Finance assistant Apprentice, The College of Open Arts, Barnsley, S70 2AG
| Posting date: | 23 January 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £23,499 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 06 February 2026 |
| Location: | Barnsley, South Yorkshire |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | Barnsley College |
| Job type: | Apprenticeship |
| Job reference: | AAT2 |
Summary
Working closely with experienced finance colleagues, the apprentice will support the delivery of day-to-day financial operations, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with financial procedures. Over time, the scope and complexity of duties will increase in line with the apprentice’s development, competence, and level of supervision required.
Under appropriate supervision and with training support, the Finance Apprentice will:
• Assist with processing financial transactions, including invoices, payments, journals, and income
• Support payroll processes under supervision, ensuring accurate and timely data input
• Assist with student enrolment–related financial administration (where applicable)
• Support income collection, daily banking, reconciliation, and recording
• Help process purchase orders and supplier payments
• Maintain accurate financial records and filing systems in line with procedures
• Assist with data entry, reporting, and basic reconciliations
• Respond to routine finance queries from internal and external stakeholders with guidance from senior colleagues
• Support compliance with financial controls, policies, and procedures
• Contribute to service improvements and efficient ways of working
Initiative, Problem Solving and Decision Making
• Ability to identify issues, resolve minor discrepancies, and develop solutions whilst working in adherence to finance policies and regulations.
• The ability to work independently ensuring data accuracy, adequate checking, verifications and approvals are processed in line with procedures and within critical deadlines.
• Contributing towards decision making through involvement in team meetings.
• Check the correct student fees are being charged per the fees schedule and in line with procedures, providing advice and guidance to staff and students where necessary, ensuring timely receipt of the correct fees and funding.
• Scrutinise tutor claims, contacting tutors & Programme Leaders to query and resolve any discrepancies, ensuring the integrity of claims prior to authorisation and payment, escalating to senior colleagues where necessary.
Planning and managing resources
• Plan own workload and time to meet deadlines, prioritising routine transactional activities such as invoice processing, data entry, and reconciliations.
• Use checklists to ensure all required information is available.
• Maintain orderly records to reduce time spent searching for information
• Provide a fast and efficient service that complies with requirements.
• Escalate issues early to prevent delays or errors that could impact service delivery.
Teaching and Learning Support
• Outline tutor pay procedures, provide guidance and support on the use of claim forms in line with policies.
• Support colleagues and consult with them to provide advice on student funding and enrolment fee queries.
• Provide finance specific advice and guidance to students through calls, emails and other media as appropriate, signposting to other departments when necessary
Analysis and Research
• Review processes periodically, undertaking research and analysis to identify systematic issues and propose and (subject to consultation and approval) implement changes under supervision
Health, Safety & Wellbeing Consideration
• Extensive use of VDU equipment
• Predominantly office based
• Undertake appropriate training
• Pastoral care and welfare issues identified in students, tutors or staff referred to appropriate colleagues (learner support, first aiders, management)
General
You will be required to undertake such other duties appropriate to the grade and character of the work as may reasonably be required of you. Therefore, the list of duties in this job description should not be regarded as exclusive or exhaustive.
Your duties will be set out in this job description but please note that we reserve the right to update your job description, from time to time, to reflect changes in, or to, your job. Significant permanent changes in duties and responsibilities will require agreed revisions to be made to this job description. You will be consulted about any proposed changes.
Essential
GCSE or equivalent in Maths and English and/or professional experience
Basic IT skills including use of spreadsheets and emails
Strong numeracy and attention to detail, with an ability to spot numerical errors
Basic written and oral communication skills
Ability to work independently when required, with appropriate supervision, and as an effective team member, organising own workload and managing time effectively
Problem solving, communication and interpersonal skills
Willingness to develop and maintain good working relationships with colleagues
Desirable
Knowledge and experience of Microsoft Teams, Office suite and/or Google workspace
Knowledge and experience of finance software, in particular Sage 50 Accounts
Knowledge of financial practices and accounting procedures
Knowledge and experience of HR & Payroll systems, in particular iTrent
Sage or similar accounting packages
Working with Microsoft Excel
Providing excellent and efficient administrative support and services
Using a range of computer software
Working as a member of a team
Working week: 36.5 hours per week
Training: Delivery to be completed on site and off the job training either at Barnsley College or your place of work. Student to complete an Accounts Assistant Level 2 Apprenticeship.
