Students can start with any qualification depending on existing skills and experience. For the best chance of success, we recommend that students begin their studies with a Level 2 Bookkeeping or Accounting qualification and a good standard of English and maths (e.g., GCSE grade C or 4, level 2 Functional Skill or Key skill).
The Level 3 Diploma qualification comprises the following units:
- Financial Accounting: Preparing Financial Statements
- Management Accounting Techniques
- Tax Processes for Businesses
- Business Awareness
Financial Accounting: Preparing Financial Statements
This unit provides students with the skills required to produce statements of profit or loss and statements for financial position for sole traders and partnerships, using a trial balance. Students will gain the double-entry bookkeeping skills needed to record financial transactions into an organisation's accounts using a manual bookkeeping system.
Management Accounting Techniques
This unit provides students with the knowledge and skills needed to understand the role of management accounting in an organisation, and how organisations use such information to aid decision making. Students will learn the principles that underpin management accounting methodology and techniques, how costs are handled in organisations and why organisations treat costs in different ways.
Tax Processes for Businesses
This unit explores tax processes that influence the daily operations of businesses and is designed to develop students' skills in understanding, preparing and submitting Value Added Tax (VAT) returns to HM Revenue & Customs. The unit provides students with the knowledge and skills needed to keep businesses, employers and clients compliant with laws and practices that apply to VAT and payroll.
Business Awareness
This unit provides students with an understanding of the business, its environment and the influences that this has on an organisation’s structure, the role of its accounting function and its performance. Students will examine the purpose and types for businesses that exist and the rights and responsibilities of the key stakeholders, as well as gain an understanding of the importance of professional ethics and ethical management within the finance function.
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Once you have completed the course, you can go on to the AAT Level 4 Professional Diploma in Accounting or the Chartered Professional Qualifications.
This qualification can be used as a route to professional AAT bookkeeping member (AATQB) status.
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Possible careers with this range of skills would include:
- Accounting Administrator
- Accounts/Finance assistant
- Accounts manager
- Audit trainee
- Credit controller
- Payroll administrator/supervisor
- Practice bookkeeper
- Tax assistant
- Accounts payable and expenses supervisor