Apprentice Accounts or Finance Assistant - University of Oxford - various departments and locations
University of Oxford
Oxfordshire, OX1 2JD
Closes on Monday 12 May 2025
Posted on 7 February 2025
Contents
Summary
We have a number of exciting opportunities for you to join us in one of our busy finance departments at the University of Oxford. Are you are keen to develop your career in finance whilst also undertaking an AAT L2 qualification? Many roles also offer further progression to L3. The earliest applicants will be considered for more roles so apply now!
- Wage
- £25,331 a year
- Training course
- Accounts or finance assistant (level 2)
- Hours
-
Monday - Friday usually 9.00am - 5.00pm
You will have a fixed term contract of employment with the University of Oxford and this will range from 18-24 months depending on the department you work for.
36 hours 30 minutes a week
- Possible start date
-
Monday 1 September
- Duration
-
1 year 4 months
- Positions available
-
6
Work
As an apprentice, you’ll work at a company and get hands-on experience. You’ll gain new skills and work alongside experienced staff.
What you’ll do at work
You will assist with accounting and finance tasks within your specific department to enable the smooth running of day to day operations.
Below is a list of some of the tasks you may be asked to complete, however, please note specific responsibilities will vary depending on the department or division in which the role is based:
- Learn to carry out general office duties including managing emails and calendars, filing, and dealing with finance enquiries via email, face to face and over the phone/MS Teams
- Learn to check and sort the incoming mail for the Finance team including date stamping
- Learn the initial review of documents received to ensure that they are mathematically correct, sufficiently authorised and conform to regulatory requirements
- Develop skills in the inputting to the Oracle Financials system of authorised invoices, receipts, claims and the matching of invoice records
- Learn to reconcile items received into the Bank Account with transactions input into the Oracle system
- With the support of colleagues, learn the processes for filing documents
- Learn to prepare and send documents for imaging
- Learn to work with suppliers to check correct entry of bank account details, email addresses and respond to their queries
- Learn to provide guidance to staff, regarding invoices, expenses and payments processes. Managing those expense claims that it is necessary to query or return
- Develop skills in the receiving and checking of banking deposits from departments; the reimbursing of departmental Petty Cash floats and the daily balancing and reconciliation of cash as well as preparing cash and cheques for banking
- With support, allocate income received into the University Bank Account and investigate unidentified payments received into the University Bank Account, where necessary liaising with sponsors, donors and customers of the University
- Learn to support departments in the use of the University’s Online Store facility
- Assisting with maintaining finance records, ensuring accurate physical and electronic records are kept and that they are complete and up-to-date
- Assisting with preparing reports for month end reporting and reviewing the open purchase orders/ closed for receiving purchase orders reports on a regular basis
- With support, preparing any necessary financial documentation, including general ledger journals with a full audit trail
In the execution of these roles and responsibilities the post holder will at all times:
- Abide by local and University rules and codes of practice with regard to Health and Safety
- Work with discretion and confidentiality when dealing with personal data or information
Whichever department you choose to be considered for (on successful completion of our initial screening process) you will find that you are supported and inspired to succeed within your role.
Please note that departments are in a variety of locations across the centre of Oxford and Headington.
Where you’ll work
University Offices
Wellington Square
Oxford
Oxfordshire
OX1 2JD
Training
An apprenticeship includes regular training with a college or other training organisation. At least 20% of your working hours will be spent training or studying.
College or training organisation
ABINGDON AND WITNEY COLLEGE
Your training course
Accounts or finance assistant (level 2)
Equal to GCSE
Course contents
- Record transactional data.
- Use 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.
- Use 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.
Your training plan
Duration:
- 13 months practical training period, plus 3 months for End Point Assessment
Delivery model:
- Work-based training with your employer
- Day release during term time (approximately 1 day a week at either Abingdon or Witney Campus)
- Level 2 Functional Skills in Maths and English (7 days at college for each, if required)
- Off the job training will count for at least 6 hours a week of an apprentice’s time at work
Qualifications included:
- AAT Level 2 Foundation Certificate in Accounting
- Level 2 Accountants or Finance Assistant Apprenticeship
End Point Assessment:
- In-tray test
- Portfolio
- Structured Interview
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE or equivalent in:
- maths and English Language (grade A*-C/9-4 (or equivalent))
Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- IT skills
- Attention to detail
- Logical
- Team working
- MS Excel, Outlook and Word
- Discretion / confidentiality
- Time management skills
Other requirements
Any new person applying for apprenticeship roles where Abingdon and Witney College deliver the training will be required to complete a series of initial assessments and eligibility checks prior to start. As a new Apprenticeship applicant, you will only have to undergo this process once. If you would like to talk to us about the assessments, please call us on 01235 216216. Qualification checks: By applying for this vacancy, you are giving Abingdon and Witney College permission to undertake a Learner Record Service check on your previous qualifications. We make every effort to ensure that applicants from non-traditional academic backgrounds or those who may not have the formal GCSE entry requirements can access apprenticeships where possible.
About this company
We are the largest employer in Oxfordshire with around 16,000 staff working in and around Oxford in a huge range of roles. Our apprentices are never on their own and will benefit from a supportive environment working in collaboration with the rest of our committed team. You will also be supported by the central apprenticeship team and you will join our growing network of apprentices within the university. You will have the opportunity to become an apprenticeship ambassador for the University and region. We will provide you with a welcoming and inclusive workplace, offering support and development opportunities that will enable you to progress and do your best work. We recognise diversity as our strength, vital for innovation and creativity, and we aspire to build a truly diverse community, which values and respects every individual’s unique contribution.
https://www.ox.ac.uk/ (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
Whichever department you join, you'll enjoy 38 days’ paid holiday, generous pension schemes, travel discounts and professional development opportunities. Free entry to the Botanic Gardens and University colleges, and discounts at University museums.
After this apprenticeship
- Over 80% of our apprentices continue with us in the role they have been trained for after their apprenticeship and that is just the start of their career
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
ABINGDON AND WITNEY COLLEGE
Jane Phipps
apprenticeships@abingdon-witney.ac.uk
01235 216216
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000301829.
Apply now
Closes on Monday 12 May 2025
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