Under appropriate supervision and with training support, the Finance Apprentice will:
• Assist with processing financial transactions, including invoices, payments, journals, and income
• Support payroll processes under supervision, ensuring accurate and timely data input
• Assist with student enrolment–related financial administration (where applicable)
• Support income collection, daily banking, reconciliation, and recording
• Help process purchase orders and supplier payments
• Maintain accurate financial records and filing systems in line with procedures
• Assist with data entry, reporting, and basic reconciliations
• Respond to routine finance queries from internal and external stakeholders with guidance from senior colleagues
• Support compliance with financial controls, policies, and procedures
• Contribute to service improvements and efficient ways of working
Initiative, Problem Solving and Decision Making
• Ability to identify issues, resolve minor discrepancies, and develop solutions whilst working in adherence to finance policies and regulations.
• The ability to work independently ensuring data accuracy, adequate checking, verifications and approvals are processed in line with procedures and within critical deadlines.
• Contributing towards decision making through involvement in team meetings.
• Check the correct student fees are being charged per the fees schedule and in line with procedures, providing advice and guidance to staff and students where necessary, ensuring timely receipt of the correct fees and funding.
• Scrutinise tutor claims, contacting tutors & Programme Leaders to query and resolve any discrepancies, ensuring the integrity of claims prior to authorisation and payment, escalating to senior colleagues where necessary.
Planning and managing resources
• Plan own workload and time to meet deadlines, prioritising routine transactional activities such as invoice processing, data entry, and reconciliations.
• Use checklists to ensure all required information is available.
• Maintain orderly records to reduce time spent searching for information
• Provide a fast and efficient service that complies with requirements.
• Escalate issues early to prevent delays or errors that could impact service delivery.
Teaching and Learning Support
• Outline tutor pay procedures, provide guidance and support on the use of claim forms in line with policies.
• Support colleagues and consult with them to provide advice on student funding and enrolment fee queries.
• Provide finance specific advice and guidance to students through calls, emails and other media as appropriate, signposting to other departments when necessary
Analysis and Research
• Review processes periodically, undertaking research and analysis to identify systematic issues and propose and (subject to consultation and approval) implement changes under supervision
Health, Safety & Wellbeing Consideration
• Extensive use of VDU equipment
• Predominantly office based
• Undertake appropriate training
• Pastoral care and welfare issues identified in students, tutors or staff referred to appropriate colleagues (learner support, first aiders, management)
General
You will be required to undertake such other duties appropriate to the grade and character of the work as may reasonably be required of you. Therefore, the list of duties in this job description should not be regarded as exclusive or exhaustive.
Your duties will be set out in this job description but please note that we reserve the right to update your job description, from time to time, to reflect changes in, or to, your job. Significant permanent changes in duties and responsibilities will require agreed revisions to be made to this job description. You will be consulted about any proposed changes.
Essential
GCSE or equivalent in Maths and English and/or professional experience
Basic IT skills including use of spreadsheets and emails
Strong numeracy and attention to detail, with an ability to spot numerical errors
Basic written and oral communication skills
Ability to work independently when required, with appropriate supervision, and as an effective team member, organising own workload and managing time effectively
Problem solving, communication and interpersonal skills
Willingness to develop and maintain good working relationships with colleagues
Desirable
Knowledge and experience of Microsoft Teams, Office suite and/or Google workspace
Knowledge and experience of finance software, in particular Sage 50 Accounts
Knowledge of financial practices and accounting procedures
Knowledge and experience of HR & Payroll systems, in particular iTrent
Sage or similar accounting packages
Working with Microsoft Excel
Providing excellent and efficient administrative support and services
Using a range of computer software
Working as a member of a team
Working week: 36.5 hours per week
Training: Delivery to be completed on site and off the job training either at Barnsley College or your place of work. Student to complete an Accounts Assistant Level 2 Apprenticeship.