United Kingdom · Finance · Senior (5-8 years)

Senior Finance Administrator

Here is the whole job, in plain words. What it is, what you decide, how you're judged, how people get here and where they go next. Then the part no course gives you: twelve AI tutors who learn your work.

Free to start: a plan built for this role, and a Future Fluency module to try first. No card.

Keep this job description

Where should we send it?

One email: what AI is changing in this job, and where to start free. With a link back here. Nothing else follows unless you confirm your address.

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  • Experience bandSenior (5-8 years)
  • Direct reportsNo direct reports
  • Reports toFinance Manager
  • UK framework levelUsually a coordinator, or early in a professional job

Also advertised as Senior Accounts Payable Specialist · Senior Accounts Receivable Coordinator · Financial Operations Lead · Finance Process Specialist

Built on 43,079 real UK job descriptions we analysed · grounded in qualifications employers recognise

1From this job to a course

The qualifications matched to this job

iCQ Level 3 Certificate in Providing Financial Services iCan Qualifications Limited · Level 3 · covers 2 of 11 standards
Highfield Level 3 Certificate in Providing Financial Services (RQF) Highfield Qualifications · Level 3 · covers 2 of 11 standards
City & Guilds Level 3 Award in Providing Financial Services City & Guilds Limited · Level 3 · covers 2 of 11 standards
IAB Level 3 Certificate in Computerised Payroll for Business Institute of Accountants and Bookkeepers · Level 3 · covers 1 of 11 standards
Pearson BTEC Level 2 Diploma in Business Administration Pearson Education Ltd · Level 2 · covers 2 of 11 standards

Matched from the standards this job is measured against: a suggestion, not an official ruling.

The units you would start with

Facilitating an administrative service for mortgage and/or financial planning clients iCQ Level 3 Certificate in Providing Financial Services
Computerised Payroll Administration IAB Level 3 Certificate in Computerised Payroll for Business
Investment Business: Strategy, Clients and Commercial Performance CFA UK Level 3 Award in Investment Business: Strategy, Clients and Commercial Performance
Payroll Processing Pearson BTEC Level 2 Diploma in Business Administration

The future skills this job leans on

AI Fluency working with AI as a thinking partner
Data Fluency turning numbers into a decision
AI Governance Fluency using AI responsibly
Automation Fluency building AI into how work runs
Systems Fluency seeing the whole picture
Your Plan Illustration

Built for Senior Finance Administrator

4 units that map to this job, from the qualifications that cover it.

  1. Facilitating an administrative service for mortgage and/or financial planning clients iCan Qualifications Limited · covers 2 of 11 standards Level 3
  2. Computerised Payroll Administration Institute of Accountants and Bookkeepers · covers 1 of 11 standards Level 3
  3. Investment Business: Strategy, Clients and Commercial Performance CFA Society of UK · covers 1 of 11 standards Level 3
  4. Payroll Processing Pearson Education Ltd · covers 2 of 11 standards Level 2
These are the real units behind this job, in the order they rank for it. Nothing here is marked done, because this plan has not been started by anyone yet. Yours would fill in as you go.

2AI and this work

Will AI change your work as a Senior Finance Administrator?

Nobody can say exactly how. Here is what this job is being asked for next, and where to start.

The new skills this role is being asked for

  • AI-Powered Process Automation & Validation
  • Data Storytelling & Visualisation
Why each one is rising

The future skills this job leans on

We'll only ever tell you what we can actually back up. No hype, no scare tactics.

What happens when you start

Next, a free account. We build your Senior Finance Administrator plan as you set up, starting with a Future Fluency module on using AI in your job. No card.

Your first Future Fluency module is free. After that, your AI tutor is £70 a month.

3What this role really is

A Senior Finance Administrator handles complex financial queries, checks for discrepancies, and supports less experienced administrators with day to day work.

4What you'd actually use

The tools this job runs on, and how well you'd need to know each one.

SAP S/4HANA / Oracle NetSuite (ERP) Advanced

Troubleshooting transaction errors, configuring user roles for junior staff, developing custom reports for ad-hoc analysis, and training new users on best practices for AP/AR/GL modules.

SAP Concur / Expensify (Expense Management) Advanced

Auditing complex expense reports for policy violations, managing corporate card feeds, configuring approval workflows, and analysing spending patterns to flag issues.

