Finance Assistant Review
at Barclays
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Finance
Knutsford
Review Submitted: April 2025
Overall Rating
4.1 /5
The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!
4/5
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Overview of Role
4/5
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Skills Development
3.6/5
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Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
4/5
Forecasting, creating and publishing MI, spend sanctioning, risk and controls evaluations, systems testing
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
4/5
I enjoy it. The programme gives us three different rotations before we roll off into a final roll. This allows us to build up our knowledge of the bank, meet new people and get involved in new processes that is a fun challenege. There are a lot of events and development sessions too side of desks, so even a quiet week can be fun and fulfilling.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
Yes, I joined the apprenticeship scheme without any financial background (having done English lang & lit, Chemistry and Biology for A-levels). Barclay's have prior put me through the AAT and I am currently studying for CIMA. As a result I have learnt about financial accounting, management accounting, business acumen, law, corporate governance and other topics. I have also been able to develop my skills with excel and other office 365 software, as well as some other forecasting, budgeting and procurement platforms.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
3/5
It is relatively well organised. The rotation process has changed each year, which can lead to a lack of clarity and in one case rotations without any input or discussion from the apprentice cohort. The study, cohort updates and L&D support is very good and our HR contact is responsive.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
4/5
We get a whole day off a week to study which works out as slightly more time required to do our studies which allows for flexibility and time to spend to look for good learning resources. My line managers have always been supportive alongside HR.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
3/5
Kaplan support for my AAT qualification was lacking in some aspects. The talent coach was changed three times, each one with there own way of working leading to several changes in how we go about completing the necessary steps for our apprenticeship. I found them to be unresponsive at times, not replying to emails but sending me them on other things. Since starting level 7, the support has greatly improved and is now far more structured.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
4/5
The CIMA qulaification is very important for management accounting and my studies often directly reflect in the activities I complete in the workplace.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
4/5
There are a lot of events and ancilliary trainings. I join some and also spend some time of desk supporting a social mobility employee resource group as well as partnering with a charity for a site event. This is rewarding and provides some fun variation to my BAU role.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Barclays to a friend?
Yes
Why?
I would but I have had some difficulties in the past which were notable including one of the roation processes which had some deteriment. Other than that they are a good company that provide a lot of help, resources and support to their early careers population.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Barclays?
Resaerch the company and scheme. The scheme info can be vague at times in the application so do some research so you can speak to what the role entails. Reach out to Barclays apprentices on LinkedIn in the area you are applying to for tips and adivce. Be genuine and bring your full self to the interview to make yourself stand out.
