Finance Apprentice

Cathay Investments Ltd

Croydon (CR0 2ZD)

Closes on Friday 26 September 2025

Posted on 28 July 2025


Summary

We're looking for apprentices with an interest and passion for numbers to work in either our finance or payroll teams. You'll learn about all aspects of bookkeeping or payroll. We have a friendly culture and have already supported several apprentices through to completion of their qualification, with potential for a full-time job offer at the end.

Training course
Assistant accountant (level 3)
Hours
Monday to Friday 9am to 5.30pm with an hour unpaid break for lunch. This includes 20% time provided per week to attend any classroom lessons (if required) and/or study leave. We're fully office based in Croydon.

37 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Monday 6 October 2025

Duration

2 years

Positions available

2

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

Tasks included but not restricted to per each team are as follows:

Finance

  • Book & records control: obtain and record daily business transactions/documents
  • Purchase/Sales ledger-processing & analysis invoices before posting into accounting systems
  • Tracking intercompany transactions
  • Contacting suppliers/clients/third parties for information
  • Processing cashbook entries and maintaining cashbook and bank reconciliations
  • Supporting for month end close and reconciliations.

 

Payroll

  • Process weekly and/or monthly payrolls as required for a subset of group companies.
  • Process information regarding starters and leavers.
  • Process calculations relating to SSP, SMP etc.
  • Deal with and resolve payroll queries including monitoring a payroll inbox. 
  • Manage administrative processes with regard to payroll.
  • Ensure that all staff are paid in line with contractual requirements.
  • Manage and monitor the time and attendance system to ensure that sufficient accurate data is gathered. 

Where you'll work

Alhambra House
9 St. Michaels Road
Croydon
CR0 2ZD

Training

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

Training provider

CROYDON COLLEGE

Training course

Assistant accountant (level 3)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents
  • Assist with the investigation and response to financial information queries.
  • Record and analyse financial data using the organisation’s standard tools and processes.
  • Apply double entry bookkeeping and accounting standards to process financial documents, generate financial statements and report financial information to users of accounts.
  • Assist with production of accurate financial information for the preparation of accounts.
  • Reconcile financial data, such as, preparation of reconciliations or review of reconciliations.
  • Investigate, resolve or escalate transactional queries and errors within their remit as appropriate.
  • Develop and maintain effective working relationships with stakeholders.
  • Communicate financial information in a way that non-finance stakeholders can interpret and understand.
  • Utilise digital skills to present key financial information using finance and accounting software and applications.
  • Use software packages to assist with basic accounting tasks in line with cyber and data security requirements, using data securely and safely, including backing up data.
  • Communicate using varying approaches and different media methods with an appreciation of the risks and benefits to the business of social media and other digital applications.
  • Assist with the investigation and response to financial information queries.
  • Record and analyse financial data using the organisation’s standard tools and processes.
  • Apply double entry bookkeeping and accounting standards to process financial documents, generate financial statements and report financial information to users of accounts.
  • Assist with production of accurate financial information for the preparation of accounts.
  • Reconcile financial data, such as, preparation of reconciliations or review of reconciliations.
  • Investigate, resolve or escalate transactional queries and errors within their remit as appropriate.
  • Develop and maintain effective working relationships with stakeholders.
  • Communicate financial information in a way that non-finance stakeholders can interpret and understand.
  • Utilise digital skills to present key financial information using finance and accounting software and applications.
  • Use software packages to assist with basic accounting tasks in line with cyber and data security requirements, using data securely and safely, including backing up data.
  • Communicate using varying approaches and different media methods with an appreciation of the risks and benefits to the business of social media and other digital applications.

Training schedule

  • You'll get an AAT level 3 qualification through our training provider via the Level 3 Assistant accountant apprenticeship standard.
  • You'll work 4 days a week in the office, and 1 day a week in college
  • Apprentices without level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this level via Functional Skills prior to taking the End-Point Assessment

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

A Level in:

Maths (grade B)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

  • Problem solving skills
  • Number skills
  • Logical

Other requirements

We're fully office based with no remote working.

About this employer

We are the head office for an international group of companies. We manage the central services including all payroll for the UK part of the group. We're a friendly bunch, based full time in the office, with plenty of scope for an apprentice to get involved in a wide range of business matters supported by an experienced team.

http://www.cathay-investments.com (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

  • There is the possibility for the right candidate to convert to a full-time position in the finance team

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

Cathay Investments Ltd

Imarny

02087225951

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000334234.

Apply now

Closes on Friday 26 September 2025

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