Introduction
Accountancy assistants normally work in a council's
central finance department alongside accountants. In
addition, accountants and accountancy assistants may work in other
council departments such as education, environmental services,
leisure, etc, managing individual service budgets.
Accountancy assistants might also be called finance
assistants or finance clerks. An accountancy Assistant would
assist with a range of accounting and finance related functions
such as assisting in preparing financial accounts, coordinating
reports and returns as well as ensuring compliance with corporate
standards and guidelines.
Work Environment
Accountancy assistants spend most of their time in the
office working on the computer. They may sometimes have to visit
other council departments. They usually work a standard
37-hour week, but must be flexible. Some overtime work maybe
available. Part-time work and job-sharing are possible in
many councils.
Daily Activities
Accountancy assistants' duties may include:
- to assist in the compilation and monitoring of revenue
budgets;
- keeping financial records;
- producing and analysing figures for accountants or department
managers;
- helping to prepare and audit accounts;
- checking invoices;
- checking and processing expenses claims from staff who have to
travel away from their base offices;
- preparing monthly VAT returns;
- monitor cash flow and arrange short term loans and deposits
(Capital/ Treasury Team);
- assist with preparing claims and returns according to
guidelines;
- to monitor accounts and prepare reconciliations and to maintain
accounts, guidelines and registers outside the main accounting
systems;
- assisting in the provision of financial advice and
analysis;
- to supervise the work of clerical staff and trainees;
- to assist in the training and development of junior members of
staff and trainees.
Some accountancy assistants help prepare annual budgets or grant
applications for funding from the UK Government or European Union.
Others work as part of an audit team, monitoring the
council's accounting systems. They visit different
departments, ask to see random samples of paperwork and financial
records and check to see that these are correctly completed.
Their exact duties vary according to whether they work in a
central accounts sectionorin an individual department. Accountancy
assistants employed in social services forexample, may deal with
payments to companies who supply equipment to care homes. In
education they might assist in preparing the annual budgets to be
allocated to individual schools. In a pensions section they
may assist with collecting contributions from staff salaries and
paying them into the pension fund.
Skills & Interests
Accountancy assistants must:
- have strong numerical skills;
- be accurate and pay attention to detail;
- be able to work to tight deadlines;
- have good written and verbal communication skills;
- have a good telephone manner;
- be capable of working without close supervision;
- have a good knowledge of computerised accountancy systems.
Entry Requirements
There are no minimum entry requirements. However,
individual councils often ask for a minimum of five GCSE/S grades
at C or above, including English and maths. A level/ Degree
or a relevant NVQ/SVQ Level 2 or previous work experience requiring
literacy and numeracy may be acceptable alternatives.
Accountancy assistants are given on-the-job training and may work
towards NVQ/SVQs in Accounting at Levels 2-4. By completing these
and gaining approved work experience they may also become members
of the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT). Forsome
posts, previous experience of working in a finance office and
experience of creating and maintaining spreadsheets may be an
advantage.
Future Prospects & Opportunities
A small council might employ up to 20 accountancy
assistants. In a large council there might be over 100,
working in different departments. There are prospects of
promotion to senior accountancy technician or finance officer,
responsible for the work of several accountancy assistants.
Accountancy assistants who gain AAT membership may take further
training to become accountants.
Further Information & Services
Association of Accounting Technicians www.aat.co.uk
Chartered Institute of Management Accountants www.cimaglobal.com
Institute of Chartered Accountantsin England and Wales www.icaew.com
The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants www.acca.co.uk
The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy www.cipfa.org.uk
Careers Wales have produced a Spotlight article on
careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and
maths): https://www.careerswales.com/en/spotlight-on-stem/
You may find further information about this area of work through
Careers Wales (www.careerswales.com/)or in your
local library, careers officeor school careers library.