What does an apprentice accountant do? We asked our apprentice Jess for the insider info of what her days look like, the best bits about her role and what advice she would give to other apprentice accountants.
What does a typical day look like for you?
9:00 I normally start the day by making a round of drinks for the office – a cup of tea is absolutely crucial!
As soon as I am at my computer I will spend my morning actioning anything that is urgent. These can be jobs from any department – such as payroll, admin, year-end or bookkeeping. Prioritising tasks helps to ensure all the tasks get completed and most importantly on-time.
If the admin team are busy, I will support them by answering the phone. Multi-tasking is definitely a big part of the role.
12:30 – Lunch
I then spend my afternoon working on an array of other tasks. These can include helping with credit control and invoice queries, processing standard payroll jobs and running pensions and doing accounts analysis ready to be handed over to Martin.
4:30 Time to go home and switch off for the day
What are your favourite things about the role?
There is always a great atmosphere in the CRASL office. I have found the team so welcoming and supportive. Everyone is always happy to help each other which makes the days go smoothly and really contributes towards me getting the hang of new tasks. Talking of learning, I also love that I am always learning new things. I love being busy and there are always new jobs to do.
Finally, what advice would you give to the next apprentice accountant?
Getting an apprentice accountant role is really great way to learn and earn. As I mentioned, the days can be really varied and no matter how big or small the task it’s great to get an insight into all of the departments.
My advice for the next apprentice accountant is:
Be confident
You’re learning all the time but if you believe you can do it, you can!
Be happy to learn new things and be given jobs from all departments
All jobs contribute towards the success of the team so it’s the best way to make a difference.
Ask questions
Don’t sit and struggle. The team is always very supportive so it’s important to ask questions if you feel confused.
