Accounts Assistant Apprentice

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council; Swan Village; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A local council in the UK is offering a fantastic opportunity for an apprenticeship in financial and administrative support at The Meadows School. This role includes tasks related to accounts payable, financial monitoring, and general administrative duties, providing valuable real-world experience while gaining a Level 2 Accounts or Finance Assistant Apprenticeship Standard.

Qualifications

• Understanding of safeguarding and data protection.
• Flexibility and willingness to learn.
• Ability to shadow senior staff and attend relevant training.

Responsibilities

• Support accounts payable and receivable processes.
• Assist with financial monitoring and projections.
• Contribute to financial year-end activities.

Skills

Communication skills

IT skills

Attention to detail

Organisational skills

Customer care skills

Numerical skills

Team working

Initiative

Reliability

Patience

Confidence

Education

GCSE in English Language (grade A-C/9-4 or equivalent)

GCSE in Maths (grade A-C/9-4 or equivalent)

Job description

Overview

A fantastic opportunity at The Meadows School to provide financial and administrative support within the school's busy office. This opportunity will provide real work experience at the same time as gaining qualifications.

Responsibilities

• Supporting with the accounts payable and receivable processes including posting invoices, raising purchase orders, processing payments, and liaising with suppliers.
• Providing basic financial business support across the whole financial management area and help co-ordinate some activities.
• Assisting with the preparation of financial monitoring, including financial projections, to agreed timescales and standards.
• Inputting towards financial year end activities including producing accruals and standard working papers to support key balances in accordance with agreed processes and timescales.
• Perform supplier statement reconciliations.
• Supporting with the control, monitoring and maintenance of the Council's financial systems.
• Contributing ideas in the development of plans to achieve objectives to improve services.
• Assisting in the development of financial reporting tools.
• Support the wider school team with general administrative tasks, to include word processing, data entry, filing and photocopying.
• Dealing with incoming/outgoing post and emails.
• Undertake relevant and appropriate training related to the role as part of your personal development.
• To undertake tasks keeping data protection and safeguarding in mind at all times.
• Attend and contribute towards meetings.
• Being committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Any disclosures or concerns to be reported to the school's safeguarding officer.
• To carry out any other duties relevant to the post, using the organisation's standard tools and processes to examine data to identify transactional issues such as reconciliations and inconsistencies between invoices.
• Recognise and rectify routine errors, escalating as necessary.
• Plan and review accounting and finance tasks.
• Communicate with stakeholders to deliver accurate and timely results, avoiding jargon, using language tailored to the audience and different media methods with an appreciation of the risks and benefits to the business of social media and other digital applications.
• Use finance and accounting software packages to accurately input and manage data to contribute to routine accounting tasks.
• Handle data and digital technology in line with cyber and data security requirements, using data securely and safely, including backing up data.
• Record transactional data.

Qualifications & Requirements

• GCSE in English Language (grade A-C/9-4 or equivalent) and Maths (grade A-C/9-4 or equivalent).
• Communication skills, IT skills, attention to detail, organisation skills, customer care skills, administrative skills, number skills, team working, initiative, reliability, patience, confidence.
• Understanding of safeguarding and data protection.
• Flexibility and willingness to learn; ability to shadow senior staff and attend relevant training; enhanced DBS check prior to commencing; safeguarding awareness.
• Willingness to work across two locations and comply with term-time leave requirements as applicable.

Apprenticeship Details

• At the end, you will gain a Level 2 Accounts or Finance Assistant Apprenticeship Standard (including any Functional Skills as appropriate).
• The apprenticeship will include a proportion of 20% off-the-job training and a robust programme of mandatory apprentice training provided by Sandwell Council, including Workplace Professionalism and Equality and Diversity.

Contract & Schedule

• Wage £11,778 for your first year, then could increase depending on age; National Minimum Wage rates apply.
• Hours: 30 hours per week; Start date: Monday 24 November 2025; Duration: 1 year 3 months.
• Location: The Meadows School on two sites; you may be required to attend either site.