Accountancy Apprenticeship

Job summary

Are you a motivated individual looking to kick-start your Finance career? We are offering a Level 3 Apprenticeship in Accountancy (AAT), with a clear progression path to Level 4 for successful candidates. We also welcome applications from those already holding a Level 3 qualification who wish to progress to Level 4.

Do you have attention to detail?

Do you have a natural ability to work with figures?

Do you want to make a real difference within a friendly and supportive team?

The Defra Accountancy Apprenticeship programme offers an exciting opportunity for you to gain practical experience in financial management within the UK government. This apprenticeship provides a unique combination of on-the-job training, professional development, and the chance to contribute to critical public services.

At Defra, we will support and invest in you to help you progress and achieve your career goals. You will have the opportunity to secure a permanent role within Defra and subsequently move up the career ladder gain the full professional qualification.

This is a exciting opportunity to earn as you learn and get hands on practice while you study towards a Finance Apprenticeship. The initial appointment is for the Level 3 apprenticeship with a non-competitive progression to Level 4, subject to successful completion of Level 3 and meeting performance standards.

You’ll receive formal learning to develop crucial skills, knowledge and behaviours for your career and will also be a key member of a great team. As an apprentice with us, we will assign you to a role within the Specialist Financial Operations Team where you’ll work in a supporting role and gain an understanding of how our Finance Profession operates. You will grow your skills and experience through working with more experienced Finance Professionals and through the support of other people in the same profession.

We will match you to a role that is most suited to you and your skill set and will support you with your learning and self-development throughout the apprenticeship and beyond.

We will be running a Q&A drop-in session via MS Teams where you will have the opportunity to meet some of the Defra Finance Team, find out more about the apprenticeships, and ask any questions that you have about the roles. If you would like to attend, please click on one of the following links to join the session:

Click here to attend Thursday 4 June 14:00 - 15:00

Job description

Key responsibilities will include, but are not limited to supporting with the following:

• Financial Analysis: Conducting financial analysis, budget management, and financial forecasting to support Defra in making informed financial decisions.
• Reporting: Preparing financial reports and documentation, ensuring compliance with government regulations and financial standards.
• Accounting: Assisting in maintaining financial records and accounting systems, including the preparation of statements and balance sheets.
• Problem Solving: Working with experienced professionals to address financial challenges and provide creative solutions.
• Continuous Learning: Participating in training and development programs to enhance your financial knowledge and professional skills.
• Teamwork: Collaborating with colleagues and stakeholders to support the delivery of government services and projects.
• Compliance: Ensuring adherence to government financial policies and regulations, promoting transparency and accountability.

Your apprenticeship will be guided by your dedicated line manager, who will support your development by regularly reviewing your progress in performance meetings, in line with our probation policy and established procedures. Your potential for continued employment is closely linked to the successful completion of your apprenticeship. This apprenticeship provides a well-structured learning experience, where you will have the opportunity to achieve professional qualifications in finance or accountancy upon successfully concluding the programme.

Due to the nature of these apprenticeship roles, while we advertise the roles as part time, we will require a minimum commitment of 30 hours per week.

Person specification

There’s a lot to learn and do, so you need to be ready to be proactive, work hard and participate in the many opportunities you’ll be given to showcase your skills. You don’t have to have a background in finance – we want people with the ability and enthusiasm to learn and grow throughout the apprenticeship.

We are looking for someone with the following skills:

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel, Outlook. You will also be using SharePoint while in post.
• An eager learner: Possess a proactive and genuine enthusiasm for finance and a thirst for knowledge, actively seeking opportunities to enhance your skills.
• Strong analytical abilities and meticulous attention to detail.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the confidence to interact with and question stakeholders.
• A flair for customer service.
• Highly self-motivated, capable of working both independently and collaboratively within a team.
• Flexibility and adaptability
• Consistently maintaining positive customer and team engagement.
• Willingness to travel when required.

You don’t need to have a degree to apply, although those with degrees are still welcome. To be eligible for the apprenticeship you are required to hold the following minimum eligibility criteria:

• Hold a valid UK passport/birth certificate or residence permit.
• Have the right to live and work in the UK.
• Must have lived in the UK and/or EEA for 3 years prior to apprenticeship start date.
• Not be in full-time education or be undertaking another apprenticeship by the apprenticeship start date.
• You must not hold an existing qualification at the same or higher level in a similar subject. – we reserve the right to withdraw applications who are deemed ineligible due to existing qualifications.
• You must hold 5 x GCSEs at Grade C or Grade 4 or above, including in Maths and English.

