The Professional Accountant Apprenticeship is aligned to the full ACCA Qualification. You will gain leadership skills and a much deeper understanding of the drivers of change within business.
Overview of the Level 7 apprenticeship
The Professional Accountant Apprenticeship has the power to help ambitious finance professionals become fully qualified and have a lasting impact on any business in any sector.
At the same level as a Master’s degree, it follows the structure of the ACCA Qualification. There are also flexible entry points for those with prior qualifications and experience.
On completion of the apprenticeship, you can continue your journey to ACCA membership by completing the practical experience requirements. You can also go on to specialise and become a subject expert.
Qualification overview
The apprenticeship is made up of:
- The Applied Knowledge and Applied Skills exams, which include all areas of accounting, reporting and management, as well as our Strategic Professional Level exams, where you can start to specialise in your chosen area.
- The Ethics and Professional Skills module (EPSM) where you’ll develop the important ethical behaviour and judgement required for the modern business world.
- End-point assessment made up of our Strategic Business Leader exam and a project report
Download our diagram (PDF, 25 KB) to view the full course structure.
What do you study?
- Business and Technology: Has a strong focus on financial technology including cloud computing, blockchain, artificial intelligence, big data and data analytics – as well as the risks related to data from cyber-attacks.
- Management Accounting: Techniques to support management in planning, controlling and monitoring performance.
- Financial Accounting: The underlying principles of financial accounting, and technical proficiency in double-entry accounting techniques.
- Audit and Assurance: You will develop knowledge and understanding of the process involved in carrying out the assurance engagement and its application in the context of the professional regulatory framework.
- Corporate and Business Law: You will develop knowledge and skills in the understanding of the general legal framework, and of specific legal areas relating to business, recognising the need to seek further specialist legal advice where necessary.
- Financial Management: You will develop the knowledge and skills expected of a finance manager, in relation to investment, financing and dividend policy decisions.
- Financial Reporting: You will develop knowledge and skills in understanding and applying accounting standards and the theoretical framework in the preparation of financial statements of entities, including groups and how to analyse and interpret those financial statements.
- Performance Management: You will develop the knowledge and skills in the application of management accounting techniques to quantitative and qualitative information for planning, decision-making, performance evaluation and control.
- Taxation: You will develop knowledge and skills relating to the tax system as applicable to individuals, single companies and groups of companies.
- Strategic Business Reporting: You will will get the skills needed to confidently speak the language of business and explain reports to a wide variety of stakeholders.
Plus two from the following:
- Advanced Audit and Assurance: You will analyse, evaluate and conclude on the assurance engagement and other audit and assurance issues in the context of best practice and current developments.
- Advanced Financial Management: You will apply relevant knowledge, skills and exercise professional judgment as expected of a senior financial executive or advisor, in taking or recommending decisions relating to the financial management of an organisation in private and public sectors.
- Advanced Performance Management: All organisations need to have their performance and strategic development evaluated regularly. In this exam, you will do this by using relevant knowledge and skills and exercising professional judgment to select and apply strategic management accounting techniques in different business contexts.
- Advanced Taxation: You will provide relevant information and advice to individuals and businesses by applying relevant knowledge and skills and exercising professional judgment.
Our Ethics and Professional Skills Module is designed to provide you with the complete range of skills employers need. Preparing you for a career as a trusted and confident finance professional, the interactive online module places you in realistic business situations, where you'll develop advanced ethical, professional and digital skills needed to shine in the workplace.
Core skills
Alongside the technical studies and exams are the knowledge, skills and behaviours. These are a core part of the apprenticeship that you will develop and need to demonstrate as part of the end-point assessment.
- Knowledge: Assurance, risk and control, business acumen, financial information, legislation, strategic business management, governance.
- Skills: Building relationships, business insight, ethics and integrity, leadership, communication problem-solving.
- Behaviours: Adding value, continuous improvement, flexibility, professional scepticism.
Assessment
Our assessment for the apprenticeship includes:
- ACCA module exams throughout your training
- End-point assessment which includes our Strategic Business Leader exam. This is a pivotal case study based on a hypothetical scenario that assesses your knowledge, skills, behaviours and real-world understanding.
- Project Report. This is a critical reflection based on your relevant work experience, examining how you have used and developed your professional skills and behaviours in the context of your role, your organisation and wider stakeholders.
Course duration
The programme typically takes approx. 36 months to complete. However, this varies depending on your entry point into the programme. Exemptions may also be available.
Entry Requirements
You need to have 3 GCSE’s and 2 A levels including Maths and English. You must have GCSE passes in English and Maths when they attempt the end point assessment.
Employers might also set their own entry criteria. Your existing qualifications will influence entry point into the programme.
Exemptions are available for those who hold relevant qualifications from another provider. Exemptions are also available for some on-programme assessments for graduates with relevant accounting, finance or business degrees.
Cost
There is no cost to you - all fees and costs are covered by the employer and government
How to get started
To do an apprenticeship you need to have a job. You can search for vacancies on ACCA Careers – our global employability site. Alternatively, if you’re already working speak to your employer about doing the ACCA L7 apprenticeship.
After the apprenticeship
Once you have completed the Level 7 apprenticeship you can become an ACCA member provided you have 36 months’ practical experience, some of which will be gained along your apprenticeship journey.
Contact us
If you have any queries about the Level 7 apprenticeship please contact us at apprenticeships@accaglobal.com
Alternatively, you can register your interest.
