Operations Apprentice
ALIGN PROPERTY FINANCE LIMITED
Sawbridgeworth (CM21 9JX)
Closes on Sunday 22 November 2026
Posted on 16 October 2026
Contents
Summary
Ever watched a new housing development go up and wondered how it got paid for? Join our growing Sawbridgeworth team as an Operations Apprentice and find out. Supporting our Operations Manager, you'll help keep property finance deals moving for high-net-worth clients and entrepreneurs – with full training and real room to grow.
- Wage
-
£18,000 a year
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Starting from £18,000 per annum (£9.89 per hour based on 35 hours per week). We will go higher for the right candidate, depending on age, experience and mindset. Paid for all time at work and at college.
- Training course
- Business administrator (level 3)
- Hours
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Monday - Friday.
Start time: 8:30am or 9:00am. Finish time: 4:30pm or 5:00pm.
35 hours a week
- Start date
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Monday 4 January 2027
- Duration
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1 year 6 months
- Positions available
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1
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
Our Operations Manager keeps the whole business running, from client documents and lender submissions to compliance, our deal pipeline, invoicing and supporting the directors. As our Operations Apprentice you'll work alongside her every day as your main point of contact, with oversight from our directors, learning how a deal gets from first enquiry to completion. As a small business there's no 'that's not my job' – you'll roll up your sleeves, get involved in a bit of everything and learn fast.
Day to day you will:
- Answer the office phone and manage email enquiries from clients, prospects, lenders and other professionals.
- Keep our CRM system and deal pipeline up to date, so files are accurate and compliant.
- Request, chase and check client documents and file them correctly.
- Help prepare and submit applications to lenders and keep clients updated on progress.
- Liaise with banks, investment houses and private funds, plus solicitors, valuers and other third-party professionals, to keep transactions on track, inclusive of follow ups.
- Support compliance checks, making sure each file has everything it needs.
- Help with financial admin such as preparing invoices.
- Provide general admin support to the directors and help keep the office running smoothly.
- Calendar management for the directors and team – being proactive and letting the team know what is booked in for the day/week.
- Preparing and organising the meeting room ahead of internal meetings and 3rd parties visiting the office, alongside tidying up after.
- Learn about the financial services sector – development, bridging and term finance, how lenders assess deals and why property finance matters to the wider economy.
Where you'll work
T2 Allen House
The Maltings, Station Road
Sawbridgeworth
CM21 9JX
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
HARLOW COLLEGE
Training course
Business administrator (level 3)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Skilled in the use of multiple IT packages and systems relevant to the organisation in order to: write letters or emails, create proposals, perform financial processes, record and analyse data. Examples include MS Office or equivalent packages. Able to choose the most appropriate IT solution to suit the business problem. Able to update and review databases, record information and produce data analysis where required.
- Produces accurate records and documents including: emails, letters, files, payments, reports and proposals. Makes recommendations for improvements and present solutions to management. Drafts correspondence, writes reports and able to review others' work. Maintains records and files, handles confidential information in compliance with the organisation's procedures. Coaches others in the processes required to complete these tasks.
- Exercises proactivity and good judgement. Makes effective decisions based on sound reasoning and is able to deal with challenges in a mature way. Seeks advice of more experienced team members when appropriate.
- Builds and maintains positive relationships within their own team and across the organisation. Demonstrates ability to influence and challenge appropriately. Becomes a role model to peers and team members, developing coaching skills as they gain area knowledge.
- Demonstrates good communication skills, whether face-to-face, on the telephone, in writing or on digital platforms. Uses the most appropriate channels to communicate effectively. Demonstrates agility and confidence in communications, carrying authority appropriately. Understands and applies social media solutions appropriately. Answers questions from inside and outside of the organisation, representing the organisation or department.
- Completes tasks to a high standard. Demonstrates the necessary level of expertise required to complete tasks and applies themself to continuously improve their work. Is able to review processes autonomously and make suggestions for improvements. Shares administrative best-practice across the organisation e.g. coaches others to perform tasks correctly. Applies problem-solving skills to resolve challenging or complex complaints and is a key point of contact for addressing issues.
- Takes responsibility for initiating and completing tasks, manages priorities and time in order to successfully meet deadlines. Positively manages the expectations of colleagues at all levels and sets a positive example for others in the workplace. Makes suggestions for improvements to working practice, showing understanding of implications beyond the immediate environment (e.g. impact on clients, suppliers, other parts of the organisation). Manages resources e.g. equipment or facilities. Organises meetings and events, takes minutes during meetings and creates action logs as appropriate. Takes responsibility for logistics e.g. travel and accommodation.
- Uses relevant project management principles and tools to scope, plan, monitor and report. Plans required resources to successfully deliver projects. Undertakes and leads projects as and when required.
Training schedule
Business administrator / Skills England
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade Grade 3 or equivalent)
- Maths (grade Grade 3 or equivalent)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- IT skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Customer care skills
- Problem solving skills
- Presentation skills
- Administrative skills
- Number skills
- Analytical skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Creative
- Initiative
- Non judgemental
- Patience
- Self Motivated
- Good time keeping
Other requirements
- Our office at Allen House Business Centre, Station Road, is next to Sawbridgeworth railway station, with direct trains to Harlow, Bishop's Stortford and London. We're expanding into a bigger office in the same building.
- College day release is one day a week at Harlow College, a short train journey away (Harlow Town).
- This is a fully office-based role – not remote or hybrid.
- Office-based – four days a week in our Sawbridgeworth office plus one day at college.
- Long periods on the computer and phone.
- A busy, deadline-driven environment – deals have completion dates and clients expect prompt replies.
- Handling confidential personal and financial information.
- A small team where everyone pitches in.
- Wants to be in the office every day and learn from the team.
- Eager to learn, curious and not afraid to ask questions.
- Not afraid to make mistakes – and learns from them.
- Organised, with good attention to detail.
- Confident and polite on the phone and in writing.
- Comfortable using computers – Outlook, Word and Excel.
- Reliable, punctual and professional.
- Discreet with confidential information.
- A can-do, roll-your-sleeves-up attitude.
- An interest in finance, property or business is a bonus but not essential.
- Dates are subject to change.
About this employer
Align Property Finance is an independent specialist property finance broker in Sawbridgeworth. Since July 2024 we've arranged over £176m of development, bridging, investment and Sharia-compliant finance for high-net-worth individuals, successful entrepreneurs, developers and investors – built on relationships, not volume.
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
We're a growing business – moving into a bigger office and adding to the team. This is a starting salary: work hard, learn and put the effort in and there's a real chance of a permanent role on completion, with progression into senior operations or case management and support with further qualifications.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
HARLOW COLLEGE
Kellie Tighe
ktighe@harlow-college.ac.uk
07377125961
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000059612.
Apply now
Closes on Sunday 22 November 2026