Coupa / Ariba (Procure-to-Pay) Advanced

Managing vendor onboarding and master data, resolving complex three-way matching discrepancies, and managing automated payment rules to optimise DPO.

BlackLine / Trintech (Reconciliation Software) Advanced

Designing reconciliation templates, investigating and resolving significant variances, and managing the period-end close checklist within the tool to ensure timely completion.

Building complex financial models with nested formulas, using Power Query for data transformation from various sources, and creating basic VBA macros to automate repetitive reporting tasks.

Tableau Creator / Power BI Pro (Business Intelligence) Intermediate

Connecting to various data sources (ERP, Excel) to build ad-hoc reports and dashboards that support operational analysis and help identify trends or issues in AP/AR data.

5What you get to decide, and how that grows

Power in a job isn't your title. It's what you're allowed to decide. Here's how it grows as you move up.

The choiceComing in Where you are nowThe step above
Invoice Approval Enters invoices, flags discrepancies, requires manager approval for all payments. Processes routine invoices, resolves simple discrepancies, approves payments up to £1,000 within policy. Owns AP process, resolves complex three-way match issues, approves payments up to £10,000, recommends policy exceptions to manager.
GL Reconciliation Performs reconciliations using templates, escalates all variances. Independently reconciles standard accounts, investigates and resolves minor variances. Leads reconciliation for complex accounts (e.g., intercompany, suspense), designs new templates, resolves significant variances, proposes adjustments to manager.
Process Improvement Identifies minor inefficiencies, suggests ideas to supervisor. Proposes solutions for recurring issues, helps implement small changes. Identifies systemic bottlenecks, designs and helps implement significant process improvements, leads small automation initiatives (e.g., Excel macros).
System Troubleshooting Reports system errors to supervisor or IT. Investigates common system errors, applies known fixes, escalates complex issues. Troubleshoots complex ERP/system issues (e.g., failed payment runs, GL posting errors), works directly with IT/vendor support, trains others on solutions.

6How you'll be judged

The scoreboard, and what is not on it. The hard targets, how often each is actually looked at, and the quiet signals that never reach a dashboard.

Invoice Processing Accuracy
The percentage of invoices processed without errors (e.g., incorrect coding, wrong amount, duplicate entry).
Target · >99.5%

Out of 500 invoices processed in a month, you'd have no more than 2-3 errors identified by the system or during review.

Month-End Close Contribution
Timely completion of assigned month-end tasks, such as reconciliations, accruals, and prepayments.
Target · 100% completion by agreed deadlines

All 10 of your assigned GL reconciliations and 5 accrual entries are completed, reviewed, and approved by the 3rd business day of the following month.

Reduction in 'On Hold' Invoices
The percentage decrease in invoices stuck in the system due to matching discrepancies or missing approvals.
Target · 15% reduction quarter-on-quarter

If we started the quarter with 100 invoices on hold, you'd help bring that down to 85 or fewer by proactively resolving issues.

Mentee Development
The progress and confidence of junior team members you're mentoring.
Target · Mentees can independently handle 80% of routine tasks within 6 months.

Your mentee, who started 4 months ago, can now process standard AP invoices from start to finish without needing your direct input, only escalating complex exceptions.

Process Improvement Implementation
Number of process improvements you've identified, proposed, and helped implement that save time or reduce errors.
Target · At least 1 significant improvement per quarter

You spot that a particular type of invoice always gets stuck, propose a new workflow with Procurement, and help roll it out, saving 5 hours of manual chasing each week.

