Accounting Finance Manager - Degree Apprenticeship

Accounting Finance Manager - Degree Apprenticeship

Permanent, Full Time

On-site (London)/Hybrid Working

We are a leading European intellectual property firm, advising some of the world's most innovative and successful companies. Together, we help to improve lives by supporting innovation.

We hire talented and passionate people who think creatively and enjoy a challenge. Working collaboratively, we share our knowledge and experience across teams, actively learning from each other in a friendly and sociable environment.

We are passionate about creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. Diversity of thought is vital to our business; it's how we approach challenges differently and offer our clients creative and original solutions. Further information on our commitment to diversity and inclusion is available on our website .

A healthy work/life balance is very important to us, and we run regular wellbeing events in addition to the large number of clubs and social activities that are available to everyone at the firm.

The role

Our Finance team aims to provide a best-in-class service to our clients and colleagues regarding the financial aspects of our business. Our specialisms include client billing, credit control, supplier invoice processing and payment. We also support with the strategic management of the firm, protecting our financial interests and ensuring we're responsive to the changing needs of the business.

Most of your apprenticeship will be spent working and learning on the job. Whilst being supported with your studies, you will gain hands-on experience, supporting the team to provide general accounting and admin services across our accounts payable and management accounts functions.

In addition to the studying for a Bachelor's degree, you will study towards your apprenticeship and industry-recognised professional qualifications. Your studies will take place via a hybrid/online format.

What you'll be doing

• Basic accounting functions to include invoice coding and data input.
• Reconciliation of suppliers' statements and communication with suppliers on any invoicing/payment issues.
• Credit Card reconciliations.
• Employers' expenses process.
• Cash & Bank: bank reconciliations.
• Preparation of weekly and monthly multi-currency payments.
• Assisting with financial analysis and reporting to the business.
• Providing cover for and assistance to other members of the accounts team as required.
• Any other administrative or general tasks within the Finance department as required.

Skills and experience we're looking for

• Willingness to learn and a proactive attitude.
• Ability to demonstrate tenacity in your approach to problem solving.
• Good administrative skills.
• Strong communication skills (written and verbal).
• Experience with Microsoft Word and Excel.

Education requirements

Typically, applicants will have A-levels (or equivalent) at BBB or existing relevant Level 3 qualifications (extenuating circumstances will be considered).

There is a requirement from the Education and Skills Funding Agency that apprentices under 19 hold a level 2 qualification in English and Mathematics.

The recruitment process

Applicants can expect a welcoming two-way interview process, where there will be plenty of opportunities to ask questions about the opportunity and to discover more about life at the firm.

Typically, there will be two stages consisting of the following:

• Interview with our Management Accountant.
• Interview with our Management Accountant and Head of Finance.

We're committed to ensuring all candidates are treated equally and fairly, allowing them to perform at their best during the recruitment process.

If you have a disability, if you're neurodivergent, or if you have a condition that you believe may affect your performance during our recruitment process, we encourage you to share your requirements for any adjustments in the relevant section of our application form, or via your recruitment agency. A member of our recruitment team will be in touch to discuss how best we can support you during each stage of the process.

Examples of adjustments may include:

• allowing extra time for assessments.
• providing some extra information about what to expect.
• additional rest breaks.
• adjusting room setup.
• a time of day that works for you.

What we offer

We offer a starting salary of £28,500 plus a competitive benefits package that currently includes the following:

• 25 days' holiday, increasing by 1 day per year up to our maximum of 28 days.
• Employer pension contribution of 5% in your first year, with a minimum 3% employee contribution, increasing to 10% employer contribution after one year's service.
• Holiday buy scheme, with the option to purchase up to 5 additional days.
• Holiday bonus, starting at £400 per year, increasing each year up to a maximum of £2,000.
• Private medical insurance via Bupa, where you'll be eligible to join the month following your start date. You will also have the option to add dependants, subject to a monthly cost.
• Free confidential access to 24/7 medical, mental, legal and financial wellbeing support via Health Assured and WeCare from your first day of employment.
• Access to internal Mental Health First Aiders, all of whom have completed the Mental Health First Aid England accredited training programme and champion wellbeing across the firm.
• Life assurance of 4x your base salary.
• Income protection, with cover for up to 5 years and compensating for up to 75% of your base salary.
• Cycle2Work scheme.
• Season ticket loan.
• Access to Payroll Giving or Give As You Earn (GAYE) which allows you to donate to charity through your monthly pay.
• We're passionate about the benefits of corporate volunteering and offer all employees 1 paid volunteer day per year.

We're very proud of our collegiate culture and the value that working together brings. Through our commitment to enabling everyone to do their best work, we offer a range of family and life-friendly policies.

This includes competitive enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption, surrogacy and shared parental leave schemes, if you've been with us for at least 26 weeks. Furthermore, our fertility policy aims to assist employees with both the logistical and emotional aspects of undergoing fertility treatment. This includes paid leave of up to five days for fertility treatment.

We also recognise the needs of balancing home life around the requirements of your role. Depending on the work you do and your team, we offer informal arrangements such as hybrid and agile working, as well as more formal arrangements such as flexible hours and part-time working. We're very happy to discuss flexible and life-friendly working options during the recruitment process and upon joining us.

We are proud of our inclusive culture where individual differences are celebrated, and we are committed to providing equal opportunities to all employees and job applicants. We do not tolerate discrimination either directly or indirectly on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital or civil partnership status, age, disability, pregnancy and maternity, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Please note that we do not accept unsolicited CVs or speculative approaches from recruitment agencies unless they have been explicitly instructed on this vacancy by a member of our recruitment team.