Finance Apprentice
WITNEY TOWN COUNCIL
WITNEY (OX28 6AG)
Closes in 21 days (Friday 28 November 2025 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 6 November 2025
Contents
Summary
Kickstart your career at Witney Town Council as an Finance Apprentice! Earn while you learn, gaining real finance skills like processing receipts and payments, analysing timesheets, and reporting. Join a friendly team that supports your training, development, and future career in your community.
- Wage
-
£15,771 a year
Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Salary will rise to £17,742 per annum (£9.20 per hour) on attainment of Level 2, plus National Pay Awards.
- Training course
- Assistant accountant (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday to Thursday 8.30am to 5.00pm
Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm
May be required to attend evening Council meetings (approx. 12 per year) which are held on Monday evenings at 6pm – for which TOIL (time off in lieu) will be accrued
37 hours a week
- Start date
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Friday 2 January 2026
- Duration
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1 year 6 months
- Positions available
-
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
- Working Monday to Friday, with one day a week for study on day release
- Entering income and expenditure into the finance system (Omega)
- Handling cash and taking money to the bank
- Checking and filing invoices and receipts
- Helping to chase payments and support credit control
- Assisting with payroll tasks, like checking timesheets
- Supporting budget updates and simple financial reports to managers and for Council meetings
- Helping with quarterly VAT returns
- Reconciling bank statements and petty cash
- Preparing documents for internal and external audits
- Answering phone calls and greeting visitors in the office
- Helping with small projects and learning basic project management
- Attending some Council meetings (Monday evenings at 6pm – approx. 12 per year)
- Taking part in community events and activities (sometimes outside normal hours)
Where you'll work
TOWN HALL
MARKET SQUARE
WITNEY
OX28 6AG
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
ABINGDON AND WITNEY 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
This apprenticeship will include AAT Level 2 between Janaury 2026 and July 2026, upon the successful completion of the AAT Level 2 exams, the AAT Level 3 apprenticeship will commence in September 2026.
Delivery model:
• Work-based training with your employer
• Day release during term time (approximately 1 day a week for 1 year)
• Level 2 Functional Skills in English (7 days at college, if required)
• Off the job training will count for at least 6 hours a week of an apprentice’s time at work
Qualifications included:
• AAT Level 2 Foundation Certificate in Accounting
• AAT Level 3 Advanced Diploma in Accounting
• Level 3 Assistant Accountant Apprenticeship
End Point Assessment:
• Synoptic examination
• Portfolio
• Professional discussion
More training information
Please apply as soon as possible for this role. Should the right candidate be found prior to the closing date, then the vacancy may be closed early.
Apprenticeship Assessment and Information Session:
Any new person applying for apprenticeship roles where Abingdon and Witney College deliver the training will be required to attend an Apprenticeship Assessment and Information Session at Witney or Abingdon campus.
This will consist of a series of initial assessments (required prior to any apprenticeship offer), completion of essential paperwork, the opportunity to find out more about the apprenticeship process, the training included, and a forum for your questions.
As a new Apprenticeship applicant, you will only have to undergo this process once. If you would like to talk to us about the assessments or if you would need any extra support to attend the Apprenticeship Assessment and Information Session, please call us on 01235 216216.
Qualification checks:
By applying for this vacancy, you are giving Abingdon and Witney College permission to undertake a Learner Record Service check on your previous qualifications. We make every effort to ensure that applicants from non-traditional academic backgrounds or those who may not have the formal GCSE entry requirements can access apprenticeships where possible.
The National Minimum Wage (NMW) for Apprentices is £7.55 per hour from April 2024. This applies to 16 - 18 year old apprentices and those aged 19 and over during the first year of their apprenticeship. After this, the National Minimum wage appropriate to their age applies. The Wage for apprentices applies to both time spent on the job plus time spent training.
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
- IT skills
- Attention to detail
- Customer care skills
- Problem solving skills
- Administrative skills
- Number skills
- Analytical skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Initiative
About this employer
Witney Town Council is the first tier of local government, serving the vibrant and historic market town of Witney. The Council represents the interests of the local community and works to maintain and enhance the town’s many facilities, green spaces, and community services. We are responsible for a wide range of local amenities including parks and recreation grounds, cemeteries, sports facilities, allotments, play areas, and the town’s civic events. Our aim is to make Witney a great place to live, work, and visit. As part of a supportive and friendly team, you’ll be contributing to the smooth running of the Council and helping to deliver high-quality services for residents, visitors, and local businesses.
http://www.witney-tc.gov.uk (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme [generous employer contribution currently 21.7%] 24 days’ annual leave, rising to 29 days after 5 years’ service, plus bank holidays Extra-statutory days leave between Christmas/New Year
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
When you successfully complete your apprenticeship, you will move into a permanent role with Witney Town Council. We’re committed to developing our people, so with experience and further training, you’ll have opportunities to progress into more senior positions — potentially even becoming our Responsible Financial Officer (RFO) in the future.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
ABINGDON AND WITNEY COLLEGE
Mike
apprenticeships@abingdon-witney.ac.uk
01235216216
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000349861.
Apply now
Closes in 21 days (Friday 28 November 2025 at 11:59pm)
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