Accountancy apprenticeships are beginner jobs that provide accounting training. These positions can usually be found in accounts departments of large or medium-sized businesses. The apprentice is responsible for aiding accountants in their daily activities. Position responsibilities may range from menial work to actual handling and management of financial records. Skills for accountancy apprenticeships include mathematical ability and use of electronic programs such as spreadsheets.
Apprenticeships — sometimes called internships — are entry-level positions that often serve as a precursor to regular employment. These positions may be either paid or unpaid, as the main objective in the apprenticeship is to gain experience and begin cultivating professional connections. Educational institutions often help place students in apprenticeships as a form of classroom credit. Entry-level job seekers may also seek out these opportunities in order to begin gaining practical experience.
In general, accountancy apprenticeships give prospective accountants a taste of the accountancy profession. Accountants manage the financial data of individuals or businesses. As such, they keep track of financial transactions such as expenses and profits. They might also manage a business’s budget and determine taxes and employee payrolls. The apprentice will likely be exposed to all of these job responsibilities and may often directly assist in performing these functions.
An individual may secure accountancy apprenticeships in any number of venues that employ financial accountants. Many opportunities may be found in large corporations that have a sizable financial department with several full-time accountant employees. Larger departments may have more resources to hire apprentices and more employees who need the additional help. On the other hand, a smaller business such as a local community organization or a private employer might have only one accountant who may or may not work on a full-time basis, and this individual could more likely need assistance due to the increased workload burden. Therefore, the accountancy apprentice may find himself or herself in a wide range of settings and employment environments.
Since accounts departments work primarily with financial matters, certain valued skills are needed and cultivated in accountancy apprenticeships. At a basic level, a prospect should be proficient with mathematics and comfortable in working with numbers. Individuals will also likely need to be familiar with certain accountant common practices like checkbook and budget balancing. A solid grasp of electronic media like spreadsheet programs will also likely be essential. Familiarity with specific tax laws and other financial principles of the department’s region is of great importance as well.
