Contents
Contents
Apprenticeship summary
Overview of the role
Working as an accountant for an accounting practice or other organisation.
Occupation summary
This occupation is found in organisations of all sizes whether small, medium, large or global. This occupation is present in public, private, and third sector organisations.
Professional accounting technicians may work in the accounts or finance department of an organisation or a professional accountancy firm.
The broad purpose of the Professional accounting technician is to prepare, co-ordinate and implement accounting tasks that support the creation of financial statements.
Professional accounting technicians apply their technical knowledge and skills to specific tasks within an accounting team. Tasks may include supervising assistant accountants and others to deliver processes. They may also assist senior accountants, management and other stakeholders by providing timely financial data and reports. They ensure compliance with internal controls. This may include tasks that involve interactions with His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC), applying legislation and complying with regulations, ethical and professional codes.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders. This could include junior colleagues, senior managers, clients and customers, suppliers, lenders, government agencies and auditors. They take a risk-based view of transactions and data to identify key risks and help to mitigate those risks. A typical day could include being in an office overseeing data entry, control account reconciliations and monthly, quarterly, yearly reporting. They may be involved in researching and resolving accounting problems. It is essential that people in this occupation are comfortable using digital tools and keeping up to date with changes in the occupation.
A Professional accounting technician will work alone as well as in, or supervising, a team.
An employee in this occupation will be responsible for quality assuring financial statements. They provide key reliable accounting data on a day-to-day basis.
Typical job titles include:
End-point assessment summary
ST0003, Professional accounting technician level 4
This is a summary of the key things that you – the apprentice and your employer need to know about your end-point assessment (EPA). You and your employer should read the EPA plan for the full details. It has information on assessment method requirements, roles and responsibilities, and re-sits and re-takes.
What is an end-point assessment and why it happens
An EPA is an assessment at the end of your apprenticeship. It will assess you against the knowledge, skills, and behaviours (KSBs) in the occupational standard. Your training will cover the KSBs. The EPA is your opportunity to show an independent assessor how well you can carry out the occupation you have been trained for.
Your employer will choose an end-point assessment organisation (EPAO) to deliver the EPA. Your employer and training provider should tell you what to expect and how to prepare for your EPA.
The length of the training for this apprenticeship is typically 18 months. The EPA period is typically 3 months.
The overall grades available for this apprenticeship are:
- fail
- pass
- merit
- distinction
When you pass the EPA, you will be awarded your apprenticeship certificate.
EPA gateway
The EPA gateway is when the EPAO checks and confirms that you have met any requirements required before you start the EPA. You will only enter the gateway when your employer says you are ready.
The gateway requirements for your EPA are:
- achieved English and mathematics qualifications in line with the apprenticeship funding rules
Assessment methods
Professional discussion
You will have a professional discussion with an independent assessor. It will last 60 minutes. They will ask you at least 10 questions. The questions will be about certain aspects of your occupation. You can use it to help answer the questions.
Multiple-choice test
You will complete a multiple-choice test. It will be closed book, meaning you will not have access to any books or reference materials.
In the test you can have:
Apprentices must not have access to the internet for the duration of the assessment. This includes any potential technological, web-enabled sources of information such as, but not limited to, iPods, mobile phones, MP3/4 players, smart watches which have a data storage device.
The apprentice is not allowed to bring other equipment into the assessment unless previously agreed with the EPAO, in line with their reasonable adjustment policy.
Digital equipment and software required for the undertaking of the role scenario assessment will be stated by the EPAO in advance.
The apprentice must take the role scenario assessment in a suitably controlled environment that is a quiet space, free from distractions and influence, in the presence of an invigilator. The invigilator may be the independent assessor, or another external person employed by the EPAO.
The EPAO must have an invigilation policy setting out how the role scenario assessment must be conducted. It must state the ratio of apprentices to invigilators for the setting and allow the role scenario assessment to take place in a secure way.
The test will have 20 multiple-choice questions. You will have 150 minutes to complete it.
Who to contact for help or more information
You should speak to your employer if you have a query that relates to your job.
You should speak to your training provider if you have any questions about your training or EPA before it starts.
You should receive detailed information and support from the EPAO before the EPA starts. You should speak to them if you have any questions about your EPA once it has started.Reasonable adjustments
If you have a disability, a physical or mental health condition or other special considerations, you may be able to have a reasonable adjustment that takes this into account. You should speak to your employer, training provider and EPAO and ask them what support you can get. The EPAO will decide if an adjustment is appropriate.
Professional recognition
This apprenticeship aligns with Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales for Entry
Please contact the professional body for more details.
This apprenticeship aligns with Association of Chartered Certified Accountants for Entry
Please contact the professional body for more details.
This apprenticeship aligns with Association of Accounting Technicians for Level 4
Please contact the professional body for more details.
This apprenticeship aligns with Chartered Institute of Management Accountants for Level 4
Please contact the professional body for more details.
Version log
| Version | Change detail | Earliest start date | Latest start date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2 | Occupational standard, end-point assessment and funding band revised | 09/06/2025 | Not set |
| 1.1 | The funding band for this standard has been reviewed as part of the apprenticeship funding band review. The new funding band is £8000 | 04/03/2019 | 08/06/2025 |
| 1.0 | Retired | 21/07/2016 | 03/03/2019 |
Other stakeholders involved in creating the standard: Association of Accounting Technicians, Association of Chartered Certified Charted Accountants, Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, Institute of Chartered Accountants England and Wales, Reed Business School, Financial Reporting Council, BPP, First Intuition, Kaplan, Phoenix, Access Training, Damar Training, Hereford and Worcester Group Training Association.
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