Researching employers

Researching finance and accountancy apprenticeships

Finance apprenticeships at banks, insurers and accountancy firms can lead all the way to chartered accountant. What to compare, with real pay, UCAS points and lengths from Barclays, KPMG, PwC, Lloyds and Aviva.

  • Applies to UK-wide
  • Reviewed
  • Reading time 2 min

The short answer

Finance apprenticeships include banking, insurance, audit, tax, consulting and accountancy, from Level 3 up to Level 7 chartered accountant routes. Big employers we've researched publish starting pay from about £25,000 to £29,000. Many ask for 96 to 120 UCAS points, but some banking and insurance routes only need GCSEs.

Key figures

Barclays' apprentice salary from day one
£25,200
Source: Barclays
Aviva's starting salary on its claims and corporate functions apprenticeships
£26,700
Source: Aviva
Length of KPMG's audit apprenticeship, ending with the ACA (or CA in Scotland)
5 years
Source: KPMG UK
Day-one salary on PwC's Business Management degree apprenticeship in Belfast
£28,900
Source: PwC UK

Finance apprenticeships are some of the best-paid and most competitive around. They cover far more than counting money: you could investigate fraud, handle insurance claims, audit big companies or advise businesses on tax.

Types of finance apprenticeship

  • Banking: customer, risk, data and technology roles at banks
  • Insurance: claims, underwriting, pricing and risk
  • Audit and accountancy: checking companies’ accounts, often leading to chartered status
  • Tax: advising businesses and individuals
  • Consulting: helping organisations solve problems

The government’s apprenticeship site also lists legal routes like paralegal and solicitor.

What employers publish

Employer Apprenticeship Pay Entry
Barclays Levels 3–4, plus higher and degree £25,200 5 GCSEs at 9–5 incl. maths and English
Aviva Claims, corporate functions (Level 3) £26,700 5 GCSEs or National 5s at 4/C
KPMG Audit, 5 years, ending with the ACA £25,500–£28,000 120 UCAS points, plus 5 GCSEs
PwC Consulting (Level 4); tax; Belfast degree £28,900 (Belfast) 96–112 UCAS points
Lloyds Banking Group Intermediate to degree, 12 months to 5 years Not published GCSE maths and English at 4

What to compare

The qualification at the end

Some routes stop at Level 3 or 4. Others, like KPMG’s audit apprenticeship, end with the ACA, which makes you a chartered accountant. If that’s your goal, ask exactly which professional exams are included.

UCAS points and exam rules

Accountancy firms often want UCAS points. Check the small print: PwC says exams for its Belfast degree apprenticeship must be taken in the same sitting.

Location and hybrid working

Most finance apprenticeships are office-based, often hybrid. Aviva’s are usually three days in the office and two at home, in places like Norwich, Sheffield and York.

Next steps

Finance employers almost always use online tests and video interviews, so read our guide to online tests and video interviews. Then compare everyone on our finance and professional services page.

Summary

  • Finance apprenticeships include banking, insurance, audit, tax, consulting and accountancy.
  • Some, like KPMG's audit apprenticeship, lead to full chartered accountant status.
  • Published starting pay at the employers we've researched is roughly £25,000 to £29,000.
  • Accountancy firms often ask for 96 to 120 UCAS points; some banking and insurance routes only ask for GCSEs.

Questions you might have

How much do finance apprentices get paid?

Among employers that publish pay: Barclays pays £25,200 from day one, Aviva starts claims and corporate functions apprentices on £26,700, KPMG's audit apprenticeship pays £25,500 to £28,000, and PwC's Belfast degree apprenticeship pays £28,900.

Can you become a chartered accountant through an apprenticeship?

Yes. KPMG's five-year audit apprenticeship ends with the ACA (or CA in Scotland), and Deloitte's BrightStart routes go up to 48-month ACA programmes.

What grades do you need for an accountancy apprenticeship?

Often UCAS points. KPMG asks for 120 from your top three grades plus five GCSEs, PwC asks for 112 for most routes and 96 for tax. Lloyds Banking Group asks for GCSE maths and English at grade 4 as a minimum.

Do you need A levels for a banking apprenticeship?

Not always. Barclays asks for five GCSEs at grades 9–5 including maths and English for its Level 3 and 4 apprenticeships, and Lloyds' minimum is GCSE maths and English at grade 4 (or National 5 at A to C).

Which finance companies offer apprenticeships?

Banks like Barclays and Lloyds, insurers like Aviva and Admiral, and accountancy firms like KPMG, PwC, Deloitte and EY. Compare them in our finance and professional services table.

Sources and review

Last reviewed . Details can change after this date, so check the official source before you rely on them.

  1. Legal, finance and accounting apprenticeships Apprenticeships.gov.uk (Department for Education) · accessed
  2. Apprenticeship programmes Barclays · accessed
  3. Audit apprenticeship KPMG UK · accessed
  4. Entry level programmes PwC UK · accessed
  5. Flying Start degree programmes PwC UK · accessed
  6. Claims apprenticeship pathway Aviva · accessed
  7. Apprenticeships FAQs Lloyds Banking Group · accessed

Read about how we research and review content.

  • Aviva apprenticeships

    The insurer, now including Direct Line Group. It offers four apprenticeship pathways: corporate functions, claims, technology, and underwriting and pricing. All are permanent jobs from day one, and claims and corporate functions start on £26,700.

    Finance and professional services
    • L3 Advanced

  • Barclays apprenticeships

    The UK bank. It pays apprentices £25,200 from day one. People with GCSEs can join two-year Level 3 and 4 apprenticeships, and people with A levels or Highers can join higher and degree apprenticeships of up to three or four years.

    Finance and professional services, Digital and technology
    • L3 Advanced
    • L4–5 Higher
    • L6–7 Degree

  • KPMG apprenticeships

    A professional services firm with apprenticeships in audit, tax and law, consulting, tech and business admin. Audit apprentices earn £25,500 to £28,000 and become chartered accountants in five years.

    Finance and professional services, Digital and technology
    • L3 Advanced
    • L4–5 Higher
    • L6–7 Degree

  • Lloyds apprenticeships

    The banking group behind Lloyds Bank, Bank of Scotland and Scottish Widows. It has over a thousand apprentices, on permanent contracts from day one, in programmes from intermediate to degree level lasting 12 months to five years.

    Finance and professional services
    • L2 Intermediate
    • L3 Advanced
    • L4–5 Higher
    • L6–7 Degree

  • PwC apprenticeships

    The professional services firm. School and college leavers can join a two-year Level 4 consulting apprenticeship, tax or accounting technician programmes, or a four-year Business Management degree apprenticeship in Belfast paying £28,900 from day one.

    Finance and professional services
    • L4–5 Higher
    • L6–7 Degree