Finance Officer Apprentice - Ark (Absolute Return for Kids)
ARK SCHOOLS
London (W12 7TF)
Closes in 30 days (Saturday 25 July 2026)
Posted on 25 June 2026
Contents
Summary
We’re looking for a motivated and ambitious Finance Officer Apprentice to join our friendly, collaborative, and high-performing Finance team at Ark and Ventures.
- Wage
-
£21,000 a year
- Training course
- Assistant accountant (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday to Friday 9.00am- 5.30pm Flexible, 31 hours per week
31 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 3 August 2026
- Duration
-
1 year 6 months
- 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
This is an exciting opportunity to start or build your career in finance while gaining hands-on experience in a supportive professional environment. Our team manages the finances of five entities, giving you exposure to a broad range of financial processes, operations and reporting.
As a Finance Officer Apprentice, you’ll play an important role in supporting the smooth day-to-day running of finance operations across all Ark and Ventures entities. You’ll develop practical skills in areas such as financial accounting, transaction processing, and the foundations of financial reporting, while also contributing to ad hoc finance projects that will broaden your experience and support your professional development.
We are committed to your development. As part of this role, you will complete the Level 3 Assistant Accountant Apprenticeship, fully funded by us. Alongside your day-to-day responsibilities, you’ll receive dedicated support and protected Off-the-Job learning time equivalent to 6 hours per week to help you succeed in your studies and build the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed for a successful career in finance.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Day to Day Finance Transactional Responsibilities (all Ark and Venture entities)
- Monitor and maintain finance mailboxes and resolve issues raised
- Responsible for processing of purchase orders, supplier invoices and employee expenses
- Responsible for daily cashbook updates for all bank accounts across all entities
- Prepare weekly payment run for suppliers and employee expense claims
- Process donor income received on Beacon and liaise with the fundraising team to reconcile donor income with forecasts.
- Create and issue sales invoices to customers and inter company rechargers
- Reconcile supplier statements and follow up on queries or overdue payments
- Monitor and update supplier and customer account details
- Finance Projects & Process Improvements
- Support the implementation of the new finance system
- Assist the finance team with ad hoc project work, month end and year end
- Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives across finance processes
Where you'll work
1 Edcity Edcity Walk
London
W12 7TF
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
BPP PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION LIMITED
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
More training information
BPP apprenticeship training programmes are delivered virtually by our fully qualified and industry-experienced training team.
Using their expert knowledge, we’ve purposefully built our programmes around the real-world use of modern technology, so that the skills we create can be directly applied in the workplace.
Throughout the apprenticeship learners receive coaching, help and guidance from a dedicated team who are there to ensure they get the most from their work experience.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Problem solving skills
- Analytical skills
- Initiative
- Proficient in Microsoft Excel
- Other Office applications
- Written communication skills
- Accuracy
- Prioritise workload
- Driven
- Self-starter
Other requirements
- Successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Services check
About this employer
Ark is an education charity committed to ensuring that every child, regardless of background, has access to an excellent education and real choices in life. We believe that, with the right support and approach, every school can succeed, even those facing the most challenging circumstances. Today, Ark Schools has grown into a network of 39 schools nationwide and is recognised as one of the highest-performing academy groups in the country.Our ambition extends beyond our own schools. Ark and Ventures was created not only to support pupils within Ark schools, but also to improve education systems more widely. Our ventures tackle some of the most complex challenges facing children today, including poor numeracy, inadequate support for pupils with dyslexia, and shortages of high-quality social workers.Ark’s Finance team plays a vital role in enabling this mission. The team supports a diverse portfolio of ventures focused on improving education outcomes, by providing strong financial stewardship and strategic support.
Other Information
Our flexible working model offers the best of both worlds, balancing in person collaboration, in our state of the art West London office with the flexibility of remote working.
Our flexitime policy allows you to work your hours around our core hours of 10.00 - 16.00, helping you prioritise your work-life balance and personal commitments.
27 days annual leave plus bank holidays, rising with each year of service up to 30 days after 3-years’ service. This entitlement is pro rata for part time employees. This entitlement excludes bank holidays.
Full office closure between Christmas and New Year.
As an Ark employee, you will have the opportunity to be part of the TPT (The Pension Trust) scheme, our workplace pension scheme where we make an 11% contribution; you are not required to contribute towards this scheme unless you choose to.
Access to high-quality professional learning throughout your career, offering both face-to-face sessions and a bespoke online learning platform.
Access to Ark Rewards scheme offering savings from over 3,000 major retailers, interest-free loans available for season tickets or a bike, gym discounts offering up to 40% off your local gym and free eye tests.
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
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
Successful candidates will have the opportunity to receive support with: Pursuing higher-level apprenticeships, Securing a permanent position and Growing within the team or across the wider Ark finance teams.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
BPP PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION LIMITED
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000039159.
Apply now
Closes in 30 days (Saturday 25 July 2026)
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.