Accounts Assistant Review

As an Accounts Assistant and Pentagon, my role consists of: being involved in month end duties, such as balance sheet reconciliations, raising sales ledger invoices, cash posting items from the bank into our Kerridge system and any adhoc duties requested by my manager. My role must be supportive for the accounts process and for the other employees in our team if they need any help within their role also. The most important time of the month is month end when we are preparing the accounts for the previous month and working to tight deadlines.

At my time at Pentagon, starting in November 2016, I have learnt many different skills working with other employees and observing how they work. I have developed my skills in communicating with internal and external people and my knowledge with computers such as excel. Since starting my AAT qualification in June 2019, I feel I have developed many new skills and my knowledge in the accounts world. My tutor [This section of the comment has been removed by a member of the RateMyApprenticeship Team because it did not meet our site terms and conditions] makes the learning very clear and easy to understand for me and I always feel confident going into an exam with the knowledge and content she has given me.

I feel I have really enjoyed the programme since starting it in June 2019, my tutor [This section of the comment has been removed by a member of the RateMyApprenticeship Team because it did not meet our site terms and conditions] makes the learning very easy to understand which makes me learn faster than I would expect, this makes the programme more enjoyable when I a confident in the topics we are learning. I have also enjoyed going out to different Pentagon sites such as Sheffield, Barnsley and Derby to complete the learning for the AAT modules, it is nice to see different places while learning. I have also enjoyed meeting the other people on my course.

The programme and learning with my tutor [This section of the comment has been removed by a member of the RateMyApprenticeship Team because it did not meet our site terms and conditions] is very well structured, I think she is a very well organised person and that makes it a lot easier to be a student of hers. She delivers the content extremely well and makes it easy to understand yet very detailed and sufficient knowledge for when going into an exam. The content needed to be collected for LSP isn't always clear and this can sometimes be confusing as to what I need to do. An example of this is the 20% off the job training.

The support from my employer is very well in terms of the fact that they have allowed for me to be on this course and have also financed it, they give me the time to go to my lessons as day release and provide the correct cover for when I am out of the office. They also allow me to claim back my expenses for any travel I do for learning days and any exams I sit.

Whenever I feel the need to reach out to Learning Skills Partnership, I know they won't hesitate to help in any way that I need. However, I wouldn't say that there are any issues or topics I need to raise to them. Whenever we have to complete work for the Learning Skills Partnership side of the qualification, we always receive sufficient help in order to get this completed, especially if we are not clear on part of it.

In terms of the knowledge I learn when I am in lessons with [This section of the comment has been removed by a member of the RateMyApprenticeship Team because it did not meet our site terms and conditions] I feel this has helped me within my day to day role at work as I feel I have a deeper understanding. Not only do I feel I am understanding my own role, I also feel I can now see deeper into other roles within the accounts team and see why things have to be done. Learning has also meant that I can see what has to be done in the roles above me.

Although these activities don't take place very often, we do try to socialise outside of work every now and again. This tends to happen on someone's birthday or as an incentive for a job well done. We have been away to different cities such as Birmingham as well as our locals, Derby and Nottingham usually going for a meal and having some drinks. It gives us time to get to know each other more and bond outside of the workplace.

Yes

I would recommend Pentagon to a friend because since I started, back in November 2016, not only have they helped me through the worklife of my first job, I have also been in a few positions where they have supported me in my personal life. The people have became friends and well as colleages.

Ensure you are strong minded and make sure you are passionate about what you are going to be doing