Accounting Level 4

The AAT Diploma in Accounting consists of four mandatory units and two specialist units.

Mandatory units:

1. Financial Statements of Limited Companies

• Understanding the regulatory framework underpinning financial reporting
• Understanding key features of published financial statements
• Drafting a limited company’s statutory financial statements
• Drafting consolidated financial statements
• Interpreting financial statements using ratio analysis

2. Management Accounting: Budgeting

• Preparing budgets and income and expenditure forecasts
• Assessing budgetary impact of internal and external factors
• Using budgetary control to improve organisational performance

3. Management Accounting: Decision and Control

• Collating and analysing cost information from various sources
• Measuring performance and managing costs appropriately
• Making suggestions for improving financial performance by monitoring and analysing information
• Preparing performance reports for management.

4. Accounting Systems and Controls

• Understanding importance and use of internal control systems
• Evaluating the accounting system and identifying areas for improvement
• Conducting ethical and sustainability evaluations of accounting systems
• Making recommendations to improve the accounting system

Specialist units:

1. Cash Management

• Using statistical techniques and financial information to prepare income and expenditure forecasts
• Preparing cash to monitor an organisation’s cash flow
• Managing cash balances effectively
• Investing surplus funds, observing organisational policies

2. Credit control

• Understanding relevant legislation and impact on credit management
• Using information from various sources to grant customers’ credit within organisational guidelines
• Using a range of techniques for debt collection
• Monitoring and controlling credit supply

For the AAT qualification you will be assessed by completing online computer based tests and a synoptic assessment which will comprise of the 4 mandatory units.
In addition, to these formal assessments, you will complete a variety of progress assessments both in class and using the Virtual Learning Environment.

This qualification offers excellent progression opportunities. For example, you may want to go on to study at University Campus Oldham (UCO). In addition, more than 30 UK universities and higher education institutes offer exemptions to AAT qualified students enrolling on accounting and finance-related degrees. Alternatively, you will have exemptions for chartered accounting studies with ACCA, CIMA and ACA.
On successful completion of this qualification you will be able to progress to the following programmes which are offered by University Campus Oldham (UCO)
FdA Financial and Professional Services
FdA Business Management
BA (Hons) Business Management