The AAT combined Level 3 and Level 4 qualification will develop your skills to an advanced level while introducing some complex theories, concepts and procedures. Topics in this course will include the preparation of accounts and creation of financial statements. The AAT syllabus is delivered entirely online through a combination of activities and learning materials to ensure students get the most from their learning. The combined course features 15 units in total and students will need to complete 12 of these; six at Level 3 and nine at Level 4.
The six units contained within the AAT Level 3 qualification include:
Unit 1: Advanced Bookkeeping – Use a sub-divided accounting system to develop trial balances and conduct reconciliations as well as creating a valuation of inventory, preparing accounts for irrecoverable debts and understand how to dispose non-current assets.
Unit 2: Final Accounts Preparation – Discover how to prepare accounts for a variety of different businesses, make accurate records of partnership changes and prepare final accounts even if records are incomplete
Unit 3: Indirect Tax – Explore VAT legislation surrounding costs and learn the correct process for preparing a VAT return
Unit 4: Management Accounting: Costing – Demonstrate how to create budget accounts in relation to business costs such as expenses, labour and materials and be able to forecast company revenues taking into consideration break even and limiting factors
Unit 5: Ethics for Accountants – Learn the ethical guidelines applicable to accounting along with the relevant legislation
Unit 6: Spreadsheets for Accounting – Be able to create complex spreadsheets for accounting using suitable formula and formatting practices
This will bring you to the end of Level 3. Progression to Level 4 will enable you to study more complex topics. The Level 4 qualification includes nine units in total, but students are asked to complete six.
Compulsory units include:
Unit 1: Management Accounting: Budgeting – Polish your skills in budgetary control systems, learning how to formulate advanced budget reports
Unit 2: Management Accounting: Decision and Control – Conduct analysis of business performance based on multiple variables and reconcile actual and budgeted costs.
Unit 3: Financial Statements of Limited Companies – Prepare accurate financial statements which comply with regulatory frameworks.
Unit 4: Accounting Systems and Controls – Explore how to create and manage company accounting systems and recommend improvements where required
At the end of Unit 4 there are a further two units to complete but these enable you to choose an area of specialism. Students are asked to study two units out of a possible five:
Optional units include: