The accounting profession is evolving faster than ever. Today’s professional accounting technicians need to be strategic enablers – individuals who don’t just process numbers but drive business decisions, champion sustainability, harness data insights and navigate complex ethical landscapes.
That’s why we’re delighted to announce the relaunch of Damar’s level 4 professional accounting technician apprenticeship – a programme redesigned to meet the demands of modern organisations, while developing the well-rounded finance professionals that businesses truly need.
From generalist to specialist
The previous standard covered both accounting and taxation pathways under a single framework, which resulted in a lack of depth in either specialism.
The new standard focuses exclusively on professional accounting technicians – recognising that accounting roles require a distinct and deep skill set encompassing the strategic capabilities that make accounting technicians invaluable business partners.
Expanded knowledge, skills and behaviours
The new standard represents a fundamental expansion of competency requirements:
Knowledge areas have increased from five to 11, including new additions for risk management and financial control, data security and cyber security, climate and sustainability challenges, and equality, diversity, and inclusion impact.
Skills have expanded from seven to 11 skills, including a new focus on professional scepticism, quality improvement, data visualisation for non-finance stakeholders, and collaborative relationships with an EDI focus.
Behaviours have been refined from five to six behaviours, now including personal wellbeing and awareness of support resources – reflecting modern workplace priorities around mental health.
The standard also introduces 12 structured occupational duties mapped directly to specific KSBs, providing a clear framework that employers can track throughout the apprenticeship.
End-point assessment
The EPA is now made up of two components:
Professional discussion (60 minutes): Apprentices engage with an independent assessor across six critical themes: ethical and professional working practices, the wider professional landscape, digital and data capabilities, adaptability and flexibility, influence and value creation, and continuous improvement. Crucially, there’s no longer a portfolio requirement – professional competence is demonstrated through a discussion of real experiences, not administrative documentation.
Multiple-Choice Test (150 minutes): This closed-book assessment features 20 questions including written tasks covering ethics, professional standards, accounting analysis, decision-making and risk management. With pre-released material provided ten days before, apprentices demonstrate their ability to apply knowledge in realistic business scenarios.
Another significant improvement is the introduction of a merit grade alongside pass and distinction. This three-tier grading provides better recognition of achievement.
Structural Innovation
The most transformative change in Damar’s delivery is our decision to separate AAT technical knowledge units from apprenticeship professional development modules. Previously concurrent, our experience revealed apprentices struggled to manage the competing requirements of preparing for AAT exams and developing their wider skillset.
Technical knowledge development (AAT units): Five units – business tax, drafting financial statements, management accounting, and internal accounting systems and controls, plus one optional unit – ensure comprehensive technical competence.
Professional capability development (apprenticeship modules): These modules – outlined below – explicitly address the skill and behaviour requirements of the apprenticeship standard.
Teamworking
Apprentices learn to explain complex financial concepts in accessible language and develop their collaboration, workplace engagement and communication skills.
Ways of working
Operationalises workload management, quality protection during month-end, and sustainable personal systems, whilst also addressing personal wellbeing.
Data analysis
Apprentices learn to create decision-ready visualisations and communicate analysis to non-finance stakeholders.
EDI and ESG
Explores how environmental, social and political factors shape KPIs, risk assessments, and strategic decision-making, and how inclusive practice improves service delivery.
Quality improvement
Apprentices apply quality improvement principles to their own working practices and organisational systems, cultivating a continuous improvement mindset.
What this means for employers
The new apprenticeship delivers finance professionals prepared for modern accounting roles:
- Technically proficient: The AAT Professional Diploma ensures comprehensive technical knowledge in taxation, financial statements, management accounting and internal controls
- Skilled practitioners: Apprentices develop all eleven skills required by the standard, including the new data visualisation and collaborative EDI-focused relationship capabilities
- Professionally mature: The programme cultivates a range of critical behaviours including adaptability, integrity, proactivity and personal wellbeing
- Digitally capable: Apprentices develop robust capabilities in cyber security and data protection – a new knowledge area reflecting the critical importance of data security
- Strategically capable: Understanding of EDI, ESG, data analysis and quality improvement transforms competent accounting technicians into strategic enablers who provide business-informing insights and continuously improve organisational processes.
The Damar Difference
Damar’s relaunched apprenticeship sets a higher bar for professional accounting technicians. By separating technical knowledge from professional capability building, we ensure apprentices have the necessary structure to focus on each element. By creating dedicated modules for skills and behaviours, we transform theory and concepts into meaningful impact. By aligning the programme structure with EPA requirements, we ensure apprentices can approach their assessment with confidence.
The result? Professional accounting technicians who are technically proficient, professionally mature, digitally capable, strategically aware and genuinely ready to add value from day one.
Ready to learn more? Get in touch with our expert business development team.