Process Optimisation & Efficiency
Your ability to not just follow processes, but to identify bottlenecks and suggest smarter, more efficient ways of working.
  • You're regularly proposing changes to workflows, automating repetitive steps (even small ones), and helping to update our process documentation to reflect better ways of doing things. People come to you for ideas on how to make things smoother.
Problem Resolution & Troubleshooting
How effectively you investigate and resolve complex financial discrepancies or system issues.
  • When a reconciliation doesn't balance or a payment fails, you don't just escalate immediately. You dig into the ERP, check source documents, and usually come to your manager with a clear diagnosis and a proposed solution, not just a problem.
Internal Customer Satisfaction
How well you support other departments with their finance-related queries and issues.
  • Other teams (like Sales, Ops, HR) see you as a helpful, knowledgeable resource rather than a bureaucratic hurdle. They appreciate your clear explanations and your willingness to help them understand finance processes. You get positive feedback in informal conversations or surveys.
Mentorship & Knowledge Sharing
Your effectiveness in guiding and developing junior members of the team.
  • Junior colleagues actively seek your advice and guidance. You take the time to explain 'the why' behind tasks, not just 'the how'. You help them unstick themselves and build their confidence, leading to fewer repetitive questions for the wider team.
Adherence to Internal Controls & Policy
Your consistent application of company financial policies and internal controls, even when under pressure.
  • You're the one who gently reminds colleagues about the 'no PO, no pay' rule when they try to bypass it, or you flag an expense claim that's clearly out of policy. You do this constructively, but firmly, ensuring we stay compliant and audit-ready.

7Would you like it

Both sides. What people enjoy, and what grinds them down.

What people enjoy
Making things run smoothly

You get a real kick out of streamlining a clunky process, clearing a backlog of invoices, or seeing a complex reconciliation balance perfectly. You like order and efficiency.

Spending an hour figuring out why a batch payment failed, then fixing the underlying vendor data so it never happens again. That's a good day for you.

Being the go-to expert

You enjoy being the person others come to when they have a tricky finance question or can't figure out a system error. You like solving problems and sharing your knowledge.

A junior colleague is stuck on an unusual GL reconciliation; you guide them through it, explaining the logic, and they leave feeling confident.

Ensuring accuracy and compliance

You're driven by the satisfaction of knowing the numbers are absolutely correct and that we're following all the rules. The idea of an audit finding an error in your work makes you shudder.

You meticulously review a new vendor's details, spotting a potential duplicate entry that would have caused payment issues down the line.

What frustrates people
  • The Black Hole of Approvals: Spending 30% of your week chasing budget holders via email, Slack, and phone just to get a single invoice approved.
  • "Can you just pay this?": Receiving urgent payment requests that completely bypass our procurement process, forcing you to choose between breaking rules or being seen as a blocker.
  • Garbage In, Garbage Out: Dealing with messy vendor master data – duplicate entries, incorrect bank details – that causes payment failures and requires hours of cleanup.
  • The Month-End Squeeze: That cyclical pressure cooker of the last three and first two business days of the month, where all planned work stops for the close, often requiring late nights.
  • Being the Process Police: Constantly having to explain basic financial controls (like 'no PO, no pay') to other departments who view finance as a bureaucratic hurdle.
What this role does not give you
  • A quiet, predictable 9-to-5: Expect urgent requests, shifting priorities, and month-end pressure.
  • Creative, unstructured work: This role is all about process, accuracy, and compliance.
  • Lots of external client-facing interaction: Most of your interaction will be internal or with vendors/customers on specific payment/billing issues.
  • Immediate, visible impact on 'big picture' strategy: Your impact is foundational and critical, but less about setting the overall company direction.

8Who you work with

This role directly impacts our operational efficiency, cash flow management, and financial reporting accuracy. Essentially, you're ensuring the financial plumbing works, which means everyone else can focus on their jobs without worrying about payments or invoices. Get it right, and the business runs smoothly; get it wrong, and things grind to a halt pretty quickly.

Inside the business
  • Finance Manager and wider Finance team
  • Procurement and Operations teams (for purchase orders and invoices)
  • Sales and Customer Success (for customer invoicing and collections)
  • Department Heads (for expense approvals and budget queries)
Outside the business
  • Key Vendors and Suppliers
  • Customers (for billing queries)
  • External Auditors
  • Bank Representatives

9What you need before you start

Not a wish list. The things you would be expected to already have.

  • Solid understanding of core accounting principles (debits/credits, accruals, prepayments).
  • Proven experience (5+ years) in a busy finance administration role, ideally covering both AP and AR.
  • Advanced Excel skills (VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, PivotTables, complex formulas, basic Power Query).
  • Experience with a major ERP system (SAP S/4HANA, Oracle NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics 365) – you've moved beyond basic data entry.
  • Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and meet tight deadlines, especially during month-end.
  • A track record of identifying and resolving complex financial discrepancies.

