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- Tasks: Join our Virtual Finance team, handling bookkeeping and management reporting.
- Company: Mercer & Hole, a supportive firm with a family feel.
- Benefits: Gain AAT and ACCA qualifications, with ongoing training and development.
- Why this job: Launch your finance career with fast progression and real impact.
- Qualifications: Strong organisation and communication skills; no prior experience needed.
- Other info: Hybrid role across Rickmansworth & St Albans, driving is desirable.
The predicted salary is between 18000 - 25000 £ per year.
Why choose our Virtual Finance Higher Apprenticeship Programme? Virtual Finance offers a varied and exciting career. Virtual Finance is where companies choose to hire third parties – such as Mercer & Hole – to perform tasks or handle their operations, for example payroll, VAT returns, bookkeeping and management reporting. You will be able to play a key part in our Virtual Finance team and, from the outset, will be responsible for preparing, recording and processing data within the virtual finance 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 fast progression and rewarding work.
We pride ourselves on learning and development for our trainees and have lots of structures in place to support you on your journey with us, for example trainee away days, a dedicated training manager, buddy and study leave to name just a few. Training and development doesn’t stop when you qualify – we are committed to continually developing our staff regardless of whether you’re a trainee or a director using our ‘People Passport’ so you are guaranteed a great investment in your future!
This is a split role working across both our Rickmansworth & St Albans offices, therefore driving is desirable to the role. Also, due to the nature of the role, this will suit a candidate with excellent organisation and strong communication skills.
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 teams in Rickmansworth and St Albans while studying the AAT 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 the process. You will also learn the fundamentals of VAT and 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 as depreciation, accruals, and prepayments). Once all these journals are posted you will prepare the month end reporting packs and will assist with preparing a supporting commentary to go to the client.
Once you have completed your AAT qualification, you will then have the opportunity to move on to studying the ACCA to become a certified accountant or the ACA to become a chartered accountant.
If you think this is something you would be interested in, then apply! We really want to attract and retain individuals who share our Values:
- Together - The firm with the family feel. Express gratitude. Smile. Be humble and confident. Have fun.
- Resilient - Change is imminent, and business is imperfect. Be open minded & agile. Assume positive intent and exercise the power of positive thinking.
- Understanding - Each individual matters and will be heard and respected. Honesty, integrity, empathy and kindness are fundamental.
- Supportive - We support what is important to you and show kindness in our behaviour to each other. We encourage each other to realise our potential.
- Thrive! - We strive to be the best, innovate and always do exceptional work. That’s who we are and what our clients deserve.
Mercer & Hole is committed to cultivating and preserving a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Our people are our most valuable asset. We bring our life experiences, knowledge, creativity, and talents together at Mercer & Hole making it a unique place to work where all can safely thrive.
Virtual Finance Higher Apprenticeship - Hybrid Path to ACCA in St Albans employer: Mercer & Hole
Contact Detail:
Mercer & Hole Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Virtual Finance Higher Apprenticeship - Hybrid Path to ACCA in St Albans
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company inside out! Research Mercer & Hole, their values, and what they stand for. This will help you tailor your conversations during interviews and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Connect with current employees on LinkedIn or attend any virtual events they might host. Building relationships can give you insider info and even a foot in the door when it comes to landing that apprenticeship.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Prepare for common interview questions related to finance and teamwork. Mock interviews with friends or family can help you feel more confident and articulate your thoughts clearly.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our Virtual Finance team and ready to take the next step in your career.
We think you need these skills to ace Virtual Finance Higher Apprenticeship - Hybrid Path to ACCA in St Albans
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for finance and learning shine through. We want to see that you’re genuinely excited about the opportunity to grow with us in the Virtual Finance team!
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the role. Highlight any relevant experience or skills that align with what we’re looking for, like organisation and communication skills. This helps us see how you fit into our team!
Be Yourself: Don’t be afraid to let your personality come through in your application. We value authenticity and want to know who you are beyond your qualifications. Remember, we’re looking for individuals who share our values!
Apply Through Our Website: For the best chance of success, make sure to apply directly through our website. This ensures your application gets to the right people and shows us you’re serious about joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Mercer & Hole
✨Know Your Numbers
Brush up on your basic finance and accounting principles, especially bookkeeping and VAT. Being able to discuss these topics confidently will show that you're serious about the role and ready to dive into the nitty-gritty of virtual finance.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
Since strong communication is key in this role, prepare examples of how you've effectively communicated in past experiences. Whether it's resolving a conflict or explaining complex information, having these stories ready will demonstrate your fit for the team.
✨Demonstrate Organisational Skills
Think of specific instances where you successfully managed multiple tasks or projects. Highlighting your organisational skills will reassure the interviewers that you can handle the responsibilities of preparing and processing data efficiently.
✨Embrace the Company Values
Familiarise yourself with Mercer & Hole's values like resilience, understanding, and supportiveness. Be prepared to discuss how you embody these values in your work ethic and interactions, as cultural fit is just as important as skills.