A New Chapter Begins: Muhammad Achieves Finance Accountant Role at Aston Group

Where it all began

We first met Muhammad in the summer of 2020. He applied to join our virtual pre-employment programme, designed to support local residents gain valuable employability support and advice during the pandemic lockdown.

Muhammad wanted to change career and become a chartered accountant, and had just completed a Level 2 AAT course (Association of Accounting Technicians).

He was hoping to be taken on as an accounting apprentice by a local council in order to study the next level in AAT, and earn whilst he learnt, however the COVID19 pandemic had halted all recruitment at that time.

In order to be as prepared as possible for seeking employment and maximise his chances during future interviews, Muhammad attended our online CV Writing and Interview Skills workshops.

Whilst discussing his future aspirations, we quickly realised that he exhibited all of the positive personality traits that we look for in Aston Group employees.

Muhammad was undeniably passionate about a career in finance, highly conscientious and invested in achieving his goals. All he needed was a chance.

We were not looking for any apprentices at that particulartime, and had never offered an Accounting apprenticeship before. We were so impressed by Muhammad, that we felt it would be remiss of us, not to offer such an outstanding candidate a chance to come on-board and give him a helping hand to achieve his dreams.

Much to his surprise, we offered him a Level 3 AAT Apprenticeship with Aston Group, which he delightfully accepted, and he started his two year apprenticeship in January 2021.

Since then, Muhammad has repeatedly proven what a good choice we made, quickly establishing himself as an integral part of the finance team, taking on extra responsibility and successfully passing his exams to date, scoring over 95% each time. We are thrilled that he is doing so well, and very proud that he is a part of our family.

How it's going in 2025

We are delighted to announce Muhammad has passed his accountancy exams. The AAT full membership (MAAT) is an internationally recognised professional status in accounting and finance. Muhammad has dedicated a huge amount of his time to the course and demonstrates his commitment to developing and keeping his skills up to date.

Achieving MAAT

"Completing AAT Level 4 and earning MAAT designation has been a significant milestone in my career. This accomplishment equips me with the skills to perform tasks such as preparing financial statements, handling VAT returns, preparing self-assessments, etc—crucial services in the finance industry.

The journey, however, was far from easy. Balancing work with studies required immense dedication, often sacrificing weekends, evenings, and the majority of annual leave to ensure I met both professional and academic commitments. Despite these sacrifices, the experience has been incredibly rewarding, providing me with not only advanced technical expertise but also invaluable skills in financial management that will serve me well for years to come". Muhammad

Muhammad has now been promoted to Finance Accountant from the 1st February 2025.

If you are interested in working with us as an apprentice visit our website or send your CV and cover letter to:

Rachel Statter – r.statter@astongroup.co.uk

Becoming an apprentice ambassador

Aston Group like to offer a wide range of experiences as an apprentice ambassador during our apprenticeships, in order to boost personal confidence, widen their social skill set and promote apprenticeships. Muhammad has taken part in virtual school presentations talking about apprenticeships, and helped deliver at our Eid events.

Muhammad is a prime example of not only how well our Pipeline to Employment programme works, he also proves that apprenticeships can be a great opportunity for people of all ages.