AAT Level 4 Diploma in Accounting

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1 AAT Level 4 Diploma in Accounting Choosing to study the AAT Accounting Qualification with ICS Learn will start you on the path to a successful accounting and finance career. AAT Level 4 Diploma in Accounting is the Advanced Level of the AAT Accounting Qualification. With this Level 4 Diploma, you ll master financial team leader skills, including financial statements for limited companies, complex management skills and specialist learning skills choosing from tax, credit control and cash management options. Overview AAT Level 4 Diploma in Accounting is the advanced level of the AAT Accounting Qualification. It offers technical training in accounting and its main purpose is to enhance the skills developed in the intermediate level. At this advanced level, you'll look at financial team leader skills, including financial statements for limited companies, complex management skills and specialist learning areas. If the AAT Level 4 Diploma is not the right course for you, have a look at our AAT Level 3 Diploma or our AAT Level 2 Certificate. About AAT AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians) is the UK s leading professional body for Accounting and Finance staff with 130,000 members in more than 90 countries. AAT Accounting qualifications are universally respected and internationally recognised. AAT award around 90% of all vocational qualifications in accounting, and are sponsored by the professional accounting bodies CIPFA, ICAEW, CIMA and ICAS. AAT members are ambitious, focused accounting professionals, many occupying senior, well rewarded positions with thousands of employers - from blue-chip corporate giants to public sector institutions. In short, an AAT qualification is a route to some of the most in-demand skills in the world, and provides you with a professional status you can be proud of. Entry requirements To enrol on our AAT level 4 Diploma you must be able to demonstrate appropriate knowledge through work experience or hold a Level 3 AAT, or equivalent, qualification. If you don t hold a Level 3 AAT, or equivalent qualification, you should discuss your work experience with our Course Advisors. You will also be asked to complete the AAT Skillcheck test on the AAT website, which is a tool to help you to find the right level of study for you. The AAT Skillcheck is a short online test with a series of multiple-choice questions. It should only take about 30 minutes to complete. You ll be able to see your results and the recommended level of study immediately. As this is a business orientated finance course you should have reasonable numeracy and communication skills. If English is not your first language, IELTS 5.5 is required and an interest in how business works, *Please note that if you have a criminal record or have been made bankrupt the AAT may not accept you as a member - consequently you will be unable to sit exams.

2 Career progression AAT Level 4 Diploma in Accounting is the final level of the AAT Accounting Qualification, and on completing this you will be a fully qualified accounting technician. Examples of job roles that holders of the Level 4 Diploma in Accounting are equipped to undertake include: Assistant Financial Accountant; Commercial Analyst; Cost Accountant; Fixed Asset Accountant; Indirect Tax Manager; Payments and Billing Manager; Payroll Manager; Senior Bookkeeper; Senior Finance Officer; Senior Fund Accountant; Senior Insolvency Administrator; Tax Supervisor; VAT Accountant. Qualification With the AAT Level 4 syllabus, you ll master complex financial processes, including financial performance and statements, budgeting and internal control and accounting systems. Upon completion of all of your assessments, you will be awarded the AAT Level 4 Diploma in Accounting. Support when you study with ICS Learn Once enrolled on one of our courses you are assigned a dedicated course tutor, who is a carefully selected subject expert in their chosen field. Each of our tutors has experience in teaching distance learning courses and understands the challenges as well as advantages of online and distance learning. Our tutors provide you with academic support and answer any queries you may have regarding course content and assessments. They ensure that you are fully prepared to successfully pass any coursework and exams (if applicable) by providing and marking effective revision aids such as test papers and mock exams. Papers are all marked in a constructive manner so students know exactly where their strengths and weaknesses lie. To help guide you through your programme and keep you on track, we offer the support of our in-house mentor team. Our mentors are proactive and supportive to ensure you remain motivated and engaged throughout your study programme. They will set each you study goals from initial enrolment through to graduation. You will have online access to our Student Community where you have access to useful study resources and you will be able to test your skills through online activities. You will also be able to chat with other AAT students on your course. AAT in partnership with ICS Learn "Every business needs well trained staff and an AAT qualification demonstrates to a prospective employer that you have the skills to do the job. Gaining a recognised accountancy qualification with AAT is the first step into a professional finance career." Mark Farrar, AAT Chief Executive

3 Course content The (AQ2013 Syllabus) consists of the following separate units outlined below with the key topics listed for each: Mandatory units Financial Statements 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 Budgeting Preparing budgets and income and expenditure forecasts Assessing budgetary impact of internal and external factors Using budgetary control to improve organisational performance Financial Performance 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 Internal Control and Accounting Systems (project unit). Understand the role of accounting within an organisation Understand the importance and use of internal control systems Evaluate the accounting system and identify areas for improvement Conduct an ethical evaluation of the accounting systems Conduct a sustainability evaluation of the accounting system Make recommendations to improve the accounting system Note: This project includes the submission of a word report based on an AAT case-study scenario.

