Accounts / Finance Assistant

The Accounts/Finance Assistant (AFA) Apprenticeship provides ideal entry-level training for individuals starting their formal finance training.

An AFA is an integral part of the team responsible for maintaining an efficient and accurate finance function within a business. The role is predominantly responsible for assisting a team of accountants with junior accounting duties. These can vary hugely depending on the team structure and size of business.

An AFA’s work could include basic bookkeeping activities, working with sales and purchase ledgers and running calculations to ensure that records and payments are correct.

The Accounts/ Finance Assistant apprenticeship standard details the knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs) expected of a competent Assistant Accountant. The KSB are covered through 10 duties, these are:

• Duty 1 - Be aware of the organisation's needs and activities and their impact for accounting and finance.
• Duty 2 - Identify, collate and process financial and accounting data from primary sources such as business records.
• Duty 3 - Examine financial and accounting data to identify issues with quality and reliability as instructed and in accordance with guidance.
• Duty 4 - Rectify errors in financial and accounting data, escalating problems beyond their remit as appropriate.
• Duty 5 - Reconcile transactional data to minimise the chance of errors in financial and accounting outputs such as sales and purchase invoices, sale and purchase orders, bank statements and payroll.
• Duty 6 - Plan and review workloads with supervisor to ensure best use of time to complete allocated tasks efficiently.
• Duty 7 - Communicate with internal and external stakeholders using appropriate methods and professional language. Examples may include letters, ‘phone, face-to-face, e-mail, video call, online chat functions etc.
• Duty 8 - Use financial and accounting software packages to input and manage data safely and securely in line with organisational instructions.
• Duty 9 - Provide support to team members to help ensure that financial and accounting activities are carried out within expected timescales and quality expectations.
• Duty 10 - Keep up to date with developments to enhance relevant skills and take responsibility for own professional development.

As part of their apprenticeship, learners will complete a mandatory qualification: the AAT Level 2 Certificate in Accounting. Modules include:

• Introduction to Bookkeeping
• Principles of Bookkeeping Controls
• Principles of Costing
• The Business Environment

The first three modules above are each assessed through a 90-minute online exam. The final module is assessed through the integrated knowledge test that is taken as part of the End Point Assessment. Exams will be taken at an approved assessment centre. Further information can be found here.

Online eLearning system Accountext will be used for the delivery of the qualification alongside support from our AAT Tutor where required. Registration on the system will give you access to eBooks, question banks and other eLearning materials, hard copy books will also be sent to you as part of the package.

Learners will also be assigned a Assessor Coach to support them through the apprenticeship. This will include KSB support, evidence collation, EPA preparation, formal progress reviews and pastoral support. Meeting with the Assessor Coach will initially take place every other week on a 1:1 basis for around a 1 - 1 ½ hours, then once settled may reduce to once a month.

The training programme is delivered using a range of methods including:

• Teaching and coaching sessions via video call that are used to:
  • review and assess coursework and provide feedback
  • provide teaching and learning to cover knowledge requirements
  • plan future learning and set SMART targets
  • teaching sessions will be recorded
• Quarterly formal Progress Reviews involving the learner, the line manager/mentor and the Assessor Coach.
• e-learning modules (through Accountext and MyAAT)
• the development of an electronic portfolio of evidence using our e-portfolio system: Ecordia
• A final End Point Assessment (EPA)

At the start of the programme, the Assessor Coach will work with the learner and the employer to develop a Training Plan. The plan will be designed to ensure that it meets the needs of the employer and the role of the learner, as well as the assessment requirements of the standard.

Once the learner has completed their training programme and we all agree that all the elements have been completed and achieved, the learner will undergo an ‘End Point Assessment’ (EPA).

The EPA has two distinct assessment elements:

• A structured interview based on the learner’s portfolio of evidence
• An integrated knowledge test - the integrated assessment method forms part of the apprenticeship's EPA as well as the awarding of the L2 Certificate in Accounting.

Both assessment elements will be conducted and graded by an independent End Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO). The assessment elements must be taken in the order above and will need to be passed after a minimum of 12 months of on-programme learning for the learner to be awarded the Apprenticeship certificate. There is no need to pass the interview before moving on to the knowledge test.

More information can be found in the AAT EPA Specification here.

All apprenticeship training programmes include an element of English and maths education and your line manager/mentor will be asked to work with you and the Assessor Coach to identify where these subjects play an important part of your role so that your Assessor Coach can ensure that any areas for development are addressed.

If you are 16-18 at the start of the apprenticeship and you do not already hold level 2 qualifications in these subjects, you will be required to study for and achieve level 2 Functional Skills qualifications in them. This study is over and above the study required for the apprenticeship itself. You can read more information about this here.

The primary choice for learners completing the AFA apprenticeship is to progress to the AAT level 3 Assistant Accountant Apprenticeship. This programme offers a seamless progression opportunity for those completing this course. If this is not the preferred choice, there are many other options for further study at level 3.

Assessor Coaches will discuss career and progression options with learners and employers throughout the apprenticeship and especially as they near completion.

Contact study@boom-training.com with questions about the programme or to discuss whether it fits your needs.