10What to practise next

Where the job is going, and what to do about it starting this week.

Advanced ERP Functionality & Configuration

As our business grows and systems evolve (e.g., SAP S/4HANA updates), you'll need to move beyond just using the system to understanding its deeper configuration. This will allow you to troubleshoot more complex issues, suggest system improvements, and even assist in minor module customisations.

Understanding GL account structures and hierarchie · Basic knowledge of customisation points within mod · Reporting tree structures and financial statement · Integration points between different ERP modules ( · Security roles and authorisations within the ERP.

  • This month: Spend time exploring less-used features in our ERP, especially around reporting and master data management.
  • Next quarter: Shadow a more experienced colleague or IT team member during a system configuration change or troubleshooting session.
  • Month 4-6: Take an official ERP vendor training course (e.g., SAP FI/CO basics or NetSuite Administrator Fundamentals).
  • Month 7-9: Volunteer to be a super-user for a specific module, helping to test new functionalities or train new users.

Quick win: Familiarise yourself with the ERP's online help documentation or knowledge base. You'll be surprised what you can learn just by searching.

Intermediate SQL for Data Extraction

While Excel is great, getting data directly from our databases using SQL is becoming increasingly important. It allows for more efficient, accurate, and flexible data extraction for ad-hoc analysis or troubleshooting, reducing reliance on pre-built reports.

SELECT, FROM, WHERE clauses for basic data retriev · JOIN operations to combine data from different tab · GROUP BY and aggregate functions (SUM, AVG, COUNT) · Understanding database schemas for key finance tab · Basic data filtering and sorting.

  • This month: Start with a free online SQL tutorial (e.g., Codecademy, SQLZoo) to learn the basics.
  • Next quarter: Practice writing simple SQL queries to extract data from a test environment or a non-critical database.
  • Month 4-6: Work with a data analyst or IT colleague to understand the key finance tables in our ERP's database.
  • Month 7-9: Try to write a SQL query to replace one of your more complex Excel data pulls, then validate the results.

Quick win: Learn how to write a simple SELECT statement to pull all data from a single table. It’s a small step, but it’s the start of something powerful.

11Staying current once you are in

What people here do to keep up
  • Regularly attending finance industry webinars or online forums to stay updated on best practices and emerging technologies (like AI in finance).
  • Taking online courses in advanced Excel, Power Query, or basic SQL to enhance data analysis capabilities.
  • Participating in internal training programmes on our ERP system or new financial tools.
  • Seeking out opportunities to mentor junior colleagues and share your knowledge.
  • Engaging with professional accounting bodies (e.g., AAT, ICAEW) for networking and continuous learning.

12The rising capability

The rising capability

Zavmo analysis

What's rising in its place

This is where the work is heading, and the higher pay with it. Get fluent here and the shift stops being a threat and starts being your edge.

AI-Powered Process Automation & Validation

AI isn't just for data scientists anymore. Tools are getting smarter at automating routine tasks like invoice coding, expense auditing, and even initial reconciliation checks. The driver here is efficiency and accuracy—our competitors are already using this, and we need to too.

  • Understanding how OCR (Optical Character Recogniti
  • Learning to 'train' AI models for specific coding
  • Developing robust validation checks for AI-generat
  • Identifying processes ripe for AI augmentation, no
  • Ethical considerations and bias in AI-driven finan

Data Storytelling & Visualisation

It's not enough to just produce numbers; you need to tell a compelling story with them. Finance teams are increasingly expected to present insights, not just data, to non-finance audiences. This is driven by a need for faster, more intuitive decision-making across the business.

  • Principles of effective data visualisation (e.g.,
  • Structuring a narrative around financial data (e.g
  • Identifying key insights from complex datasets.
  • Tailoring your message for different audiences (e.
  • Using tools like Power BI or Tableau to build inte

13What you’ll use

What you’ll use

Skills this role draws on

Technical

  • Procure-to-Pay (P2P) Cycle Management
  • Order-to-Cash (O2C) Cycle Management
  • General Ledger (GL) Reconciliation
  • Accrual & Prepayment Accounting
  • Internal Controls & SOX Compliance
  • Vendor & Customer Master Data Management

14The pathway

The pathway

How you actually get there, here

How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.

