Virtual Finance Apprenticeship Programme 2027
Mercer & Hole LLP
Hertfordshire, Rickmansworth
Closes on Monday 30 November 2026
Posted on 6 October 2026
Contents
Summary
Candidates who wish to pursue a career in accountancy, working within the Virtual Finance team, are invited to apply for our structured higher apprentice training programme, which commences September 2027. Completing the AAT level 3 & 4.
- Wage
-
£22,000 a year
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Trainee salaries are reviewed every 6 months
- Training course
- Professional accounting technician (level 4)
- Hours
-
Monday to Friday- 9am to 5pm
37 hours 30 minutes a week
- Start date
-
Wednesday 1 September 2027
- Duration
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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
Why choose our Virtual Finance Higher Apprenticeship Programme?
A Virtual Finance apprenticeship role offers a varied and exciting career. Virtual Finance involves companies outsourcing finance functions to third-party providers, such as Mercer and Hole. Finance functions include payroll, VAT returns, bookkeeping and management reporting. You will play a key part in our Virtual Finance team and, from the outset, will be responsible for preparing, recording and processing data within the financial systems, completing monthly management accounts and preparing and submitting VAT returns. This will enable you to grow into a future leader and start on a stable and lucrative career path with progression and rewarding work.
We are committed to supporting your learning and development throughout your career with us. As an apprentice , you will benefit from a structured programme that includes trainee away days, a dedicated training manager, a buddy and study leave. Our commitment continues beyond qualification: whether you are an apprentice or a director, our Learning Academy pathway provides an ongoing investment in your growth and future success.
What will I be doing as a Virtual Finance apprentice?
Our higher Apprenticeship Programme is designed to support your learning and development. You will work as part of the Virtual Finance team while studying the AAT Level 3 and level 4 qualification. The variety of clients we work with provides you with a well-rounded experience, and the structure of our teams allows you the opportunity to gain knowledge from and exposure to senior managers and partners throughout your training and beyond.
Structure of our Virtual Finance Higher Apprenticeship Programme?
Year 1 – In the first year you will start out by learning the fundamentals of bookkeeping, this includes:
- Posting purchase and sales invoices and bank transactions
- You will use these skills over a variety of clients, making use of software solutions to help speed up and simplify processes
- You will also learn the fundamentals of VAT
- Take on responsibility for preparing and submitting some of our smaller returns
Year 2 – As you progress, you will start to take on more complicated work.
This will include:
- Calculating and posting month end journals (such a depreciation, accruals, and prepayments)
- Once journals are posted you will prepare the month end reporting packs and will assist with preparing a supporting commentary to go to the client
- You will also have opportunities to support junior apprentices with their queries and act as a buddy to new starters
Where you'll work
You can select which locations you want to apply for in your application on Find an apprenticeship.
This apprenticeship is available in these locations:
- 72 London Road, St. Albans, Hertfordshire, AL1 1NS
- Trinity Court, Church Street, Rickmansworth, WD3 1RT
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
KAPLAN FINANCIAL LIMITED
Training course
Professional accounting technician (level 4)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Collate and analyse financial information, and show how that information can be used most effectively to support value creation within an organisation.
- Apply accounting principles and adhere to legislation to ensure records are accurate and compliant with law or company policy when delivering accounting activities, such as the financial accounting of single entities, limited companies or partnerships or management accounting activities for an organisation.
- Apply professional scepticism when undertaking accounting activities to inform and evaluate decision making on the content of true and fair accounts, being alert to conditions that may indicate possible misstatement of financial information due to error or fraud, establishing the facts sensitively and being aware of unconscious bias.
- Interpret financial information for accounting purposes, such as using judgement to determine the correct way to report or account for transaction or undertaking ratio analysis.
- Participate in or support others with quality improvement activities, for example the improvement of personal working practices.
- Use software packages to assist with accounting tasks in line with cyber and data security requirements, using data securely and safely, including backing up data.
- Deliver accounting tasks with a critical eye to transactions and trends, demonstrating a ‘right first time approach’.
- Use workload management principles to plan, organise and prioritise own tasks, and manage time effectively.
- Use accounting information to add value to the organisation through use of data visualisations, analysis and interpretation, and communicate financial information in a way that facilitates understanding for non-finance stakeholders.
- Communicate accounting information through a variety of media to enable key stakeholders to understand what is required, considering the risks and benefits to the organisation of social media and other digital applications.
- Build and maintain collaborative, professional relationships with internal and external stakeholders to deliver accounting tasks, recognising the importance of equality, diversity and inclusion.
- Collate and analyse financial information, and show how that information can be used most effectively to support value creation within an organisation.
- Apply accounting principles and adhere to legislation to ensure records are accurate and compliant with law or company policy when delivering accounting activities, such as the financial accounting of single entities, limited companies or partnerships or management accounting activities for an organisation.
- Apply professional scepticism when undertaking accounting activities to inform and evaluate decision making on the content of true and fair accounts, being alert to conditions that may indicate possible misstatement of financial information due to error or fraud, establishing the facts sensitively and being aware of unconscious bias.
- Interpret financial information for accounting purposes, such as using judgement to determine the correct way to report or account for transaction or undertaking ratio analysis.
- Participate in or support others with quality improvement activities, for example the improvement of personal working practices.
- Use software packages to assist with accounting tasks in line with cyber and data security requirements, using data securely and safely, including backing up data.
- Deliver accounting tasks with a critical eye to transactions and trends, demonstrating a ‘right first time approach’.
- Use workload management principles to plan, organise and prioritise own tasks, and manage time effectively.
- Use accounting information to add value to the organisation through use of data visualisations, analysis and interpretation, and communicate financial information in a way that facilitates understanding for non-finance stakeholders.
- Communicate accounting information through a variety of media to enable key stakeholders to understand what is required, considering the risks and benefits to the organisation of social media and other digital applications.
- Build and maintain collaborative, professional relationships with internal and external stakeholders to deliver accounting tasks, recognising the importance of equality, diversity and inclusion.
Training schedule
Study will take place at one of the training centres of our training provider Kaplan. Our apprentices are given dedicated study leave for the duration of the study pathway.
More training information
Alongside the day to day duties you will also be studying for a professional qualification, the Professional Diploma in Accounting (Level 3 & 4 AAT).
The training will be a combination of on the job training, time off to study, attend college and complete online classes in preparation for exams. We also provide soft skills training and regular 1:1 meetings with your training manager to ensure you have all the support you need.
Apprentices without English or maths at Level 2 (GCSE or equivalent) must achieve this prior to the completion of the apprenticeship.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 5)
- Maths (grade 5)
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
- Problem solving skills
- Number skills
- Analytical skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Initiative
Other requirements
- You must have the permanent right to work in the UK and have a minimum of 112 UCAS points
About this employer
We are a top 50 accountancy firm with offices in London, St Albans, Rickmansworth and Milton Keynes. We provide our clients with accountancy and tax advice to help their businesses grow, support individuals and families, and help charities and trustees to manage their finances and comply with their obligations. Mercer & Hole recognises that people are its key assets, which makes achieving the right balance between work and home part of our culture.
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
- Apply to move on to the ACA qualification
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
Mercer & Hole LLP
Fal Patel
fal.patel@mercerhole.co.uk
01727869141
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000057597.
Apply now
Closes on Monday 30 November 2026
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.