Bookkeeping & Finance Apprentice in Leigh

Join our friendly practice and train as an Accounts Assistant while working towards your AAT qualification. You'll learn bookkeeping, sales and purchase ledgers, data entry and cash records, and how to check figures are accurate. No experience needed - full training and mentoring given. Ideal if you're enthusiastic and good with numbers.

Wage: £8,736 to £13,879.32, depending on your age. We offer flexible working hours and during training will be part-time, which can move to a full-time role after training is complete. There is plenty of scope for progression too. After training, we always pay more than the minimum wage and have a commitment to pay at least the national living wage as set by The Living Wage Foundation.

Training course: Accounts or finance assistant (level 2)

Hours: Variable but will be Wednesday - Friday, for 18-21 hours per week.

Start date: Tuesday 1 September 2026

Duration: 1 year

Positions available: 1

What you'll do at work:

• Processing purchase invoices and maintaining the purchase ledger
• Raising sales invoices and monitoring the sales ledger, including chasing outstanding payments
• Entering and coding transactions onto accounting software - Xero
• Reconciling bank statements, supplier statements and cash records
• Assisting with payroll processing and RTI submissions under supervision
• Helping prepare VAT returns and supporting schedules
• Checking calculations and figures to make sure records and payments are accurate
• Scanning, filing and organising financial records and correspondence
• Responding to routine client queries by email and telephone
• Supporting month-end and year-end procedures, including accruals and prepayments
• Assisting with the preparation of accounts for review by senior colleagues
• Completing AAT coursework and attending training sessions as part of the apprenticeship

Where you'll work: Top Floor, 108 Bradshawgate, Leigh, WN7 4NP

Training provider: NATIONAL UPSKILL LIMITED

Course contents:

• Record transactional data.
• Use the organisation's standard tools and processes to examine data to identify transactional issues, such as reconciliations and inconsistencies between invoices.
• Recognise and rectify routine errors, escalating as necessary.
• Plan and review accounting and finance tasks.
• Communicate with stakeholders to deliver accurate and timely results, avoiding jargon, using language tailored to the audience.
• Use finance and accounting software packages to accurately input and manage data.
• Handle data and digital technology in line with cyber and data security requirements.

Training schedule: Training will be delivered by National Upskill. The apprentice will be based at our office in Leigh, Greater Manchester for the majority of the week, learning on the job alongside experienced colleagues. Off-the-job training will be delivered remotely through online sessions with a dedicated tutor, with one day per week set aside for study and coursework. There is no requirement to travel to a college campus. The apprentice will also receive regular one-to-one reviews with their tutor and workplace mentor to track progress towards the AAT qualification and the apprenticeship standard.

Requirements:

• Essential qualifications: English (grade 4/C), Maths (grade 4/C)
• Desirable qualifications: A Level in Business or Finance qualification (grade C), AAT Level 1 in Bookkeeping (grade Pass)

Skills:

• Communication skills
• IT skills
• Attention to detail
• Organisation skills
• Problem solving skills
• Administrative skills
• Number skills
• Team working
• Initiative
• Non-judgemental
• Patience
• Enthusiastic for role

Other requirements: Applicants must be able to travel reliably to our office in Leigh, Greater Manchester. Due to the confidential nature of client financial information, the successful applicant will be required to sign a confidentiality agreement and to handle all client data in line with GDPR and our internal data protection policy. A basic DBS check may be required before starting, as the role involves access to sensitive financial data.

About this employer: Crown Payroll Services is a general practice firm of accountants based in Leigh, Greater Manchester. We provide accounting, bookkeeping, payroll and tax services to small and medium-sized businesses across the UK and internationally. We are a small, close-knit team, which means our apprentice will work directly alongside experienced colleagues from day one rather than being one of many in a large department.

Company benefits: travel passes, duvet days, 6 weeks minimum holiday plus birthdays, staff gifts, much more.

After this apprenticeship: Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. On successful completion of the apprenticeship, there is the opportunity for a permanent position within the practice as an Accounts Assistant, taking on greater responsibility for a portfolio of clients. From there, progression can continue into an AAT Level 3 or Level 4 apprenticeship, leading to full AAT membership (MAAT).

Contact: The contact for this apprenticeship is: CROWN PAYROLL SERVICES LTD, Dean Ainslie, dean@crownpayrollservices.co.uk, 07584656884.