Manage and implement accounting, finance systems and processes.
At level 6, this apprenticeship prepares someone to take ownership of an organisation's accounting and finance function. Apprentices develop skills in financial reporting, management accounting, budgeting, and internal controls. They learn how to implement and improve finance systems and processes, ensure regulatory compliance, and produce analysis that supports business decisions. The programme typically leads to a professional accounting qualification, giving apprentices both the technical knowledge and the practical experience needed to operate at finance management level.
An apprentice in this role works across the full finance function rather than a single task area. Week to week, that means preparing management accounts, supporting month-end and year-end close processes, maintaining ledgers, and working with software such as Sage, Xero, or SAP. They will liaise with budget holders, assist with audits, and help implement or improve financial controls and reporting procedures. As the apprenticeship progresses, they are expected to take on more independent responsibility for finance outputs.
Completing this apprenticeship typically positions someone for roles such as Finance Manager, Management Accountant, Financial Controller, or Finance Business Partner. Employers span most sectors, including manufacturing, retail, professional services, public sector bodies, and NHS trusts. Smaller organisations may bring apprentices directly into a head of finance role on completion, while larger businesses tend to offer structured progression towards senior finance or FP&A positions. Holding a professional accounting qualification alongside the degree-level credential strengthens eligibility for chartered membership of bodies such as CIMA, ACCA, or ICAEW.
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Completing this standard typically leads into roles such as Finance Manager, Management Accountant, Financial Controller, or Group Accountant. Some graduates move into Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A) Manager positions, particularly in organisations where the apprentice has been embedded in a commercial finance team throughout their programme. Others take on Head of Finance roles in smaller businesses where broad ownership of the finance function is expected from the outset.
Within three to five years, progression commonly leads to Senior Finance Manager, Finance Business Partner, or Deputy Finance Director. The two main tracks that emerge at this stage are a leadership route, moving towards Finance Director or CFO, and a technical specialist route, focusing on areas such as group reporting, treasury, or financial risk. Professional body membership (CIMA, ACCA, or ICAEW) typically accompanies or follows completion and supports both tracks.
Employers across most sectors hire at this level: manufacturing, retail, financial services, housing associations, NHS trusts, local authorities, and professional services firms all recruit Finance Managers regularly. The role sits in both large corporate finance functions, where it covers a specific business unit or reporting stream, and in mid-sized independent businesses where the Finance Manager has broad responsibility across the whole function. Public sector and third sector organisations are particularly active at this level.
Learning takes place in the workplace alongside structured off-the-job training, with the apprentice building competence in accounting and finance management throughout the programme. Before final assessment, the apprentice and employer confirm readiness at a gateway point, which typically involves checking that the required knowledge, skills and behaviours have been developed to the necessary standard. Final assessment then confirms whether the apprentice can perform the full accounting finance manager role independently. Assessment models for Level 6 standards are subject to ongoing updates, so check the current specification on the standard's gov.uk page before committing to a provider.
Gathering workplace evidence from the start is more effective than attempting to reconstruct it near the end of the programme. Apprentices should keep records of real finance and accounting tasks, decisions made, and outcomes achieved as they occur. Regular review meetings with the employer and training provider help identify gaps early and keep progress on track. Staying in close contact with both parties, particularly when preparing for the gateway, reduces the risk of delays and gives the apprentice a clearer picture of where further development is needed.
Look for providers with achievement rates above 75% on their FATP profile, since a level 6 standard with a 36-month duration means cohort dropout can quietly skew results. Strong providers will have direct relationships with finance teams in organisations comparable in size and sector to yours, and should be able to point to alumni who have moved into finance manager or financial controller roles. Employer satisfaction scores above 80% matter here, as does evidence that the curriculum covers management accounting, financial reporting, and internal controls rather than just technical bookkeeping.
Be cautious of providers with large learner volumes but falling achievement rates, which can indicate overstretched tutors or weak pastoral support across a long programme. If a provider cannot explain how apprentices gain exposure to budgeting, forecasting, or financial decision-making in a live workplace context, the programme may be too classroom-heavy for a level 6 role. Vague answers about how off-the-job training is structured, or an inability to show how the end-point assessment is prepared for, are also worth treating as serious concerns.
There are no nationally fixed entry requirements set in the standard, so employers can set their own criteria. In practice, most employers look for A-levels or an existing Level 3 or 4 qualification, often with some prior experience in an accounting or finance role. English and maths at Level 2 are typically required before the end-point assessment if not already held. Check with your chosen training provider for their specific entry conditions.
The typical duration is 36 months, though the actual length depends on the apprentice's prior learning and how quickly they progress. Throughout the programme, the apprentice remains employed and applies learning directly in their role. Government reforms are currently under review, so for up-to-date requirements on off-the-job training hours and minimum duration, check the current specification on the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education website at gov.uk.
Before taking the end-point assessment, an apprentice must pass through a gateway, where the employer, training provider, and apprentice confirm that the required knowledge, skills, and behaviours have been developed. Assessment methods for many standards are being updated under current reforms, so visit the IfATE page for this standard on gov.uk to see the most current assessment plan, which will detail the specific methods used to confirm occupational competence.
The funding band for this standard is £27,000, which is the maximum that can be drawn from the apprenticeship levy or government co-investment to cover training and assessment costs. Levy-paying employers use their digital account to fund it directly. Non-levy employers contribute 5% of the training cost and the government pays the remaining 95%. If you employ fewer than 50 staff and take on an apprentice aged 16 to 18, the government covers the full training cost.
Day-to-day work typically includes managing financial reporting processes, overseeing budgeting and forecasting activity, ensuring compliance with accounting standards, and supporting decision-making by producing accurate financial analysis. Apprentices often take responsibility for supervising junior finance staff, maintaining internal controls, and liaising with auditors or external advisers. The work is substantive rather than observational, meaning the apprentice is expected to hold real responsibility in the finance function throughout the programme.
Completing a Level 6 apprenticeship in this field puts someone in a strong position for senior finance roles such as Head of Finance, Financial Controller, or Finance Director, depending on the organisation's size and structure. Many completers also use this standard as a route to chartered status with professional accounting bodies. Others move into related fields such as financial planning, treasury, or commercial finance. The qualification also provides a foundation for postgraduate study if the individual chooses to continue in education.
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Curated by Alex Lockey, FATP founder and editor. Last reviewed: .
Sources include the apprenticeship's official specification on apprenticeships.gov.uk, Skills England guidance, IfATE archive records, DWP funding bands, and provider data sourced directly from the public Apprenticeship Provider and Assessment Register (APAR). Standard reference: 698.
Some sections on this page were drafted with AI assistance from published source data and reviewed by a human editor before publication. See our editorial methodology for how we maintain this content. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.