Qualifications

5 x GCSE's at Grade C or Grade 4 or above, including Maths and English

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Working Together

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £29,715, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £8,608 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Ability and Experience.

After submission of the first stage of your application you will be invited to complete a Civil Service Numerical Test. If you successfully pass the test, you will be invited to complete the final stage of the application.

Please complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended), the closing date for the tests is 23:55 on 08/06/2026. If you fail to complete the online test before the deadline your application will be withdrawn. Guidance for the test will be available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website.

Test maintenance

Our online test supplier will be performing scheduled maintenance between 4pm and midnight on 31st May 2026 and again 4pm to 7pm on 7th June 2026. You will be unable to access tests during this period.

If you are in the middle of a test when the maintenance begins, your progress will be paused. You will be able to resume your test from where you left off via your application centre once the downtime has ended. Please note that you will not be able to launch any new tests while the system is offline.

Do not leave completing the tests until the last minute in case you experience any access or technical issues. There may not be technical support available after business hours and after 2pm on the closing date of 08/06/2026.

While the tests should work on most operating systems and modern browsers with a good internet connection, we cannot guarantee that every combination will work. At the beginning, the test will check which browser you are using, and alert you if it is likely to be incompatible.

It is highly recommended that you complete the online tests on a desktop computer, not a mobile phone or tablet.

Please note that online tests associated with this vacancy are not subject to time limits; for further information visit the Reasonable adjustments for online tests - a candidate guide

Application Process

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV, Personal Statement (previous skills and experience) and 250 words on the Behaviour "Working Together".

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

The candidate's CV needs to demonstrate they have undertaken similar roles and activities as shown in the job specification.

You are also required to provide a 500 word max Personal statement, which should detail their experience and suitability for the role, as well as have undertaken similar roles and activities as shown in the job specification.

Sift

Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead behaviour 'Working Together' and candidates need to meet the required sift score for their application to be progressed. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Interview

Candidate successful at sift stage will be invited to a video assessment/interview (1hour) that will consist of an interview of Behaviours and Strengths.

Location

As part of the pre-employment process for this post, successful candidate(s) will be able to agree a contractual workplace from those locations listed in this advert. The agreed contractual workplace is then the substantive and permanent place of work for the successful candidate(s).

Where the location is ‘National’ the successful appointee should discuss and agree an appropriate contractual location in line with both Defra’s location policy and site capacity, prior to proceeding with pre-employment processes.

The agreed amount of time spent at a workplace for this post will reflect the requirement for Civil Servants to spend at least 60% of their working time in an organisation workplace with the option to work the remaining time flexibly from home. Working time spent at a workplace may include time spent at other organisational locations including field-based operational locations, together with supplier, customer or partner locations. This is a non-contractual agreement which is consistent with common Civil Service expectations.

Travel costs to non-contractual workplaces will be subject to departmental travel and subsistence policies. Travel costs to contractual workplaces are the responsibility of the employee.

The successful candidate is required to carry out all their duties from a UK location, and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time.

Defra includes the core department, APHA, RPA, Cefas and VMD.

Salary

New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. The internal roles rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e. level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.

Reserve List

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Childcare Vouchers

Any move to DEFRA from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

Contact Government Recruitment Service via defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section in the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Accessibility

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

Visa Sponsorship Statement

Please take note that Defra does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship.

Criminal Record Check

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

Internal Fraud Database Check

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

To start an apprenticeship, you’ll need to be:

• 16 or over
• living in England
• not in full-time education

You can apply for an apprenticeship while you’re still at school but you’ll need to be 16 or over by the end of the summer holidays to start the apprenticeship. Please note if successful you must be 16 or over to undergo the relevant security checks.

Higher Security Clearance

All of these posts require the successful candidate to hold basic security clearance. Candidates posted to London may be subject to a higher level of clearance because of the security requirements for that location. Job offers to these posts are made on the basis of merit. Security vetting will only take place after the receipt of a job offer.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.

Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter

Feedback

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Liz Fitzmaurice
• Email : Liz.Fitzmaurice@defra.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact Government Recruitment Services via email: defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: here