Apprentice Accountant

Summary

This is a structured apprenticeship programme to become a qualified accountant of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accountancy (CIPFA).

Wage

£27,363 a year

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Pay will increase once the apprentice passes different stages throughout the apprenticeship, up to £37,067

Training course

Accountancy or taxation professional (level 7)

Hours

Monday to Friday - 8.30 to 5pm. Start and finish times are flexible.

37 hours a week

Start date

Monday 1 September 2025

Duration

3 years

Positions available

3

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

You will contribute to the full range of accountancy, audit & finance work within the city council and will understake work placements across a range of teams to gain the knowledge, skills and behaviours of this apprenticeship.

You will provide a full range of specialist advice and technical support to services within the council, corresponding with the stage you are at within your apprenticeship.

Where you'll work

Civic Offices
Guildhall Square
Portsmouth
Hampshire
PO1 2AL

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

College or training organisation

CIPFA BUSINESS LIMITED

Your training course

Accountancy or taxation professional (level 7)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

Build trusted and sustainable relationships with individuals and organisations. Consistently support individuals and collaborate to achieve results as part of a team.
Influence the impact of business decisions on relevant and affected communities based on an appreciation of different organisations and the environments in which they operate.
Communicate in a clear, articulate and appropriate manner. Adapt communications to suit different situations, individuals or teams.
Identify ethical dilemmas, understand the implications and behave appropriately. Understand their legal responsibilities, both within the letter and the spirit of the law, as well as be aware of the procedures for reporting concerns over potentially unethical activities.
Take ownership of allocated projects and effectively manage their own time and the time of others. Demonstrate good project management skills to deliver high quality work within the appropriate timeline. Act as a role model and motivate others to deliver results.
Evaluate information quickly and draw accurate conclusions. Assess a problem from multiple angles to ensure all relevant issues are considered. Gather the appropriate facts and evidence in order to make decisions effectively.

Your training plan

Training will form of academic study (at a London college or online) and a formalised programme of in-house training and work experience.

More training information

The CIPFA Education and Training Centre (CETC) is the only training provider to specialise specifically in public financial management. We are known for our expert tuition of the CIPFA Professional Accountancy Qualification (CIPFA PQ) to students across seven locations in the UK.

Our virtual learning environment enables trainees to learn face-to-face and through live web classes, offering flexibility, convenience and an integrated learning experience to meet the needs of modern finance professionals.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

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

Degree in:

Or full membership of AAT or CCAB part qualified (grade Pass)

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
Problem solving skills
Number skills
Analytical skills
Team working

About this company

Portsmouth City Council is a unique organisation, committed to making a difference, and is guided by core values that set who we are as people, what we stand for, and how we act. Read more about working at Portsmouth City Council and our benefits on our careers portal homepage: Careers Portal - Find jobs with Portsmouth City Council

https://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/ (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

27 days leave excluding bank holidays Interest free loans for annual travel season tickets Join the local government pension scheme

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

To progress into a qualified accountant role within the council.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is: