Finance Apprentice

NELFT NHS Foundation Trust; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 24,000; Full time

Job summary

NELFT NHS Foundation Trust is seeking two Finance Apprentices to start a structured two-year Finance Apprenticeship Programme, combining practical workplace experience with study towards Level 2/3/4 qualifications. Apprentices will rotate between Finance teams, shadow colleagues, and participate in learning activities across the Finance Directorate.

Roles involve practical NHS finance exposure, with a mix of workplace-based and hybrid working.

Qualifications

• Good numerical skills
• Positive attitude and genuine interest in developing a career in finance or accountancy
• English and Maths at GCSE grade 4/C or above, Functional Skills Level 2, or equivalent
• Previous NHS or finance experience is not essential.

Responsibilities

• Maintain accurate financial records, working papers and supporting schedules.
• Assist with monthly financial reporting, reconciliations, journals and data-quality checks.
• Use Microsoft Excel and NELFT finance systems to organise, analyse and present financial information.
• Support investigation of routine finance queries and discrepancies.
• Prepare reports, reconciliations, schedules, presentations and professional correspondence.
• Communicate with Finance colleagues, budget holders and operational managers.

Job description

Job overview

North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT) is looking for two motivated and enthusiastic Finance Apprentices to join our Finance Directorate.

This is an excellent opportunity to start a professional career in finance while earning, learning and gaining practical experience within a large NHS organisation. You do not need previous NHS or finance experience; we are looking for people with good numerical skills, a positive attitude and a genuine interest in developing a career in finance or accountancy.

The successful candidates will join a structured two-year Finance Apprenticeship Programme, combining practical workplace experience with study towards an agreed Level 2, Level 3 or Level 4 finance or accounting apprenticeship, depending on qualifications, experience and apprenticeship eligibility.

During the programme, you will spend approximately 12 months within your first Finance team before completing a formal rotation into a different Finance team for your second year. You will also have opportunities to shadow colleagues and take part in learning activities across the wider Finance Directorate.

Placement opportunities include Finance Business Partnering, Financial Accounts, and Costing, Reporting and Income, giving you the opportunity to build a broad understanding of NHS finance and develop the skills needed for your future career.

The role will involve a mixture of workplace-based and hybrid working. Apprentices will be expected to work regularly from the NELFT site or service location associated with their allocated placement, alongside opportunities to work remotely where appropriate. Working arrangements and locations will vary depending on the placement, service requirements and learning needs of the apprentice. As apprentices rotate between Finance teams during the two-year programme, their usual work location and working arrangements may also change.

Main duties of the job

As a Finance Apprentice, you will work alongside experienced finance professionals and receive support, supervision and training while gradually developing greater independence.

Your main duties will include:

• Maintaining accurate financial records, working papers and supporting schedules.
• Assisting with monthly financial reporting, reconciliations, journals and data-quality checks.
• Using Microsoft Excel and NELFT finance systems to organise, analyse and present financial information.
• Supporting the investigation of routine finance queries and identifying discrepancies.
• Preparing reports, reconciliations, schedules, presentations and professional correspondence.
• Communicating with Finance colleagues, budget holders, operational managers and other stakeholders.
• Supporting financial processes in accordance with Trust procedures and financial controls.
• Organising and prioritising your workload to meet agreed deadlines.
• Participating in team meetings, development reviews and relevant projects.
• Contributing ideas to improve financial processes, reporting and customer service.
• Completing all required apprenticeship training, coursework, examinations, progress reviews and off-the-job learning.
• Participating fully in the formal Year 2 rotation and wider Finance Directorate learning and shadowing opportunities.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The Finance Apprentice will support the delivery of accurate, timely and high-quality financial services across NELFT while completing the relevant finance or accounting apprenticeship programme.

The role is designed to provide practical experience of NHS finance, accounting processes, financial systems, reporting, analysis, governance and stakeholder support.

During the two-year programme, apprentices will complete two structured Finance placements. Approximately 12 months will be spent within the first allocated team, followed by a formal rotation into a different Finance team for the second year. Initial placements and rotations will be determined according to organisational requirements, candidate strengths and development needs.