  1. 1

    Finance Administrator (L2) Internal Promotion

    2-3 years as an L2

    Skills to master

    • Independent management of core AP/AR processes, strong GL reconciliation skills, proactive problem-solving, and a solid understanding of internal controls.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Consistently exceeds expectations in current role, handling complex exceptions without supervision.
    • Actively seeks out opportunities to take on more responsibility or mentor new starters.
    • Demonstrates a deep understanding of the 'why' behind financial processes, not just the 'how'.
    • Identifies and proposes improvements to existing workflows.
  2. 2

    Experienced Finance Professional from Smaller Company

    Direct entry with 5+ years relevant experience

    Skills to master

    • Adaptability to our specific ERP system and internal processes, understanding of our scale and complexity, and quick integration into our team culture.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Proven track record of managing end-to-end finance admin functions in a previous role.
    • Strong technical accounting skills and experience with similar financial systems.
    • Demonstrates initiative and ability to learn new systems/processes quickly.
    • Excellent communication skills to navigate a larger organisation.
  3. 3

    Accounts Assistant/Bookkeeper with Specialisation

    Direct entry with 5-7 years experience

    Skills to master

    • Deep dive into specific areas like P2P or O2C, mastering our ERP system, and developing a broader understanding of internal controls in a larger corporate setting.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Has managed specific areas of finance (e.g., full AP cycle) in previous roles.
    • Holds or is working towards a relevant accounting qualification (e.g., AAT Level 4).
    • Shows strong analytical and problem-solving skills, especially for discrepancies.
    • Eager to specialise and become an expert in operational finance.

15Where this role leads

The long view: This role can lead to Director of Financial Operations, VP of Financial Systems and Transformation, or Head of Shared Services.

The ten Future Fluencies

Zavmo analysis

The credential is what you can do today. These are what keep you valuable.

A qualification proves you can do the job as it's defined today. These ten are what decide whether you're still the obvious person for it in five years. They're the capabilities employers are now writing into senior roles faster than people are learning them. Zavmo weaves them through whatever you study, so you come out with both: the credential and the fluency.

The highlighted ones are the Fluencies your role leans on hardest, from how Senior Finance Administrator is actually changing.

How you would learn this

One to one, on the work you already do

A tutor sets the task against your own job and marks the reasoning, at your pace. There is no cohort to fall behind.

A lesson from Facilitating an administrative service for mortgage and/or financial planning clients, worked against Senior Finance Administrator.

Facilitating an administrative service for mortgage and/or financial planning clients Level 3

Applied to your work in Senior Finance Administrator

The objective of this unit is to enable learners to facilitate an administrative service for mortgage and/or financial planning clients. Learners will be able to deal with complex requests for information, collate information for quotations and illustrations, and assist advisers in preparing for client meetings, ensuring the smooth flow of business.

How the thinking builds
  1. 1 Remember
  2. 2 Understand
  3. 3 Apply
  4. 4 Analyse
  5. 5 Evaluate
  6. 6 Create
An illustration of a Zavmo lesson, built from this role’s own route. The unit, its objective and every criterion above are the awarding body’s own words, not an example.

It is £70 a month, billed monthly. Your free first module is Future Fluency, and you can cancel any time.

See Your Progress Grow Illustration
Senior Finance Administrator
  • Procure-to-Pay (P2P) Cycle Management
  • Order-to-Cash (O2C) Cycle Management
  • General Ledger (GL) Reconciliation
  • Accrual & Prepayment Accounting
  • Internal Controls & SOX Compliance
  • Vendor & Customer Master Data Management
This is your Mind Palace on learn.zavmo.ai. Every skill above comes from this role's own record, not an example borrowed from another job. A node lights up when you evidence it, and what you build stays yours between jobs. That is the part a course cannot do.

16The detail, folded away

Everything else the record holds

The career branches in full, how AI is already showing up in the day-to-day, and the questions people ask about this job. Here when you want them, out of the way while you decide.

Where it leads next, rung by rung

Where it leads

The career path, and where it branches

Senior Finance Administrator is a start, not a ceiling. Each step below asks for new skills and hands back more autonomy.

  1. Lead Finance Administrator / Finance Operations Specialist (L4)

    3-5 years in the Senior Finance Administrator role

    This is a significant step up, moving into a subject matter expert or small team leadership role.

