AAT Level 3 - Diploma in Accounting

This intermediate qualification is designed to prepare you for roles such as Accounts Assistant and Credit Controller, and to help you earn a respected industry credential. To enroll in this course, you need either a Level 2 qualification or substantial prior practical experience in accounting, with an AAT skills check required. The course provides a strong foundation in advanced accounting techniques and disciplines, and makes you eligible for AAT Bookkeeping membership (AATQB). It serves as an excellent stepping stone before advancing to more advanced Level 4 courses.

What it covers?

This qualification encompasses a broad spectrum of essential and advanced accounting techniques and disciplines. Students will acquire and refine skills crucial for various financial processes, including maintaining cost accounting records, performing advanced bookkeeping, and preparing comprehensive financial reports and returns.

In addition, students will gain insights into learning higher accounting techniques and disciplines, and qualify for AAT bookkeeping membership (AATQB).

4 units (syllabus) to complete (with optional unit for Botswana students only):

1. Business Awareness

This unit equips students with a thorough understanding of a business and its environment, including how these factors influence an organization’s structure, the role of its accounting function, and its overall performance. Students will explore various business purposes and types, the rights and responsibilities of key stakeholders, and the significance of professional ethics and ethical management within the finance function.

This unit accounts for 15% of the overall qualification grade.

Learning outcomes

• Understand business types, structure and governance and the legal framework in which they operate.
• Understand the impact of the external and internal environments on business, their performance and decisions.
• Understand how businesses and accounts comply with principles of professional ethics.
• Understand the impact of new technologies in accounting and the risks associated with data security.
• Communicate information to stakeholders.

2. Financial Accounting: Preparing Financial Statements

This unit equips students with the skills necessary to prepare statements of profit or loss and financial position for sole traders and partnerships, utilising a trial balance. Students will develop proficiency in double-entry bookkeeping, enabling them to record financial transactions in an organisation's accounts using a manual bookkeeping system.

This unit accounts for 40% of the overall qualification grade.

Learning outcomes

• Understand the accounting principles underlaying final accounts preparation.
• Understand the principles of advanced double-entry bookkeeping.
• Implement procedures for the acquisition and disposal of non-current assets.
• Prepare and record depreciation calculations.
• Record period end adjustments.
• Produce and extend the trial balance.
• Produce financial statements for sole traders and partnerships.
• Interpret financial statements using profitability ratios.
• Prepare accounting records from incomplete information.

3. Management Accounting Techniques

This unit provides students with the knowledge and skills to comprehend the role of management accounting within an organization and how it supports decision-making. Students will explore the principles underlying management accounting methodologies and techniques, understand how costs are managed within organizations, and learn why different approaches to cost treatment are applied.

This unit accounts for 30% of the overall qualification grade.

Learning outcomes

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

4. Tax Processes for Businesses

This unit examines the tax processes that impact 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 and Customs (HMRC). It provides students with the essential knowledge and skills needed to ensure compliance with VAT and payroll laws and practices, benefiting businesses, employers, and clients alike.

This unit accounts for 15% of the overall qualification grade.

Learning outcomes

• Understand legislation requirements relating to VAT.
• Calculate VAT.
• Review and verify VAT returns.
• Understand principles of payroll.
• Report information within the organisation.

5. Botswana Tax Processes for Businesses (for students in Botswana only)

This unit explores tax processes that affect the daily operations of businesses and is designed to develop students' skills in understanding, preparing, and submitting Value Added Tax (VAT) returns to the Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS). It equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary to ensure that businesses, employers, and clients remain compliant with VAT and payroll laws and practices.

This unit accounts for 15% of the overall qualification grade.

Learning outcomes

• Understand legislation requirements relating to VAT.
• Calculate VAT.
• Review and verify VAT returns.
• Understand principles of payroll.
• Report information within the organisation.

Who is it suitable for?

