Apprentice Accountant - AAT Level 3

This exciting opportunity has arisen with Harris & Co Chartered Accountants and Tax Advisers you will be involved in supporting our busy and growing tax department with tax compliance work to include preparing personal tax returns, liaising with clients and HMRC and completing other ad hoc tax related work and day to day accounting duties.

This job description is not intended to be exhaustive, and the post holder is also required to undertake any other duties as may reasonably be required.

The successful candidate will join our Tax Department, gaining the opportunity to work with individuals that own businesses across different industries. Some of the duties of the role are:

• Drafting Personal Tax Returns
• Drafting CGT Returns
• Drafting company tax returns 
• Calling HMRC to discuss client matters 
• Responding to client queries in a timely and professional manner 
• Assisting other Tax Team members as required 
• The role offers an opportunity to understand the factors impacting a clients’ tax position, assess risk and apply critical thinking, and in the process, become a more connected, responsive and insightful professional
• To work collaboratively with colleagues to ensure the organisation provides an efficient and effective service to clients
• Follow company's policies and procedures 

As part of your contract of employment completion of the Apprenticeship Training Programme forms part of your duties as well as helping your personal and professional development; the requirements to complete the programme are as follows:

• Attend and be punctual for all inductions, face to face lessons, online assessments, workshops
• Complete all required assignments by the required timeline
• Build up your portfolio of evidence on-going
• Access support from your tutor, assessor and as and when required

Assistant Accountant Apprenticeship Standard Level 3:

An Assistant Accountant provides support to internal and external customers and will work predominately either as an assistant accountant within practice or alternatively within the finance function of an organisation. Part of their role will involve assisting in the day-to-day financial activities such as data entry to month end management accounts and/or year-end financial statements. In addition, the Assistant Accountant may find themselves involved in regulatory financial requirements such as the completion of VAT returns or assisting in the preparation of tax computations.

You will gather work-based evidence to demonstrate the required Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours during your apprenticeship. The apprentice will evidence that they are collating and recording data on financial information and performance accurately by applying accounting standards and concepts and will evidence analysis of reconciliation, payroll, VAT return information. They will need to prepare accurate, management information and use IT packages for this.

The following Functional Skills are part of the apprenticeship framework:
 
Maths and English Level 2

Candidates are required to have achieved AAT Level 2 or have at least 1 years’ experience of accounting duties and complete the AAT Skills Scan to be accepted on the Level 3 Accountancy programme. 

Candidates are also required to already have achieved Maths and English GCSE Grade 4/C or above or a Key/Functional Skills Level 2 qualification - Original certificates are required as evidence.

The recommended time to complete is 15-18 months to allow for confirmation of successful examination results/re-sits.

The AAT L3 course starts in January and September.  The day release is TBC.

END POINT ASSESSMENT:

Assessment will be through examinations in Bookkeeping, Computerised Accounting and AAT Level 3 Accounting.  Apprentices will also be assessed through a synoptic end-test covering the knowledge & skills gained, a portfolio comprising a range of evidence produced in the workplace and a reflective discussion which will be a structured interview.  All components will need to be passed in order to be awarded the apprenticeship.

An End-Point Assessment will be conducted by an external provider (interview, portfolio and synoptic test).

The end-point assessment is designed to enable apprentices to demonstrate that they are fully conversant in the skills knowledge and behaviours expected of individuals at this level.

It is designed to provide assessors with a holistic view of the apprentice, and to allow them to assess to what extent the apprentice meets or exceeds the apprenticeship standard.

You will be required to attend Kirklees College in Huddersfield, one day as part of your apprenticeship.