Accounting Apprenticeship Programme 2024 - Cardiff

Your role at a glance

Are you looking for an exciting opportunity to earn while you learn?

The L&G Apprentice programme has been designed to help you reach your potential.  You will develop your skill set, gain valuable work experience and complete a fully funded professional qualification, all whilst earning a competitive salary with access to outstanding employee benefits.

With support every step of the way and access to core skills training, you will contribute to the success of a team and be supported by a dedicated line manager.  As part of a cohort of apprentices, you will also have the opportunity to connect with your peers and colleagues though networking opportunities and social events.

Joining L&G is the beginning to a future that will be anything but familiar. So take a closer look, get involved, be curious and find out how we will enable you to be at your best no matter who you are.

What does this team do?

The Finance & Accounting Operations department is a shared service finance function providing a range of services across Legal & General including:

• Accounting Operations - a specialist function with expertise in product accounting, policyholder tax and investment box management
• Accounts Payable - provides control and governance for all accounts payable related activity, processing, approval and payment of staff expense claims and supplier invoices
• Cost Operations – a specialist function with expertise of the expense ledger (covering source system feeds into the general ledger – expenses, fixed assets, VAT accounting, chart of accounts, period close and management of the month end closes) and expense allocations processes.
• Tax Operations - team provides Group Tax with operational support to assist in the completion of various tax computations, covering Indirect, Employment, Corporation and Funds tax.

We can only accept one application per cycle for our apprenticeship roles, so please consider this before submitting as your first application will be considered your only application. Unfortunately candidates who have already obtained a degree are not eligible for this programme. 

We recruit on a rolling basis and expect this vacancy to close before the deadline. To be in with the best chance of securing a role, please submit your application ASAP 

Join us on a 2.5 year programme which includes sponsorship to study for an industry recognised Professional Qualification, whilst building your business acumen.

You’ll receive on the job training and coaching from your line manager. Alongside this you’ll complete a Level 2 Accounting-AAT apprenticeship course and then progress to a Level 3 Accounting-AAT completing training workshops and assignments, delivered by a leading apprenticeship training provider. Combined, these will fully equip you to be successful in your role, with the knowledge and skills required to apply to real world business challenges.

During your apprenticeship you will:

• Process transactions and load data for reconciliations
• Run matching processes and identify items which should match
• Prepare reconciliations between bank and admin systems
• Learn how to understand double entry accounting and prepare month end journals
• Post journals to the general ledger and review results
• Analyse and report on variances
• Learn how to prepare reports using supporting data for internal stakeholders
• Review fixed asset and depreciation schedules
• Run and review expense allocation processes
• Support the preparation of tax information and returns
• Build your analytical skills
• Develop methodical skills such as problem solving and time management
• Have guidance from your team and manager who will support you and teach you the day-to-day role
• Apply the knowledge and skills that you’ve learnt from your training into the role
• Have the opportunity to meet and network with new colleagues within your team, but also across the wider organisation which is a great opportunity to develop your collaboration and listening skills

The person who would most benefit and enjoy this programme is hungry to learn and eager to get started in the world of work. We’re not expecting prior industry experience, but we’ll want to see that you have the aptitude, potential and desire which will ultimately lead to you being successful. We’ll teach you the rest!

To qualify for the programme, you will need: 

• 5 x GCSE’s at grade 4-9 (A-C) or above (or equivalent) including Maths and English 
• Minimum 96 UCAS points from your Level 3 Qualifications e.g. A 'levels or equivalent 
• To not currently be on a government funded training course, e.g. on apprenticeship
• To not be studying towards or have already completed any AAT qualifications. 
• The right to work in the UK and have lived in the UK or EEA for the past 3 consecutive years. 
• To have an awareness and interest in finance and business
• Have a natural curiosity for understanding and challenging yourself

We believe that good businesses are built on doing the right thing and strive to do what is best for both our people and our customers. This means enabling you to bring your best self to work by giving you what you need, when you need it. 

This is why we’ve designed a process that puts you in control, because we recognise that your time is valuable. At each step, make sure you take time to pause and reflect before progressing to the next, as each subsequent step will ask for a bit more of your time.  

We want you to feel comfortable that this process is as fair and inclusive as possible, so please let us know if you have an illness or disability that you think may affect your performance during the process, so that reasonable adjustments can be made. 

At each step we’ll give more information and clear instructions on what actions you need to take and how you can prepare.

Whatever your role, we reward ability, performance and attitude with a package that looks after all the things that are important to you. Our employees have a wide range of benefits including a generous pension scheme, life assurance, 25 days’ holiday, private medical insurance, discretionary performance related bonuses, a variety of share schemes, discounts at both a huge range of high street stores and our own great products. Your hard work will be rewarded when you join us.

What is the assessment process?
Our Assessment process typically involves the following stages, but may vary slightly from scheme to scheme.

• Application form - Captures essential information from candidate and is an opportunity to provide their CV
• Online tests - includes multiple choice questions and a video interview. The online test asks a number of behavioural questions to help us understand more about candidates' strengths. There is also an analytical component which assesses numerical reasoning skills. In the video interview, we will ask 3 core questions focusing on motivation to join L&G, as well as the candidates approach to learning.
• Assessment centre (either face to face or virtual) comprised of:
  • Group Exercise - candidates are given a task to work on in groups of up to 6 and observed
  • Interview - Conducted by 2 assessors, 45 minutes including time for questions from the candidate, questions include competency and commercial based questions
  • Presentation - 15 minutes in duration, 10 minutes to present and 5 minutes for questions from assessors

The brand with the brolly is choosing today to change tomorrow.

Since 1836, we’ve grown to become one of the world's largest asset managers, homebuilders, pension providers and insurance brands. 

We’re all here to improve the lives of our customers, build a better society for the long term, and create value for our shareholders - helping to shape a better future for society and the planet.

We need people who share our ambitions, agility and entrepreneurial spirit to help us do it.

At L&G, you’ll find a balance that helps you be your best. Empowered by hybrid working, we’re supported by technology and workplaces that enable us to work effectively wherever we are. We come together in offices to collaborate and connect, and use time at home for individual, focused activities. And, when we achieve great things, we celebrate our success and reward strong performance.

Today, there’s over 10,000 of us, working towards our mission, with plenty of opportunities to grow your career as we grow L&G. Will you join us?

Great minds don’t have to think alike, so we welcome voices from all backgrounds. Bringing together people with different life experiences helps us build empathy with our customers and drive innovation.

We don’t just talk about it, we actively promote diversity and equitable opportunities for all. That means our employment decisions are made without regard to race, colour, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability or protected veteran status. In fact, we embrace every dimension of diversity to reflect the customers and communities we serve.

We think it’s important to create an inclusive environment where we can all belong, contribute and drive progress, where you can develop and grow, and be empowered. We want you to use your voice to help us build a better tomorrow.

We all work differently, and have different needs, which is why. we’re always open to discussing flexible working arrangements. Likewise, we’re committed to finding reasonable accommodations for candidates with specific needs during our recruiting process.

So whoever you are, wherever you are, whatever your story, we'd love to hear from you.