Finance Officer Review
at Department for Education
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Finance, Government
Coventry
Review Submitted: April 2026
Overall Rating
4.4 /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!
3.5/5
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Overview of Role
5/5
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Skills Development
4.6/5
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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
Monitoring costs and budgets for different areas of the organisation. Being a point of contact for colleagues, to guide and discuss budgets, variances and changes to forecasts. Completing correcting journals to move costs to correct budget or areas of activity.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
3/5
I found the programme quite challenging, and the learning was quite fast paced. Some topics covered in classes were more interesting than others, but overall it was good.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
I learnt how to properly analyse financial statements, calculate financial ratios and understand what the information is telling us, how to calculate budget variances and explain them. I also learnt about internal systems of control within organisations to prevent fraud and limit error. All of these were useful for my role, as it helped me to understand many of the theoretical elements underpinning my role, ad gave me an understanding of why we do some things the way we do it. Having this understanding of the theory and the reasons behind some of our processes has helped me to communicate more confidently with internal stakeholders, analyse and process information quicker and contribute more to the work of my team.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
5/5
The programme is very well structured. There were set days for the live lessons, all of which were communicated well in advance. Off the job days were agreed with managers, with flexibility to change this where necessary. There is also a dedicated team internally dealing with apprenticeships who we could go to if we had any issues.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
I received a lot of support:
extra time to study for exams,
use of study leave on top of the existing 20% off the job to prepare for exams, support from managers,
an internal apprenticeship network consisting of current/former apprentices which meets regularly to support each other.
extra time to study for exams,
use of study leave on top of the existing 20% off the job to prepare for exams, support from managers,
an internal apprenticeship network consisting of current/former apprentices which meets regularly to support each other.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
4/5
The training provider was very good. I found my tutors easy to approach, knowledgeable and always willing to help. The provider kept in contact with me regularly and offered support when I struggled.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
5/5
I am able to understand the theory behind some of the work I do. I have been able to grasp new financial concept and pick up new work quickly because of the foundation the course has offered. My communication with finance and non-finance colleagues has also vastly improved as a result because I am more confident in my knowledge and work.
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 regular events offered by the DfE apprenticeship network that offers opportunities to connect with other apprentices, find out about new standards, support available as well as benefits/discounts available for apprentices.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Department for Education to a friend?
Yes
Why?
Department for Education offers a wide range of learning and development opportunities. The department covers a very wide variety of roles and skills so you can find roles that really interest you. Managers are very supportive and offer support for staff. The environment is quite flexible, welcoming and supportive, and I'm happy to work here.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Department for Education?
Be open to different roles available. Take advantage of opportunities to shadow different staff members or work areas. If there isn't a formal route available, speak to your manager or team members and they will find ways to support you in finding your area of interest.
