We spoke to CIPFA apprentice Tristan Ainsworth (left) from Surrey County Council and his line manager Cath Edwards (right) about the CIPFA Level 7 Accountancy Professional Qualification.
Tristan's story
Tristan Ainsworth began his CIPFA Level 7 Accountancy Professional Apprenticeship programme in March 2023 when he joined Surrey County Council as a Finance Graduate Trainee. Having gained a first-class Combined Honours degree in Social Sciences from Durham University, Tristan’s decision to embark on a career in public sector finance was driven by a desire to serve the community and try to help improve people’s lives and local areas.
“I come from Manchester and travelling around it, I always had a real interest in understanding different areas and the variety of challenges they might face,” Tristan explains. “I’ve always had a keen interest in policy and policymaking, which has probably guided me more towards a career in the public rather than the private sector. I grew up with a strong ethos of public sector service, as both my parents work in the public sector, and those values have been ingrained in me throughout my life.”
The three-year CIPFA Apprenticeship Tristan has embarked on is designed specifically for aspiring finance professionals working in public services. It comprises a hybrid learning programme – involving a mix of in-person and online classes taught by qualified and experienced trainers, on-the-job experience, regular assessments of progress, high-level guidance from experts and one-to-one support where appropriate – and leads to the internationally-recognised Chartered Public Finance Accountant (CPFA) qualification.
Despite not having a finance background, Tristan believes the CIPFA apprenticeship’s structure around lessons and exams has helped him to develop the knowledge needed quickly and effectively. “As I didn’t come from an accountancy background, the knowledge was the one thing I was most nervous about before I started,” Tristan admits. “But the programme has enabled me to develop that at speed. It’s been quite intense, but also incredibly rewarding from a knowledge perspective.”
He continues: “I've learned so much in a short space of time. Both on-the-job and off-the-job work are integrated so that I'm both learning the theory and applying it in practice on a regular basis. That's been incredibly useful for me. Equally, having a Work-Based Learning Coach at CIPFA – being able to regularly discuss the challenges that you have, and to have somebody there who can guide your pathway throughout the CIPFA apprenticeship – has been really beneficial.”
Developing role
Tristan’s line manager is Cath Edwards, Senior Finance Business Partner for Finance Improvement at Surrey County Council. She manages the team’s apprentices and professional development alongside her role driving financial management improvement and change across the organisation. She explains how its approach to graduate training is informed by the developing role and requirements of finance professionals in the public sector.
“We already offered a finance graduate trainee programme, but in 2020 we decided to transfer to the CIPFA apprenticeship rather than just the CIPFA qualification,” Cath says. “Many of the apprentices we recruit don't have a finance background, but come with key skills such as problem-solving, analytics and, importantly, they have a learning mindset. That brings a very different perspective – and if we're looking to develop the finance team of the future, we need to look at the skills we need. Being an accountant is no longer just about the technical side – the business partnering element, for instance, is also now just as important. The future is AI, technology, automation and so on, and that requires slightly different skillsets from traditional accountancy. Our apprentices can bring those skills and new ideas, which enables the team and the wider organisation to continuously improve.“
Placement experience
As a Finance Graduate Trainee at Surrey, Tristan spends three to six months in different teams across the Council’s finance department to experience the variety of work and challenges each involves. “The placement structure at Surrey has been very rewarding – so far, I've been in Corporate Finance, Internal Audit, Surrey Pension Fund, and I'm currently in Public Health” he says. “The placements are also aligned with the CIPFA exams. That ability to understand theory and practice at the same time has been incredibly beneficial, especially when there are lots of other people here who've been through the CIPFA programme who can offer advice.”
Cath believes the placement structure provides a positive experience for both the CIPFA apprentice and the team, who can get additional support at key times. “The apprentices get a more rounded understanding of how different parts of the organisation work, allowing them to see the bigger picture, and how everyone is supporting each other across the various teams.”
Team working
That team approach reflects a wider support network that Tristan has found on the CIPFA apprenticeship programme. “The ability to meet new people through the CIPFA programme has been quite astounding – I didn’t expect it,” Tristan admits. “I go to classes in person, so I meet lots of people from a range of different backgrounds, regions and workforces. They work at other local authorities, in central government, in the NHS, and for other organisations; having that diversity of people has been interesting and refreshing – getting other perspectives, sharing knowledge, hearing how similar challenges are addressed, and appreciating the different issues they face.”
Tristan is also keen to highlight other opportunities for establishing professional contacts and support networks that CIPFA offers, such as through the student and regional networks. “It’s really nice feeling part of a wider community,” he says.
Skills and knowledge
Line manager Cath acknowledges Tristan’s commitment to the programme’s development opportunities. “Tristan is excelling in the apprenticeship and placements,” she says. “He is professional, proactive, positive and enthusiastic, and makes the most of every opportunity. He goes beyond what’s required, seeks to get involved in various activities across the team, looks for opportunities for improvement, takes responsibility, and is actively involved in networks across the council and CIPFA.”
As well as technical skills, Tristan says the CIPFA apprenticeship has also helped develop his leadership and communication skills. “I identified early on in meetings with my Work-Based Learning Coach that I want to be a public sector leader. As one of the key skills in the CIPFA skills matrix, I now look at what I need to do to develop that aspect.”
Tristan believes that this will ultimately help him to deliver that positive effect on the community he identifies as a key part of the public sector ethos. “In a few years’ time I would like to think I could lead a team and equally have an impact on policy-making and policy development,” he says.
Fast-paced learning
Tristan says that he enjoys the challenges presented by the CIPFA apprenticeship programme. “It's very fast-paced, and the course sometimes flies by because there's so much content to absorb,” he says. “However, you quickly get used to working at that tempo – and, crucially, you have the support there from CIPFA to help you out if you need it.”
Cath Edwards says that she would definitely recommend a CIPFA apprenticeship to others in public sector finance. “It is a commitment, and it does take a lot of hard work, but I think the benefits to the students and the employers are huge. The apprentices going through the CIPFA apprenticeship are our finance leaders of the future, so we have to invest in them and give them the opportunity. It's a really good grounding, and the world's your oyster once you've got that qualification.”
Tristan agrees: “If you are somebody who wants to hold a qualification that makes them stand out from the rest of the candidate pool, if you're somebody who wants to develop a wide range of skills and behaviours that are applicable to a range of different careers, and if you're someone who's willing to work hard and apply themselves, then CIPFA is the perfect apprenticeship for you.”