Give Wordpress apache user and FTP user write permissions

Give Wordpress apache user and FTP user write permissions

Apologies if I am missing something obvious, here is my issue:
My employer wants to be able to auto update Wordpress/Plugins from the
dashboard using define('FS_METHOD', 'direct'); in the the wp-config (he
doesn't want to run an FTP server). This requires setting the files to be
owned by the apache user.
My employer also wants to be able to login via FTP and update files
If I make the files owned by the apache user, he cannot edit them via the
FTP user, and if I make them owned by the FTP user, apache cannot modify
them. I know I can use group permissions, but Wordpress file default is
644 which, if I am correct, means that only the owner can edit the files,
not the group.
Is there any solution to this? Thanks!