Apprentice Accounts Associate
Parsons Chartered Accountants
OSSETT (WF5 9TJ)
Closes in 24 days (Monday 2 March 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 29 January 2026
Contents
Summary
We are looking for a detail-oriented and motivated Business Services Associate. In this role, you will support the Payroll and Accounts teams by undertaking a range of finance and administrative duties. This is a fantastic opportunity to gain hands-on experience whilst working toward a Level 3 AAT qualification.
- Wage
-
£13,741 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Parsons offer above minimum national minimum wage for apprentices; this will be discussed at interview.
- Training course
- Assistant accountant (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday - Friday, 9.00am - 5.00pm, with a 1-hour unpaid lunch break.
35 hours a week
- Start date
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Tuesday 1 September 2026
- Duration
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1 year 3 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
As a Business Services Associate, you will support your accounts and payroll colleagues and clients by learning and carrying out responsibilities including accounts preparation, bookkeeping, payroll and office administration.
Key responsibilities include (but are not limited to):
- Bookkeeping and financial administration, e.g. processing invoices/payments, inputting purchase orders, bank reconciliations, creating sales invoices, chasing outstanding payments, tax and payroll administration
- Accounts preparation for sole traders, partnerships and limited companies
- VAT and CIS returns
- Corporation tax preparation
- Self-assessment tax return preparation
- Learning and using a range of systems including CCH, Xero, Sage, Outlook, Excel and Word to accurately and efficiently perform your role
- Responding to all clients and colleagues in a timely and professional manner
- Communicating progress to the appropriate senior colleague/manager using clear, timely and relevant communication methods
- Supporting and assisting colleagues
- Escalating concerns or suggestions for improvement to senior management
- Professionally answering incoming calls and, with training, forwarding these enquiries to the most appropriate person
- Responding to basic requests for information relating to our services
- Maintaining a confidential (manual and electronic) filing system to ensure that accurate, up-to-date information is available to accounts and payroll colleagues
- Drafting client documents including engagement letters for manager review
- Completion of the required level of study, including passing all exams, regularly updating apprenticeship learning journals, training files, etc.
- Understanding the principles of cybersecurity and how to work safely online
- Understanding the key role that the finance function plays for our clients and the principles of professional ethics and codes of conduct in a finance environment
- Applying professional judgement, maintaining and applying a critical eye to transactions and trends within groups of transactions, for reasonableness
- Completion of all necessary training outlined in the firmwide training plan
Where you'll work
UNIT 2
SILKWOOD PARK
FRYERS WAY
OSSETT
WF5 9TJ
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
FIRST INTUITION LEEDS 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
- The successful applicant will train with First Intuition Leeds Limited, undergoing a level 3 AAT qualification
- Depending on the successful applicant, the role can either begin in June or Septmeber
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
A Level in:
- Numerate (Business, Science, Maths) (grade B or above)
- x 3 A Levels (Predicted Grades can be included) (grade B or above)
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
- Administrative skills
- Number skills
- Analytical skills
- Team working
- Open and honest
- Self-motivated
- Flexible and proactive
- Customer focused
- Able to make decisions
- Able to use initiative
- Able to work under pressure
- Able to work to deadlines
- Confident communicator
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Committed to the qualification
- Microsoft Office skills
- Enthusiasm
- Commitment to Self - Improving
About this employer
Parsons provides an array of accountancy services to local and international clients. We serve clients ranging from small owner-managed businesses to large corporations across multiple service lines including audit, statutory accounts preparation, tax compliance and advisory, and corporate finance. Our priorities are to provide business owners peace of mind that their finances are legally compliant, and to provide additional value to help our clients achieve both business and individual financial objectives. The firm is built upon our four corporate values – ambition, clarity, positivity and trust.
Team overview
Business Services comprises a team of experienced and trainee accountants and bookkeepers who offer a range of compliance and advisory services to clients operating across a broad range of sectors. Business Services, alongside our Payroll team, effectively manages our clients’ accounts and payrolls, transforming their data into meaningful insights and recommendations to help further our clients’ success. The team predominantly services non-audit clients with a turnover up £10m but also deals with compliance services for any of our audited clients as required..
After this apprenticeship
- Parsons offers a clear career pathway for apprentices with a role map and competency frameworks outlining the required skills, behaviours and capabilities expected at each stage of your career. Those joining at Level 3 will begin their career as a Business Services Associate, with the opportunity to progress to Business Services Senior Associate as further qualifications are achieved and performance criteria are met
- As you become more experienced and autonomous in your work, you will assist in supporting and developing less experienced colleagues through their studies and day-to-day responsibilities. Promotion to Business Services Executive is achievable around the point of ACA qualification
- Qualified colleagues in due course may be promoted to a managerial position, such as a Business Services Assistant Manager, or may choose to specialise in other areas such as Corporate Finance or Tax. Beyond this, further progression is available into team management and leadership roles where appropriate
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
FIRST INTUITION LEEDS LIMITED
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000011422.
Apply now
Closes in 24 days (Monday 2 March 2026 at 11:59pm)