Accounts Apprentice

Costello-Medical-1; Cambridge; Hybrid; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary profit share bonuses

Hybrid and flexible working

Generous holiday allowance

Private medical insurance

Critical illness cover

Income protection

Funding for external training

Job summary

Costello Medical is recruiting an Accounts Apprentice in Cambridge to support the global in-house Finance function while pursuing the Level 3 AAT qualification.

You will gain hands-on experience in sales and purchase ledgers, expense processing, and financial software entry, with on-the-job coaching from the Finance team and access to funded training. A future permanent role may be possible after completion.

Qualifications

• GCSE Maths and English at Grade 6 or higher; A-levels would be advantageous
• Excellent numerical skills
• Exceptional attention to detail
• Ability to prioritise work and study time
• Excellent written and spoken English; clear communication
• Self-motivation and willingness to grow skills in a fast-paced office
• Interest in learning about in-house finance and a career in finance
• Friendly, approachable demeanor and customer service mindset

Responsibilities

• Support sales ledger tasks: prepare/send invoices and liaise with clients on payments
• Support purchase ledger tasks: processing supplier invoices and payment inquiries
• Assist with processing internal and recharged expenses
• Enter transactions into financial software
• Administer petty cash across multiple currencies
• Provide ad-hoc financial administrative support as needed

Skills

Numerical skills

Attention to detail

Time management

English communication

Self-motivation

Willingness to learn

Education

GCSE Maths and English (Grade 6+)

A-levels advantageous

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Role Summary

• Responsibilities: You will contribute to the smooth running of Costello Medical’s global in-house Finance function whilst studying towards completion of the Level 3 AAT qualification
• Salary: £22,500 per annum
• Benefits: Discretionary profit share bonuses paid twice per year, hybrid and flexible working options, generous holiday allowance, private medical insurance, critical illness cover, income protection, full funding for external training and more
• Role Type: Full-time, temporary apprenticeship
• Start Date: This role will ideally commence on Monday 7th September 2026. However, we can consider a start date of Monday 10th August 2026 for early applicants
• Application Deadlines: The deadline for submitting your application is Thursday 30th July 2026, but we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. For early applicants, interviews will be taking place from 13th July.
• Location: This role is available in our Global Headquarters in Cambridge

About the Role

Costello Medical, with offices in the UK, US, Canada, Singapore, and China, has ambitious plans for continued and sustained growth. As a result, we are seeking an ambitious Accounts Apprentice to join our Finance team in the Cambridge office. You will work closely with various colleagues in the team, contributing to the smooth operation of our global in-house Finance function.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Supporting with sales ledger tasks, including preparing and sending invoices, as well as liaising with clients regarding their payments
• Supporting with purchase ledger tasks, such as processing supplier invoices and responding to payment enquiries
• Assisting with the processing of internal and recharged expenses
• Entering transactions into our financial software
• Administering petty cash across multiple currencies held by the company
• Providing ad-hoc financial administrative support to the wider company as needed

The successful candidate will work towards the Level 3 AAT qualification, which usually takes 15 months to complete. The apprenticeship training will be provided by First Intuition and will include classroom-based skills and development days, regular support and guidance from a dedicated skills coach, as well as access to an online learning environment. Further details about the apprenticeship can be found here: https://www.firstintuition.co.uk/programmes/level-3-assistant-accountant/

Alongside your structured apprenticeship training, you will receive on-the-job training and support from several members of our Finance team, including those who have recently completed or are pursuing their own higher-level financial qualifications.

Following completion of the apprenticeship, you could be given the opportunity to apply for a permanent position at Costello Medical with the option of further study.

Career Profile

To learn more about the personal and professional development opportunities at Costello Medical, explore first‑hand career profiles from our colleagues about their experiences with the company: https://www.costellomedical.co.uk/careers/working-at-costello-medical/

About Costello Medical

Costello Medical is a rapidly growing global healthcare agency specialising in medical communications, market access and health economic and outcomes research. We work with a wide range of clients, including the industry’s most successful pharmaceutical and medical technology companies, patient and public health bodies and charitable organisations. We have been listed in the Top 100 Best Companies to Work For list since 2017, the Boston Globe’s Top Places to Work list in 2025, and were proud to receive B Corporation accreditation in 2022. Learn more about us, our work, and our mission on our website: https://www.costellomedical.com/

About You

We are seeking a proactive individual eager to embrace new challenges with a friendly, positive, and ‘can‑do’ attitude. You will also value the opportunity to develop your skills and knowledge through formal training, while building professional experience in a dynamic and fast‑paced office environment.

This role requires strong organisational skills and a commitment to balancing professional and academic responsibilities. Therefore, managing your own time effectively and maintaining focus will be essential for success in this apprenticeship.

Essential requirements for the role are:

• Grade 6 or higher in GCSE Maths and English. A-levels would also be an advantage
• Excellent numerical skills
• Exceptional attention to detail
• The ability to prioritise your work and study time effectively, adapting to changing deadlines as needed
• Excellent written and spoken English, with the confidence to communicate information clearly and concisely
• Self‑motivation, self‑awareness, and a willingness to grow your skills and knowledge in a fast‑paced office environment
• A genuine interest in learning about in‑house finance and a desire to pursue a career in the financial sector
• A friendly and approachable demeanour, with a dedication to providing excellent customer service both internally and externally

Familiarity with the Microsoft Office suite is desirable but not essential for this apprenticeship, as full training will be provided.

What We Offer

Alongside our award‑winning company culture, where every team member is celebrated, respected, and has their voice heard, we are proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• A salary of £22,500 per annum, as well as a discretionary profit share bonus paid twice per year
• 25 days’ annual leave plus bank and public holidays, as well as a holiday buy and sell scheme
• Flexible working hours and the chance to work from home for up to half of your working time after passing probation
• Flexible benefits scheme offering cash payments, additional pension contributions and more
• Private Medical Insurance which offers comprehensive cover on a “medical history disregard” basis
• Paid study leave and funding for external qualifications
• Critical Illness Cover, Income Protection and Life Assurance
• Paid and unpaid sabbaticals based on length of service

Hybrid Working Policy: We believe that having face‑to‑face time in the office holds many benefits and is central to ensuring that the community we have created, where people have a workplace they belong to and feel part of, is never lost. At the same time, we recognise that homeworking can improve work life balance, reduce commuting times and costs, and provide the opportunity to juggle personal commitments.

Therefore, we offer flexible working arrangements that allow our colleagues who have passed probation to work from home up to half their time, measured across a 2‑week rolling period. During your probationary period (normally the first 6 months of the role), you will be able to work from home 1 day per week.

The Application Process

As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce and, throughout the recruitment process, there are a number of reasonable adjustments we can provide.

Please note that, whilst we embrace AI to innovate and improve processes, your role may involve confidential data that cannot be uploaded to AI. Therefore, it is important for us to assess your own skills and abilities, so we recommend that you do not rely solely on this technology to generate any application materials.

Visa Sponsorship

Please note that this role does not meet the eligibility criteria for visa sponsorship, and you will therefore need the right to work in the UK independently from the company.