Accounting (AAT)

The AAT Diploma in Accounting is a potential stepping stone for you to take into employment, further education or training. It may be suited to you if you want to study part-time alongside employment or if you already working in finance. This qualification will also suit those looking to gain the skills required to move into a career in finance as it provides a clear pathway towards a successful career in accounting and finance.

Level 3 introduces more complex accounting tasks, such as advanced double-entry bookkeeping, preparing and interpreting financial statements, management accounting, and tax processes.

This is the new AQ2022 syllabus. The course includes all materials, books and exam fees.

Financial Support

* Great news... if you're aged 19 or over and earning less than £20,319 a year (gross salary), you may not have to pay for this course.

* If you have not previously achieved a full Level 3 qualification, this course will be fully funded by the Level 3 free courses for jobs offer (new window).

* If you're aged 19 or over and are starting a further education course at level 3 or above, you may qualify for an Advanced Learner Loan. This course is eligible for an Advanced Learner Loan.

Important Notice

Please note that all courses are subject to minimum numbers. If there are too few enrolments, the College may cancel the course. A place on your chosen course is not confirmed until enrolment is complete and any relevant fees are paid.

If you have any questions about this course, please contact us.

Tel: 023 8048 4848
Email: enquiries@southampton-city.ac.uk 

The Level 3 AAT Diploma in Accounting is comprised of four modules.

Business Awareness

This unit provides you with an understanding of the business, its environment and the influence that this has on an organisation’s structure, the role of its accounting function and its performance. Areas of study will include:

• Understanding business types, structures and governance, and the legal framework in which they operate
• Understanding the impact of the external and internal environment on businesses, their performance and decisions
• Understanding how businesses and accountants comply with principles of professional ethics
• Understanding the impact of new technologies in accounting and the risks associated with data security including AI, cloud technology, big data and blockchain
• Communicating information to stakeholders

Financial Accounting: Preparing Financial Statements

This unit provides you with the skills required to produce statements of profit or loss and statements of financial position for sole traders and partnerships using a trial balance. Areas of study include:

• Understanding the accounting principles underlying final accounts preparation
• Understanding the principles of advanced double-entry bookkeeping
• Implementing procedures for the acquisition and disposal of non-current assets
• Preparing and recording depreciation calculations
• Recording period end adjustments
• Producing and extend the trial balance
• Producing financial statements for sole traders and partnerships
• Interpreting financial statements using profitability ratios
• Preparing accounting records from incomplete information

Management Accounting Techniques

This unit provides you 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. Areas of study include:

• Understanding the purpose and use of management accounting within organisations
• Using techniques required for dealing with costs
• Attribute costs according to organisational requirements
• Investigating deviations from budgets
• Using spreadsheet techniques to provide management accounting information
• Using management accounting techniques to support short-term decision making
• Understanding principles of cash management

Tax Processes for Businesses

This unit explores tax processes that influence the daily operations of businesses and is designed to develop your skills in understanding, preparing, and submitting Value Added Tax (VAT) returns to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). Areas of study include:

• Understanding legislation requirements relating to VAT
• Calculating VAT
• Completing VAT returns
• Understanding principles of payroll
• Reporting information within the organisation

All units are assessed via computerised skills tests.

• Completed AAT Level 2 or
• An A-Level in Accounts or 
• Be working in an accounting capacity and are able to work to trial balance and have a good working knowledge of double entry

You will also be required to attend an interview with the course tutor and complete a Literacy and Numeracy assessment.

On completion, you can progress to take the AAT Professional Diploma in Accounting.

As well as providing progress onto the AAT Professional Diploma in Accounting, this qualification can also open up a choice of great careers,and a route to higher education. More than 30 UK universities and higher education institutes currently offer exemptions to AAT professional members enrolling on accounting and finance-related degrees.

Skills developed through this qualification can lead to employment as:

• Accounts assistant
• Accounts payable and expenses supervisor
• Accounts payable clerk
• Assistant accountant
• Audit trainee
• Corporate recovery analyst
• Credit controller
• Finance assistant
• Finance officer
• Indirect tax manager
• Insolvency executive
• Payroll supervisor
• Professional bookkeeper
• Senior bookkeeper
• Tax assistant

The course includes all materials, books and exam fees.