    • Deep expertise in a specific ERP module (e.g., NetSuite AP configuration).
    • Ability to design and implement new financial controls or processes.
    • Advanced data analysis and reporting skills (e.g., Power BI dashboard creation).
    • Project management for small finance-related initiatives (e.g., new system rollout).
  2. Finance Operations Manager (L5)

    5-8 years in a Senior/Lead Finance Administrator role, potentially with some project leadership experience.

    This is a move into formal people management and ownership of a broader function.

    • Overseeing the entire month-end close schedule for a department.
    • Managing relationships with external auditors and banks.
    • Driving large-scale financial system implementation projects.
    • Developing and reporting on operational KPIs for the finance function.
Working with AI on the job

Working with AI

Where AI is starting to help

Let's be honest, parts of finance admin can be a bit repetitive. But what if you could offload the grunt work to AI, freeing you up for more interesting, high-impact tasks? That's exactly what's happening right now, and you'll be at the forefront of it.

We're not talking about replacing your job; we're talking about giving you a superpower. Imagine if your most tedious tasks just… happened. AI tools are rapidly changing how finance teams operate, letting you focus on analysis, problem-solving, and actual process improvement, rather than endless data entry or chasing approvals. Here's a glimpse of how you'll use it:

Automated Invoice Processing

Use AI-powered Optical Character Recognition (OCR) to automatically pull out key data—vendor, invoice number, amount, line items—from PDF invoices. The AI can even suggest the right GL account based on past behaviour, pre-populating our ERP. This means less manual typing and fewer errors for you.

Anomaly Detection in Expenses

Imagine an AI tool that flags unusual expense claims in real-time. Think duplicate submissions, weekend travel without a clear business reason, or abnormally high meal costs. This focuses your audit efforts on the highest-risk items, saving you hours of detective work and awkward conversations.

Vendor Compliance & Risk Checks

Leverage an AI assistant to quickly perform background checks on new vendors. It can verify tax IDs, check for sanctions list inclusion, and even analyse financial stability. This streamlines our vendor onboarding and significantly reduces our risk, all with less manual digging for you.

Intelligent Collections Communication

Use generative AI to draft customised dunning emails for overdue accounts. The AI can adjust the tone based on the customer's payment history and how old the debt is—from a gentle reminder to a more formal notice. This frees you up from writing the same email over and over.

Common questions

Common questions

How do you become a Senior Finance Administrator?

Common routes in include Finance Administrator Internal Promotion (2-3 years as an L2), Experienced Finance Professional from Smaller Company (Direct entry with 5+ years relevant experience) and Accounts Assistant/Bookkeeper with Specialisation (Direct entry with 5-7 years experience). Times vary with prior experience.

Where can a Senior Finance Administrator progress to?

This role can lead on to Lead Finance Administrator / Finance Operations Specialist (3-5 years in the Senior Finance Administrator role) and Finance Operations Manager (5-8 years in a Senior/Lead Finance Administrator role, potentially with some project leadership experience.), depending on the skills you build.

What new skills matter most for a Senior Finance Administrator?

Increasingly, AI-Powered Process Automation & Validation and Data Storytelling & Visualisation. These are the skills our record of this role lists as growing.

Free tools

Want a read on where you stand?

Three free tools, no account needed. Each one ends with a role, a level and a way in.

17Where to go from here

Other roles at Level 3

Same depth of qualification, different job. Useful if the work appeals but this particular role does not.

More jobs in finance

Stay in the field you know and move sideways rather than up.

If you leave this industry

The skills built in this role, including process improvement, system expertise, strong controls and data accuracy, apply across many industries. This can lead to finance operations roles in sectors from technology to large corporates, or into financial systems consulting.

This role profile is © 2026 Growth Engineering Technologies Ltd. Built from UK occupational standards and regulated qualification data, and written for Zavmo.

You're not behind. You're right on time. The shift is only just beginning. Your role won't look the same in two years. Be the one who leads the change, not the one it happens to. Start my Senior Finance Administrator plan, free What happens next: a free account, then we build your plan as you set up. No card. Build your plan, see your roadmap and meet the twelve tutors matched to you. All free. When you're ready to start learning, it's £70 a month, billed monthly. Cancel any time and billing stops.