This progressive-level accounting qualification is ideal for:

• Individuals with a Level 2 qualification in bookkeeping or accounting who wish to build a solid foundation before advancing to more complex Level 4 qualifications.
• Employers seeking to enhance their staff's accounting skills.
• Individuals contemplating a career change and wanting to quickly assess their interest in accounting.
• SME business owners aiming to understand and improve their accounting systems or automate their accounting processes.
• Business owners who wish to develop and maintain their own accounting records, whether manually or through accounting software.
• Those looking to obtain an accounting qualification efficiently.

Potential Career Opportunities

Upon completing this qualification, you will be well-prepared to apply for roles such as:

• Accounts assistant
• Accounts payable clerk
• Audit trainee
• Credit controller
• Payroll administrator/supervisor
• Practice bookkeeper
• Finance assistant
• Tax assistant
• Accounts payable and expenses supervisor

How long it takes?

The qualification usually takes around 12 months to complete, but this will depend on study method and course timetable. Most students can potentially complete this qualification a little quicker in 9 months. If the student aim to fast-track on their study method and course timetable.

How and where to study?

You can choose to study through online distance learning, blended learning, or in the classroom—whatever suits you best. Whether you prefer evening classes, part-time, or full-time study, there’s an option to fit your schedule. Even if you opt for distance learning, you'll need to find a training provider. We’ll assist you every step of the way, including with registration. Once a cohort of students is registered, we’ll schedule sessions at times that work best for the group.

What to expect from us?

We provide flexible study options through block-teaching sessions, available both online and in-person, tailored to fit your lifestyle and schedule. To ensure personalised support and cost-effective delivery, we create small cohorts of learners, allowing us to offer comprehensive attention to each individual.

For those in full-time employment, we recognise the challenges of balancing work and personal commitments. That's why we schedule sessions around your availability, including daytime, evenings, and weekends. Throughout your studies, you’ll receive continuous support and guidance from your personal AAT tutor, who will be with you every step of the way.

You will have seven-day-a-week access to our team of fully qualified, highly experienced tutors and course advisors, selected for their deep industry knowledge. Our mission is to equip you with everything needed to confidently progress through your AAT course and achieve your qualification in the most efficient and cost-effective manner possible.

What is the cost?

The total cost for the course, including all registration and assessment fees, is £1,487. This includes:

• A course fee of £1,000, which covers tuition (if attending in-person classes) and is paid directly to us.

The standard qualification fee is £487. This fee is made up of:

• a one-off registration fee of £235, paid directly to AAT. This registration fee will give you access to the qualification for its lifetime, typically four to five years, and access to the study support resources, and enable you to sit the qualification assessments
• 4-unit assessments, all priced at £63 each.

The registration fee, paid directly to AAT, grants access to study support resources and covers assessment scheduling for the duration of the qualification, typically four to five years. The assessment fee is paid to your us or assessment venue.

Please be aware that training providers and assessment venues may charge an additional administrative fee for the assessment, which can vary between organisations.

Reduced registration fee for AAT bookkeeping members

If you're already an AAT bookkeeping member (AATQB) you'll pay a reduced registration fee of £101. Make sure you're logged in and the discount will be automatically applied when you add the qualification to your basket.

Your unit assessments will still cost £63 each.

AAT Bursary

AAT is pleased to offer a bursary to individuals facing financial challenges, providing them with the opportunity to transform their lives through an AAT qualification. Applications for this bursary will reopen in early 2025.

Entry requirements

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 good standard of English and maths.

If you already have some accounting experience, use the AAT Skill check to assess your knowledge and determine the most suitable qualification to start with. We will assist you on this entry requirements. Please contact us for your skills check.

Exemptions

Those who can provide evidence of gaining a previous, relevant qualification from an external awarding body may not have to sit all AAT assessments.

We believe that if you've already studied qualification units featuring the same content, you shouldn't need to duplicate work. This means students can fast track onto the most appropriate AAT qualification.

Students may be eligible for exemptions if they have:

• previous finance or accounting qualifications
• an accounting or finance degree.

Contact us about studying an AAT Qualification

• Whatsapp: +44(0)7841144988    
• Email: admin@aprcb.com

We will respond to your enquiry as soon as possible.

Office Hours:

Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 17:00 UK time