Placement areas include

• Finance Business Partnering – supporting budgets, forecasting, management accounts, transformation and operational decision-making.
• Financial Accounts – supporting reconciliations, control accounts, balance sheet processes, cash, fixed assets, statutory reporting and audit.
• Costing, Reporting and Income – supporting costing, Trust financial reporting, income, contracts and data quality.

Alongside your formal placements, you will have planned opportunities to shadow colleagues and undertake development activities across the wider Finance Directorate.

Workplace attendance forms an important part of the apprenticeship and learning experience. The programme operates through a mixture of workplace-based and hybrid working, with arrangements determined by the apprentice's allocated placement and service requirements. Apprentices will be expected to attend the NELFT site or service location associated with their placement as required, enabling them to work alongside colleagues, engage with stakeholders and gain practical experience. Apprentices may also be required to attend other NELFT locations for meetings, training, shadowing and development activities.

You will develop your use of Microsoft Excel, including formulas, lookups, pivot tables, data validation and presenting information, as well as gaining practical experience of NELFT financial and workforce systems. You will also develop professional communication, analytical, organisational, problem-solving, customer service and stakeholder-management skills.

As an apprentice, you will be expected to take responsibility for your learning and development. This includes attending training sessions, completing coursework and examinations, maintaining evidence of workplace learning, attending progress reviews and completing the required off-the-job learning and end-point assessment.

Regular supervision and feedback will be provided throughout the programme. As your knowledge and experience develop, you will be expected to demonstrate increasing independence, accuracy, judgement and accountability.

Applicants must have English and Maths at GCSE grade 4/C or above, Functional Skills Level 2, or equivalent, and must meet the relevant apprenticeship funding and eligibility requirements.

We welcome applications from school or college leavers, people returning to work and candidates looking to begin a new career. Previous NHS or finance experience is not essential.

Please note that if you already hold an accounting or finance-related qualification at the level of the apprenticeship being applied for, you may not be eligible for apprenticeship funding. The appropriate apprenticeship level will be determined based on your existing qualifications and experience.

Working for Us

Joining #TeamNELFT means you’ll become part of a welcoming and supportive working environment. We’re CQC rated Good, and we want you to join us on the journey towards an Outstanding rating. NELFT has sites across North East London and Essex. We provide community and mental healthcare services to adults and children within these areas.

The Trust has award-winning equality and diversity initiatives, along with staff health and wellbeing activities. We invest significantly in your development because when you feel valued and supported, we can deliver the highest quality care to our patients. We are a Level 3 Disability Confident Leader, have been recognised in the Working Families Top 10 Employers benchmark for five consecutive years, and hold a Carers UK Level 1 Accreditation. Through our staff networks and training opportunities, we strive to foster a just and compassionate culture at NELFT.

Our Values 2025 - 2030

Working with our colleagues, patients and carers, we have co-produced three values that we aim to embed within our culture here at NELFT:

• We are kind.
• We are respectful.
• We work together with our communities.

These three values help us to strive to provide the best care by the best people.

Starting with NELFT

NELFT places a great deal of importance on new starters being properly welcomed and inducted into the Trust. All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and will undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks, which will include mandatory training, systems training and the allocation of equipment.

As part of the process, new starters will have the opportunity to meet the executive team and senior managers and attend a number of drop-in sessions focusing on engagement, health and wellbeing and key processes.

The induction will be held at our head office at Goodmayes Hospital.

Probationary Period

This post will be subject to a probationary period.

High Cost Area Supplement – Outer London

This post also attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 15% of the basic salary (with a minimum of £4,714 to a maximum of £5,941 p.a. pro rata for part time).

Certificates of Sponsorship

Although we are a registered sponsor organisation, we are unable to offer sponsorship for all job roles. Please check your eligibility under the UKVI points-based system. When calculating the basic salary for sponsorship, HCAS (High-Cost Area Supplement) is not included to ensure fairness and consistency within our Trust.

Name: Mijanur Rashid

Job title: Finance Business Partner

Email: [e-mail]