AAT Level 3 Apprenticeship Standard
 

Who is it for?

The Assistant Accountant apprenticeship provides an ideal progression route for those who have completed the level 2 Accounts/Finance Assistant Apprenticeship.  It builds on the knowledge, skills and behaviours developed through the level 2 programme and takes them to a more advanced level. 

Examples of roles for which the programme is suitable include: Assistant Accountant, Trainee Accounting Technician, Accounts Clerk, Cashier, Finance Assistant, Purchase Ledger Clerk or Sales Ledger Clerk.
 

Entry Requirements

To enrol on this programme applicants must have:

• GCSEs in English and Maths at grade A*-C / levels 9-4

• Accounts/Finance Assistant Apprenticeship OR AAT L2 Certificate in Bookkeeping (in certain circumstances you may be able to integrate the L2 Certificate into the level 3 programme)

​

Course Content

The Assistant Accountant apprenticeship standard details the knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs) expected of a competent Assistant Accountant.  The KSB are covered through 9 duties, these are:

• Duty 1 - Assist with monthly and year end reporting of financial and accounts information. This will include the timely collation of data from a range of sources, such as different functions within one organisation, or a range of external clients if operating in a practice. This includes both foreseeable finance and accounting data requirements and unexpected requirements

• Duty 2 - Maintain financial and accounting records including the timely collation of data from a range of sources. For example, different functions within one organisation, or a range of external clients if operating in practice. This includes both foreseeable requirements and unexpected requests, often to tight timescales.

• Duty 3 - Safeguard against suspicious activities for example anti-money laundering.

• Duty 4 - Assist with the compilation of accounting and financial records, for example, to inform direct and indirect tax returns under supervision, audit documentation or control account reconciliations.

• Duty 5 - Deliver financial and accounting information and data to stakeholders to ensure that key messages are communicated.

• Duty 6 - Assist in the maintenance and use of digital systems by using software applications and packages to support the delivery of accurate and timely financial and accounting information.

• Duty 7 - Use digital systems safely to ensure that the cyber security of the organisation is not compromised, and data handling legislative requirements are met.

• Duty 8 - Undertake Continuous Professional Development by keeping up to date with relevant statutory obligations and procedural best practice.

• Duty 9 - Collaborate with people both internally and/or externally at appropriate levels with a view to deliver a service that meets customer’s needs with a commitment to professional and ethical standards, for example, professional code of conduct and duty of confidentiality as appropriate.

​

Qualifications

As part of their apprenticeship, learners will complete the AAT Level 3 Diploma in Accounting.  Modules include:

• Business Awareness

• Preparing Financial Statements

• Management Accounting Techniques

• Tax Processes for Businesses

 

The first three modules are each assessed through 2 and a half hour online exams, Tax is 90-minutes, and is sat at an approved assessment centre.

The AAT level 3 diploma qualifies for UCAS points as follows:

• Pass - 32 points

• Merit - 48 points

• Distinction - 56 points
   

Supporting Resources

We strongly recommend that employers purchase the Osborne books Tutorial and Workbook for each module listed above.  A revision guide (Wise guide) is also available but less useful.  Each book is available in paperback or (slightly cheaper) e-book.  Buyers of the paperback also get immediate access to the e-book so they can start to use it right away while waiting for the paperback to arrive.

The total cost for both recommended resources for all modules in paperback format is currently £101.40.  Latest prices are on the Osborne books online shop.
 

L2 Certificate in Bookkeeping Integration

If you do not already hold a L2 accounting qualification you can integrate the Level 2 Certificate in Bookkeeping into the L3 apprenticeship.

This includes two units:

• Introduction to Bookkeeping

• Principles of Bookkeeping Controls

 

As with the level 3 units, these are assessed through online exams which are sat at an approved assessment centre.

.

Doing this will incur an additional charge and will increase the apprenticeship duration by two months.  However, it is dramatically quicker than completing the full L2 apprenticeship and the difference in price between this and the full L2 apprenticeship is small.

As with the L3 qualification, we strongly recommend purchasing the Osborne books Tutorial and Workbook for each module