Learn how to balance the books while balancing paid study. Focus on the figures that matter, impacting people and assets around the world. Help ensure value for money for taxpayers everywhere. Have the kind of impact that’s rare to find anywhere else. It’s all in store for you as an Apprentice in Finance (Transactional) at FCDO Services, where you’ll work towards a Level 2 AAT Foundation Certificate in Accounting and become a fully qualified professional.

Whether you’re just starting out, returning to work after a career break, or looking to change careers, you’ll find our apprenticeships are packed full of real-world impact and unforgettable experiences. Put another way: your future just got bigger.

Let’s introduce ourselves

We are FCDO Services, and our work is as varied and vital as it gets. A trusted government partner for over 75 years, we provide a range of secure services to help support diplomacy, international development and defence for UK government departments at home and abroad. We operate in over 250 destinations, across 168 countries. We design and construct secure government buildings. We help earthquake-proof embassies. We courier diplomatic packages over land, sea and air. We keep complex projects on track, and on budget. We store visa applications securely in the Cloud. And a whole lot more besides.

So what will you do?
This apprenticeship focuses on the administrative side of transactional finance. Everything from setting up and credit checking suppliers to billing customers and ensuring payments are made within terms. For starters, you’ll settle in with our transactional finance teams: the people you’ll work with throughout your apprenticeship. Along the way, you’ll pick up a variety of specialisms, including how to set up, send and pay invoices, and how to create and issue detailed reports. You’ll also find out how to maintain our ledger, administer credit cards and expenses across the organisation. As you grow these skills, you’ll do work with vital impact, learning to provide prompt, accurate invoicing to global government bodies.

But that’s not all. We’ll also support you while you work towards a Level 2 Foundation Certificate in Accounting from AAT (the Association of Accounting Technicians), as part of your apprenticeship. Your studies will put your practical experience into a wider context, and when you pass your final assessments, there’s a good chance we’ll offer you a permanent position in our team.

In short, you’ll build your specialist skills, work with a unique purpose and widen your options – all with the benefits of a career in the Civil Service. It’s why we think it’s fair to say: join us, and your future will get a whole lot bigger.

What we look for
This apprenticeship is open to everyone, but you must:

• Be a British citizen who’s lived in the UK for the last three years before the first day of your apprenticeship (aiming to start September 2023)
• Be at least 16 years old by 30 April 2023 so you can complete Security Check (SC) clearance before your start date
• Have two GCSEs (or equivalent e.g. O levels) in Maths and English Language grades 9-4 (A*-C)
• Have a genuine interest in finance and accounting
• Have some numerical and analytical skills
• Be IT literate, familiar with Microsoft Word and Excel
• Be able to organise and prioritise your workload
• Be able to work individually and as part of a team
• Be proactive, reliable, responsive, easy to work with and able to build relationships

Please note: if you already have a qualification at the same (or a higher level) in a similar discipline, you may not be able to apply unless the apprenticeship qualification provides learning and skills that are materially different to what you’ve studied before. If your qualification is in a different field, then you are eligible to apply.

Vetting
Because of the secure nature of what we do for our government-level customers, all our employees have to be security cleared before joining us. That’s why, if you’re successful in your application, you’ll need to go through a vetting process. This role will require you to undergo Security Check (SC) clearance before joining. It’s important information to know, so make sure you read the details before applying. You can find out more about vetting on our careers site or by visiting: www.gov.uk/guidance/united-kingdom-security-vetting-applicant

It takes a diverse team to protect a diverse world.
The vital work we do takes an incredible community of colleagues, with different skills, backgrounds, cultures and identities. We support every individual, so that you always know you’re welcome and valued. It’s what makes us a Disability Confident employer. And Employers for Carers. And it’s how you know you’re joining an inspiring, inclusive organisation.

Step into our Virtual Embassy
Want to take a closer look at what we do? Our Virtual Embassy will give you lots of different insights about our world, and the impact you could have here. To get exploring, visit: https://virtual-embassy.fcdoservicescareers.co.uk/

Hear from an apprentice
There’s nothing better than hearing from people in the team you could be joining. So, for a first-hand account of being an Apprentice in Finance (Transactional), head over to: https://www.fcdoservicescareers.co.uk/our-people/finance-apprentice-2/


FCDO Services are regulated by the Civil Service Commission.

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