Accounting Technician Apprentice

About this job

This is an exciting and rewarding opportunity for a hardworking ambitious training Accountant to join our dynamic Finance Team. As an Accounting Technician, you will play a key role in supporting the financial operations in relation to financial compliance, budget setting, budget monitoring, year-end closure and audits for capital and revenue budgets. You will also provide expert financial guidance to non-financial managers helping them to navigate financial procedures with confidence.

Duties include:

1. Bookkeeping and reconciliation: maintaining accurate financial records and ledgers.
2. Financial reporting: preparing financial statements, budgets and forecasts.
3. Undertake tasks in relation to the purchase to pay/payments to suppliers, invoicing customers and recovering debt in line with the Council's policies and procedures.
4. Complete statutory and legislative returns, statistics, freedom of information requests and grant claims.
5. Support projects and business change programmes.

In addition to gaining practical experience of Local Government Finance and contributing to the overall delivery of effective and efficient Financial Services, you will study for the AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians) professional accountancy qualification. Either the Assistant Accountant Apprenticeship Standard at level 3 or Professional Accounting Technician Level 4 (subject to meeting the criteria). If you have a keen interest and commitment to pursue a career in Accounting, and to enroll on a study programme leading to the award of AAT qualification through the Council's apprenticeship programme, then please apply to join our team.

Special requirements for this post

Must meet the entry requirements for AAT Level 3:

1. Minimum of 5 GCSE at grade 9 - 5 (A* - C) including English Language & Mathematics at grade 6 (B) & above
2. And either:
1. AAT Level 2 Certificate in Accounting or Bookkeeping (merit or distinction) or prior attainment of equivalent business, accounting or finance studies;
2. Minimum of 3 A Levels at grade A* - C including a business-related subject e.g. accounting (AS level acceptable), economics or business;
3. BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (business-related subject).

Note: Candidates that have already successfully completed AAT Level 3 Diploma in Accounting (merit or distinction) will have the option to pursue AAT Level 4 Diploma in Professional Accounting.

IMPORTANT: Apprenticeship opportunities advertised externally are for residents of London Borough of Barking & Dagenham only and care leavers of Barking and Dagenham will be offered an interview if they meet the minimum criteria. Applicants must not already hold an equivalent qualification or higher in the advertised apprenticeship subject.

About you

To be successful in this role, you will be/ have:

1. Understanding of bookkeeping or accounting.
2. Driven and resilient, with the ability to work effectively under pressure, meet deadlines, have good attention to details and deal with challenging issues using one's own initiative.
3. Strong organisational skills to manage your own time including balancing study and work commitments.
4. Clear and concise written and verbal communication skills, including experience in presenting financial information to a wide and diverse audience.
5. Numerical competence and capacity to understand and simplify complex data and information.
6. IT skills including the use of spreadsheets e.g. Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets.

About us

Barking and Dagenham is not just any borough - it's a vibrant, culturally diverse community, and one of the fastest-growing areas in London. As the borough continues to evolve, we are committed to making it a place where people are proud to live, work, study, and stay. With rapid population growth and transformative change happening around us, there's no better time to further your career in a place where you can truly make a difference. Our Finance team is at the heart of this transformation. We are expanding to ensure that finance is central to decision-making, helping the Council achieve financial sustainability and adapt to the challenges faced by local government. By joining us, you'll be part of a proactive, innovative team that collaborates closely with key stakeholders to drive positive change across the borough. We offer a dynamic, fulfilling career path that promises diversity, excitement, and the opportunity to make a real impact.