be asked to provide proof of your entitlement. It is essential that you inform us if your entitlement changes at any time during your course.

You can progress to an AAT Level 4 qualification including a Level 4 apprenticeship.

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