ACCOUNTANCYLEVEL 4PROGRAMME PACK

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THEAPPRENTICEACADEMY.CO.UK

THEAPPRENTICEACADEMY

The Apprenticeship StandardThis standard is the basis of everything that the apprentice will be working towards during theirapprenticeship. It has been written by a trailblazer group of employers and other specialists, to reflect theKnowledge, Skills and Behaviours required of a successful accountant. Below you will find what isrequired:

Technical Knowledge - Option 1 Accounting Knowledge and understanding of the core elements of double entry bookkeeping and accountingstandards enable accountants to create and report financial information to the users of accounts. AProfessional Accounting Technician will understand and / or validate the accounting standards for basicaccounts preparation and / or the drafting of financial statements. Depending on their role they will alsohave specialist knowledge in other aspects of accounting, for example management accounting and taxaccounting. Technical Knowledge - Option 2 Tax A Professional Tax Technician will be required to have knowledge and understanding of the coreelements of personal and business taxation and accounting principles. They will be required to preparetax calculations, prepare government forms, understand and comply with filing deadlines, and documentclient paperwork. Depending on their role they will also have specialist knowledge in other areas oftaxation, for example Business Compliance, VAT, Inheritance Tax, Trusts and Estates and CorporateTax. Business Awareness Understands the transactional processes and support provided by accountancy firms or the accountingfunction within an organisation. Understands their organisations business strategy including customer andsupplier needs, in order to produce relevant and compliant financial information. Is aware of how their rolefits in with the wider organisation and sector they are working in. Ethical Standards Understands the relevant Ethical Standards to protect their own and their organisations professionalreputation and integrity. Understands the importance of upholding relevant codes of conduct. Regulation and Compliance

Accounting and Tax are governed by a series of standards and regulations which must be applied whererelevant. A Professional Accounting/Tax Technician will be able to understand and apply professionalstandards and legal regulations to an organisation’s financial information, and to comply with thefundamental principles of integrity, objectivity, professional competence and due care and confidentiality. Systems and Processes Financial information is created, verified and reported via a combination of systems and processes, suchas accounting/tax systems, internal control systems and IT systems. An understanding of these systemsand processes is fundamental to an accountant’s ability to perform their role. A ProfessionalAccounting/Tax Technician will be able to understand and evaluate an organisation’s systems andprocesses and make recommendations for improvement, as appropriate. Depending on their role theymay also have a basic understanding of external and internal audit’s function in giving assurance overthese systems and processes.

Knowledge

Skills

Analysis Create and interpret information, and show how that information can be used most effectively to add valueto the organisation. Communication Effectively communicate relevant information across the organisation and to appropriate stakeholders inboth written and verbal formats. Leadership Proactively manage their own development and is committed to the job and their profession. Planning and Prioritisation Work to tight deadlines and respond to changing priorities. Effectively plan and prioritise time and co-ordinate the input of others in order to meet both deadlines and changing priorities. Produces Quality and Accurate Information Apply accounting/tax knowledge to consistently deliver high quality, accurate data and information in atimely fashion. Team Working and Collaboration Work effectively in a team and with others, maintaining effective, professional working relationships bothinternally and externally across organisations. Uses Systems and Processes Understand the systems and processes of the organisation sufficiently, as applicable to the role. Proficientin the IT systems applicable to the role.

Behaviours

Adaptability Willing to both listen and learn and to accept changing priorities and working requirements and has theflexibility to maintain high standards in a changing environment. Adding Value Actively engage in the wider business, as appropriate, and look to provide information that positivelycontributes to influencing business decisions. Continually strive to improve own working processes andthose of the organisation. Ethics and Integrity Honest and principled in all of their actions and interactions. They will respect others and meet the ethicalrequirements of their profession. Proactivity Takes responsibility. Demonstrates the drive and energy to get things done, even under pressure. Professional Scepticism Demonstrates an attitude that includes a questioning mind, being alert to conditions which may indicatepossible misstatement of financial information due to error or fraud.

End Point AssessmentThe end point assessment is a final review and testing of all the learning done throughout theprogramme. It is carried out by a completely independent end point assessment organisation (EPAO).The chosen EPAO for the Assistant Accountant apprenticeship is AAT.

