Harold Sharp Limited’s Post

Cameron achieved a distinction in their AAT Level 3 Apprenticeship (and qualification)! We're so impressed with Cameron's hard work and dedication. This is a fantastic achievement! https://lnkd.in/dTjCwRz https://lnkd.in/eDfSZ-F8 #CareerOptions #Accountancy #AAT #FinanceQualifications #EducationInvestor #AdultLearning #ClassroomBasedLearning #CIMA #ACCA #ClassroomLearning

We are honored to be the technology partner for AICPA's apprenticeship program for Accounting and Finance Associates. According to Joanne Fiore, AICPA & CIMA Vice President of Pipeline and Apprenticeships, the program responds to market feedback by helping to recruit entry-level positions and upskill individuals in these roles to add more value and achieve greater mobility. Research conducted by BuildWithin suggests a significant shortage of accountants and bookkeepers, with a gap of around 300,000 professionals compared to 2020, primarily due to workforce reshuffles and baby boomer retirements. Kudos to Joanne Fiore and AICPA for the pragmatic vision in implementing the model. #NAW2024 #skills #thankthechampion

🌟Fantastic news ✨ Investing into the future and succession planning is probably the best investment any business can make. So proud of our #apprentices and congratulations for being nominated. This is truly an excellent acknowledgment of their hard work and efforts. It also gives me great honour being nominated in #Mentoring and Supporting the future generations. Personally offering great #leadership and developing the next generation of leaders is one of the things I enjoy the most in businesses management. #Kaplan #Apprentices #Awards 💫

https://lnkd.in/ehN8hFba The #DfE #ESFA has issued guidance about the funding audit process, and also issued its controls questionnaire. This is invaluable to all providers so do please share with your networks. Regarding the questionnaire, if you did not have to complete the controls questionnaire at your last ESFA funding audit, or if you are a new provider, you will be asked to complete it for your next audit. Complete it now, ready for an audit, as when the ESFA audit is booked you will be busy! Then schedule an annual review of the questionnaire and update responses where necessary. Don’t underestimate the importance of the questionnaire. It does inform the auditors of the provider’s control environment. And the questionnaire is a useful tool to providers to assess whether there are controls in place to ensure compliance. We at Professional Assessment feed back on the questionnaire in our audits to support our clients meet the Funding Compliance Scrutiny aspect of the ESFA’s financial Handbook for Independent Training Providers. Regarding the audit process, I advocate all ESFA funded providers read: • the ESFA Post-16 funding assurance review guidance • the Funding assurance review step-by-step process and all apprenticeship providers read  • the evidence requirements for apprenticeships funding step by step process. My advice is to read the HTML versions of the process documents, rather than the PDF versions of the step-by-step documents, unless you are adroit at process flow charts. The HTMLs are easy to read, step 1, step 2 etc lists. The documents are a clear synopsis of how to plan for and what to expect at audit, and worth the investment of time to read them. The guidance and the processes mirror the approach that we in Professional Assessment provide in our mock ESFA funding approach. Whilst reading the above documents reflect the approach, a mock funding audit enables providers’ staff to practice preparing for audit and responding to findings. A mock funding audit informs the provider of their non-compliance and the funds that would be at risk. Our audits direct providers how to clear the errors so that they don’t remain for an ESFA audit, and how to challenge ESFA audit findings where necessary. It’s a certainty that every provider will be audited, so invest in your business by taking time to prepare for audit.

Barry Payne and wider AICPA/CIMA team. Great conference with knowledgeable panel & keen insights from the audience around moving finance and accounting to more of an apprenticeship model to create more and better finance business partners. I love the fact that the F&A profession (AICPA/CIMA) is taking ownership to create a standard taxonomy of skills and competencies and build an apprenticeship program around it. This creates a fast way for companies to level up, upskill, and reskill the resources it has or acquires anywhere in the world to deal with a declining population of new F&A students and retiring F&A management group referred to as the "silver tsunami". Whether your company is small with the F&A team locally or giant with centers around the world, we can all speak the same language and have a clear development path for our careers. I look forward to see how AICPA/CIMA partners with learning organizations and adjacent technology organizations to bring the horizontal and vertical "T" competency needs to create a true finance business partner. Thanks again for addressing this talent development topic and opportunity to network! NB: One particularly interesting tidbit, states are now starting to give out grants which will pay for apprenticeship intermediaries and the mentors that may well enable companies to build their apprenticeship program at ZERO cost.

Did you get your SQA results today? Congratulations, we hope all your hard work paid off 📮 Whether they’re not exactly what you wanted or better than you expected, remember there’s more than one route to becoming a Chartered Accountant with ICAS. You can study our varied course straight from school which gives you practical experience and helps you build your understanding in everything from finance and accounting to broader business skills. Find out more about how you can earn while you learn with the Robert Gordon University (RGU) Graduate Apprenticeship: https://lnkd.in/ecDwR5VT 💸 #ICAS #CharteredAccountant #OpportunityKicks #NoWrongPath

Following on from work AELP and a number of our members contributed to with the DfE, the ESFA and the external audit firms the following resources have been released which cover apprenticeship and non-apprenticeship provision. Useful for all providers, but especially newer providers who have yet to have an external audit. #AskAshworth #Audit #Compliance #PFA https://lnkd.in/dhx5K-ZE

Interesting in investing in your workforce with a quality training provider? Speak to us at Damar Limited about how we can support your business and your colleagues to benefit from outstanding support, a quality learning experience and skills aligned to industry needs. Book in a meeting today to find out more: Susan Plant 📧 susan.plant@damartraining.com #apprenticeships #quality #investinskills