AAT Level 4 Professional Diploma in Accounting
Course Codes
AAT036 / AAT038
Progress your career in accounting with our AAT Level 4 Professional Diploma in Accounting qualification!
- Achieve this AAT Level 4 Professional Diploma in Accounting qualification from one of the most respected and widely-known awarding bodies worldwide.
- AAT qualifications are recognised both internationally and by all UK chartered and certified accounting bodies.
- Accountants with an AAT qualification are highly sought after by companies of all sizes.
- Boost your employment prospects and career development.
- Study from home at your own pace.
- If you add on your exams, we will book and pay for them for you!
- Successful students can apply for full AAT membership and achieve professional MAAT status.
Course overview
This AAT Level 4 Professional Diploma in Accounting course has been designed for experienced, knowledgeable accountants who are looking to take their career to the next level.
During your studies, you’ll explore topics such as business and personal tax, cash and treasury management, management accounting, and financial statements.
AAT is the world’s leading professional membership body for accounting technicians, working with members around the world. Their accounting courses are highly sought-after and as an AAT qualification, this accredited accounting qualification will help you to progress your career.
You will need to complete your AAT exams to complete and achieve your qualification. You can choose to add your AAT exams on to your enrolment. If you do not add your exams to your enrolment, you will be responsible for booking and paying for your exams.
If you are not a working professional or haven’t got any previous accounting qualifications, take a look at our AAT Level 2 Certificate in Accounting course.
Course Duration
Up to one year.
Study Hours
Approximately 560 hours.
Course Outcome
Upon successful completion of the AAT exams, you will receive your AAT Level 4 Professional Diploma in Accounting qualification.
Entry Requirements
You must be 16 years old to enrol on this course. It is also recommended that you have previously completed AAT Advanced Diploma In Accounting Level 3.
Assessment
Tutor marked assessments, five unit exams, and one synoptic assessment.
Course content
- Prepare forecasts of income and expenditure
- Prepare budgets
- Demonstrate how budgeting can improve organisational performance
- Report budgetary information to management in a clear and appropriate format
- Prepare forecasts of income and expenditure
- Prepare budgets
- Demonstrate how budgeting can improve organisational performance
- Report budgetary information to management in a clear and appropriate format
- The reporting frameworks and ethical principles that underpin financial reporting
- Key features of a published set of financial statements
- Statutory financial statements for a limited company
- Consolidated financial statements
- Interpret financial statements using ratio analysis
- The role and responsibilities of the accounting function within an organisation
- Internal control systems
- Evaluate an organisation’s accounting system and underpinning procedures
- Recommendations made to improve an organisation’s accounting system
- Complete tax returns for sole traders and partnerships and prepare supporting tax computations
- Complete tax returns for limited companies and prepare supporting tax computations
- Provide advice on the UK’s tax regime and its impact on sole traders, partnerships and limited companies
- Advise business clients on tax reliefs, and their responsibilities and their agent’s responsibilities in reporting taxation to HMRC
- Prepare tax computations for the sale of capital assets
- Analyse the theories, principles and rules that underpin taxation systems
- Calculate a UK taxpayer’s total income
- Calculate income tax and National Insurance (NI) contributions payable by a UK taxpayer
- Account for capital gains tax
- Discuss the basics of inheritance tax
- Understanding the principles of auditing
- Importance of professional ethics
- The audited entity's system of internal control
- Audit procedures for obtaining audit evidence
- The planning process
- Audit procedures
- Use statistical techniques and financial information to prepare forecasts of cash receipts and payments
- Prepare cash budgets and monitor cash flows within the organisation
- The principles of cash management within the context of regulation and government monetary policies
- Ways of raising finance in accordance with organisational requirements
- Ways of investing surplus funds within organisational policies
- Analyse relevant legislation and contract law that has an impact on the credit control environment
- Critically analyse information from a variety of sources to assess credit risk and grant credit in compliance with organisational policies and procedures
- Evaluate a range of techniques to collect debts
- Critically evaluate credit control in line with organisational policies and procedures
- Present advice and recommendations to management on the credit control system
Extra info
Assessment
The qualification is assessed through five unit exams, and one synoptic assessment, which you will complete at the end of your course. This computer-based exam must be sat under controlled conditions at an external examination centre. The unit assessments will be available on-demand throughout the year, while the synoptic assessments are available on set dates throughout the year. Your tutor will be able to help you decide when you are ready to take the assessments.
You will complete three exams based on mandatory units, and two exams from optional units.
You will also have six tutor-marked assessments to complete that will help you track your progress and you can complete these in as much or as little time as you need.
Booking your assessments
You can choose to add your exams on to your enrolment. If you choose this option, we will book and pay for your exams for you. Our partner exam centres for students choosing to book their exams through us are based in Birmingham or Irthlingborough near Northampton. When choosing to add your exams to your enrolment, it is important to note that we are only able to book your exams at the specified centres in either Birmingham or Irthlingborough, and therefore, you must be prepared to travel to one of those centre to complete your exam.
Course duration
To allow you to study at your own pace, you will have up to one year to complete your course which is more than enough time.
Study method
Once you have enrolled, you will receive all course materials by post. You will study this course through distance learning, which will enable you to learn when and where you want. You can study from home or at work, it is completely up to you.
You will also receive unlimited tutor support via email for twelve months.
Once you have registered with AAT for your student membership, you will have access to their library of online resources and additional support materials, including sample assessments to help you prepare for your exams.
We will send an email with a link to download the free Sage software.
You will need to complete six units on this course from a mix of mandatory and optional units.The mandatory units are:
- Management accounting: budgeting
- Management accounting: decision and control
- Financial statements of limited companies
- Accounting systems and controls
Students may then choose from the following optional units:
- Business tax
- Personal tax
- External auditing
- Cash and treasury management
- Credit management
Course outcome
Once you have successfully completed your exams and assessments, you will receive your AAT Level 4 Professional Diploma in Accounting from The Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT).
Awarding body
The Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) has been established for over 30 years and is the world’s leading professional membership body for over 130,000 accounting professionals. AAT’s vocational qualifications are recognised internationally and by all chartered and certified accountancy bodies in the UK.
What next?
Upon completion of this course, you will be able to progress to a variety of well-paid jobs in accountancy and finance such as:
- Assistant Auditor
- Professional Accounting Technician
- Assistant Management Accountant
- Commercial Analyst
- Payroll Manager
- Cost Accountant
- Indirect Tax Manager
- Payments and Billing Manager
- Tax Supervisor
- VAT accountant
…and much more!
Q&As
You must be at least 16 years old to enrol on this course, as well as have basic maths and IT skills. It is also strongly advised that you have previously achieved an AAT Advanced Diploma In Accounting Level 3, or you are already working in an accounting role.
- Comprehensive study guide.
- Dedicated personal tutor support by email.
- Dedicated student support.
- Assignment marking and feedback.
- Exclusive Open Study College study pack.
- FREE CV critique service.
- FREE employability guide to help you impress future employers.
- FREE XO Student Discounts membership.
To sit your exams, you must join AAT as a student member, which will then give you access to their resources. If you add your exams to your enrolment, these are included within the cost. However, if you choose to book your exams separately, you must book and pay for these yourself.
More information on fees can be found on the AAT website.
It's not a problem. We offer a course replacement service, so if you get into trouble and your course pack is lost or damaged, our Student Support Team can provide you with a new set of materials for a one-time additional fee.
That's not a problem. We want to make sure you're 100% confident about enrolling on the course and starting your study. So, just give our team of education specialists a call on 03300 563 100 and they'll do their best to help.