4 Specialist optional units (choose two of the following) Cash Management Using statistical techniques and financial information to prepare income and expenditure forecasts Preparing cash to monitor an organisations cash flow Managing cash balances effectively Investing surplus funds, observing organisational policies 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 Business Tax Completing Corporation Tax returns and supporting computations for incorporated businesses Understanding the impact of legislation and legislative changes Understanding tax law and its implications for incorporated/unincorporated business Understanding capital assets Personal Tax Calculating income from all sources and identifying taxable and non-taxable items Applying current legislation to calculate tax payable on income Accounting for Capital Gains Tax according to current legislation Preparing accurate computations and complete relevant parts of self-assessment tax returns You can choose your optional units once you have begun your studies and your course tutor will be happy to help guide you on this decision.

5 AAT assessments AAT assessments are designed to assess the skills, knowledge and understanding you ve developed. To achieve your AAT Level 4 Diploma in Accounting you have to sit six separate assessments (one per unit) set by AAT. These assessments are computer based. There are two types of Computer Based Assessments: Five of the assessments are Computer Based Tests (CBT) You will have to attend an AAT approved exam centre to sit them. When you are ready to take your assessments, we can help make the arrangements with you. These are marked immediately and you will get the provisional results on the day. One of the computer based assessments is a Computer Based Project (CBP) that will be submitted to your tutor for marking. You will get the result once your project has been assessed by your tutor and internally verified by ICS. This project includes the submission of a word report reviewing and analysing the accounting systems of an organisation and making recommendations for improvement to those systems, based on an AAT case-study scenario. Computer Based Tests (CBT) assessed units Mandatory Units Financial Performance Budgeting Financial Statements Optional Units (two to be chosen) Cash Management Credit Control Business Tax Personal Tax Computer Based Projects (CBP) assessed unit Internal Controls and Accounting Systems (Project unit) Assessment centres The assessment fees and invigilation fees for each AAT assessment are included in your overall course price. AAT assessment venues accept external candidates for the computer based assessments. When you have successfully passed your mock assessment for each unit (pass rate 70%), we will ask where and when you d like to sit your exam and get in touch with you to agree a suitable date, time and venue. Before finalising the booking for you, we will confirm your booking via .

6 Why choose ICS Learn? Personal mentor support - to help guide you through the programme to keep you on track. Your mentor can be contacted by phone, and via the online Student Community and live web chat Expert tutor support Tutor contact by phone, and via the online Student Community. Your tutor provides you with academic support and answers any queries you may have regarding your course including its content and assessments. Online learning approach unlimited access to expert tutor support, online learning activities and Osborne AAT text books and ebooks written specifically to the AAT syllabus. Flexibility study when it suits you, progress as quickly as you want over your 18 month support period Course fees and Additional fees Please see our website for current prices. The following fees can either be included in your monthly payment plan or you can opt to pay these separately. Please note that AAT requires you to activate your membership within four weeks of enrolment. AAT Admission Fees AAT Annual Membership Fees Level 4 AAT Exam Fees Examination Centre Fees Course code P13 Support period 18 months from enrolment

7 AAT student membership benefits with ICS Learn As an AAT student member with ICS Learn you will also be able to use these helpful study resources: Learning area overviews - these explain the skills and knowledge you'll develop in each learning area. E-learning - interactive audio-visual tutorials covering key learning areas of each of the course units. Green Light tests - interactive online tests to check how well you understand you re learning areas and identify where you need to do more work. They'll also give you an idea of whether you're ready for the assessment. Assessment briefings - these show you what you need to know for your assessments and help you understand the skills and knowledge that you'll be assessed on. Sample assessments - these will test your knowledge and familiarise you with the computer based assessment format. Once you have enrolled on your AAT Level 4 Diploma in Accounting with ICS Learn, we will give you a payment code which will allow you to activate your AAT student membership. This will give you access to the full benefits AAT offer and allow you to sit your AAT assessments*. * If you have chosen to add AAT membership to your study package with ICS Learn.