For the apprenticeship programme, the EPA consists of: - A Synoptic Test which will represent the end grade - A Reflective Discussion based around the portfolio. All knowledge, skills and behaviours must bemet to a satisfactory standard in order to pass the EPA. Throughout the programme the Coach will be preparing the apprentice for the EPA, mainly through theformative assessments that take place regularly. Prior to the actual End Point Assessment, the Coach willhelp the apprentice prepare via workshops, practice tests and mock EPA discussions. There are three outcomes of an EPA: Distinction Pass Fail We will always be encouraging the apprentice to stretch and challenge themselves, and guiding themtowards a 'distinction' where we possibly can.

Delivery TeamAngela – Programme Manager & Trainer Angela has been designing and delivering accountancy and AAT programmes for over 15 years. She is anIndependent Assessor for AAT and External Quality Assurer for AAT. She is a passionate and dedicatedprogramme manager who sets high standards for her team. As Programme Manager, she is responsible forthe recruitment, training and development of her team and the overall success of the accountancyapprenticeship programmes she oversees at The Academy. Quality and results are key to her success.

Andy – Coach & Trainer Andy has worked with accounting for over 10 years working for a large food manufacturer for 8 years and thenlatterly becoming an AAT trainer and coach. He is AAT qualified himself and teaches all AAT units up to Level 4.Andy is very passionate and takes great pride in supporting learners of all ages to develop their accountingknowledge and skills.

Vickie – Trainer Vickie has working within finance for over 8 years. Her last position was as Management Accountantoverseeing a team of four finance staff. Whilst she was there, she implemented a new Sage accountingsystem. Vickie has a passion for developing the skills and knowledge of others and made the transition into anaccountancy coach and trainer in 2018.

Frank – Coach Frank originally qualified with the Association of Accounting Technicians and then progressed his studies tobecome a chartered management accountant. He has spent his career working within a diverse range ofsectors including the private and public sector. He has worked predominantly in the UK but also had theopportunity to undertake accounting roles overseas in Thailand and more recently on the Isle of Man where helived for three years. He was employed for over 5 years as a Finance and IT training officer for localgovernment, where he taught senior officers and locally elected councillors on a mix of finance and IT skills.Frank is very IT literate and delivers training to ECDL standards on all Microsoft products.

Amy – Coach Amy has worked in accountancy roles for over 12 years. 9 of which were spent in a large manufacturingbusiness. She has worked in all areas of accounting from sales and purchase ledger through to Finance TeamLeader. She also ran her own successful bookkeeping and accounting business for two years. She recentlydecided to follow her passion to help others succeed and her love of accountancy brought her to the Academy.

Becky – Coach Becky is AAT qualified and has worked within accountancy for over 5 years. Following this she changeddirection and moved into a training and coaching role, delivering AAT in a classroom setting and assessingapprentices at levels 3 and 4. Having come from an apprenticeship background herself, Becky has the passionand expertise to support learners to develop all the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to achievesuccess in the workplace.

Jacqueline – Coach Jacqueline is AAT qualified and in her final stages of studying CIMA. She started working in accounts 19 yearsago as a part time bookkeeper and progressed within her roles up to a Management Accountant. Jacquelinehas gained experience in the service industry, manufacturing and most recently property management.Jacqueline is very keen to use this experience to help guide learners through their qualifications, and link theknowledge learned in the workshops to real life scenarios in the workplace.

AAT Appeals Procedure

If you feel that an assessment of your work is incorrect please follow our appeals procedure: Step 1Discuss the assessment with your Coach. Explain your reasons for disagreeing with the decision andgives you and the assessor chance to fully discuss the assessment and how the decision was reached. Step 2If you remain unhappy with the results of the assessment please put this in writing and send it to theProgramme Manager – Angela Renshaw - ar@theapprenticeacademy.co.uk. Step 3The Programme Manager will confirm receipt of your appeal and arrange to have your assessmentindependently assessed and internally verified. They will notify you of the outcome as soon as theprocess has been completed. Step 4If you are still unhappy with the results of this process you must inform the Programme Manager within 48hours of receipt of notification. Your next step is to submit an enquiry through MyAAT ataat.org.uk/assessment/enquiries-and-appeals AAT’s results enquiry service includes a check of allprocedures leading to the issue of the outcome. This service checks that all parts of the assessmentwere marked; that the marks were totalled correctly; and that the marks were recorded correctly. It alsoincludes a review of the original marking to check that the agreed mark scheme was applied correctly.Enquiries can be made by the training provider on behalf of an individual student or group of students.You will then receive confirmation of the form by AAT within 14 days and AAT will usually provide theoutcome of the enquiry within 28 working days. Step 5The final right of appeal is for the student to appeal directly to the regulatory body OfQual. They can becontacted via their website www.ofqual.gov.uk/contact and completing an online form, or telephone 0300303 3344