AAT Finance Apprenticeship

Summary

We are looking to recruit two AAT Finance Apprentices to start in August 2025 based within the Science and Technology Facilities Council at Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Oxfordshire. The role will incorporate an AAT Level 3 and Level 4 Accountancy/Taxation Apprenticeship, delivered by First Intuition, alongside a challenging but rewarding role.

Wage

£18,900 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

rising incrementally to £23,186

Training course

Assistant accountant (level 3)

Hours

37 hours Monday to Friday, working hours TBC

37 hours a week

Possible start date

Friday 1 August

Duration

3 years

Positions available

2

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

Key Responsibilities:

Apprentices will be based within one of the Finance teams providing accounting support to the STFC Finance function, while tackling other work from different functional areas within the broader UKRI Finance function to provide an all-round experience in finance and accounting.

The role will include a range of core financial and accounting activities similar to the activities listed below:

Assist with financial reporting, including the creation of monthly project and other reports as required
Cost centre and project budget setup and maintenance
Assist with monthly departmental forecasting by monitoring income and expenditure
Research Council, Service Level Agreement (SLA) management and grant administration
Creation and posting of Project and General Ledger Journals; including collating backing papers and evidence to maintain an audit trail
Support prepayment requests by providing financial risk analysis
Creation of Sales Invoices and Revenue Accruals
Supporting Asset Management, recording and physical verification
Provide assistance to the Governance team on the internal audit programme

The role will be based within the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory with a minimum expectation of three days onsite days per week. Apprentices may be required to travel occasionally to other UKRI locations in the UK.  

Where you’ll work

Rutherford Appleton Laboratory

Harwell

Didcot

Oxfordshire

OX11 0QX

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

FIRST INTUITION READING LIMITED

Your training course

Assistant accountant (level 3)

Equal to A level

Course contents

Assist with the investigation and response to financial information queries.
Record and analyse financial data using the organisation’s standard tools and processes.
Apply double entry bookkeeping and accounting standards to process financial documents, generate financial statements and report financial information to users of accounts.
Assist with production of accurate financial information for the preparation of accounts.
Reconcile financial data, such as, preparation of reconciliations or review of reconciliations.
Investigate, resolve or escalate transactional queries and errors within their remit as appropriate.
Develop and maintain effective working relationships with stakeholders.
Communicate financial information in a way that non-finance stakeholders can interpret and understand.
Utilise digital skills to present key financial information using finance and accounting software and applications.
Use software packages to assist with basic accounting tasks in line with cyber and data security requirements, using data securely and safely, including backing up data.
Communicate using varying approaches and different media methods with an appreciation of the risks and benefits to the business of social media and other digital applications.
Assist with the investigation and response to financial information queries.
Record and analyse financial data using the organisation’s standard tools and processes.
Apply double entry bookkeeping and accounting standards to process financial documents, generate financial statements and report financial information to users of accounts.
Assist with production of accurate financial information for the preparation of accounts.
Reconcile financial data, such as, preparation of reconciliations or review of reconciliations.
Investigate, resolve or escalate transactional queries and errors within their remit as appropriate.
Develop and maintain effective working relationships with stakeholders.
Communicate financial information in a way that non-finance stakeholders can interpret and understand.
Utilise digital skills to present key financial information using finance and accounting software and applications.
Use software packages to assist with basic accounting tasks in line with cyber and data security requirements, using data securely and safely, including backing up data.
Communicate using varying approaches and different media methods with an appreciation of the risks and benefits to the business of social media and other digital applications.

Your training plan

Apprentices will undertake a programme as follows:

Year 1-2: Level 3 Assistant Accountant Apprenticeship
Year 3: Level 4 Professional Accounting or Taxation Professional

Both levels of programme will incorporate AAT Diploma qualifications at Level 3 and Level 4.

More training information

Apprentices will be required to attend in-person classroom sessions, typically in 1-week blocks, at First Intuition Reading RG1 8LS.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English (grade C/4)
Maths (grade C/4)

A Level in:

Any (grade A*-C)
Any (grade A*-C)

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
Organisation skills
Number skills
Analytical skills

Other requirements

Candidates who meet the minimum criteria will be asked to complete an online exercise to assess numerical competence. Full instructions, including deadlines for its completion and return will be provided after the closing date.

About this company

UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation. Supporting some of the world’s most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.

http://ukri.org (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

A full list of our benefits can be found here: https://www.ukri.org/about-us/work-for-us/working-at-ukri/

Disability Confident

A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.

You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.

After this apprenticeship

Ongoing employment and development.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

FIRST INTUITION READING LIMITED

apprenticerecruitment@ukri.org

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000304129.

Apply now

Closes in 29 days (Monday 24 March)

When you apply, you’ll be asked to sign in with a GOV.UK One Login. You can create one at the same time as applying for this apprenticeship.

After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.

Company’s application instructions

To apply for this apprenticeship, your CV and/or cover letter will need to demonstrate that you meet the Essential and Desirable criteria

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