AAT Level 4 Diploma for Professional Accounting Technicians

You will undertake the following five units:

FNAC – Financial Accounting
This unit provides the skills and understanding needed for drafting the financial statements of single limited companies. You will gain proficient knowledge and understanding of international accounting standards, which will then be applied when drafting financial statements. You will be able to prepare a statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income, statement of financial position, statement of changes in equity, and statement of cash flows for a limited company. You will also gain a sound appreciation of the regulatory and conceptual frameworks that underpin the preparation of limited company financial statements.

MNAC – Management Accounting
This unit encompasses the key areas of planning, control, decision making and liquidity management. You will learn how the budgetary process is undertaken and understand how to construct budgets and then identify and report both on areas of success and on areas that should be of concern to key stakeholders. You will gain the knowledge and skills across a range of areas that will help to enhance the control environment of an organisation. You will understand the methods used to deal with the issues surrounding both short-term and long-term decision making. You will also gain the skills to both monitor and manage liquidity.

ATIC – Audit and Internal Controls
This unit looks at the role and importance of internal controls within an organisation and also provides the tools to identify fraud risks and assess how internal controls can be used to mitigate those risks. You will also learn about the principles of audit and assurance and will gain a clear understanding of the regulatory environment and the role of corporate governance. You will gain an awareness of the audit process, from planning and risk assessment to the final completion and production of the audit report. You will understand how internal controls influence audit approaches and will learn to evaluate and test these controls effectively. The unit will also explore various audit assertions and procedures, sampling techniques, and methods for obtaining sufficient and appropriate audit evidence. Finally, this unit focuses on reviewing and reporting audit findings.

PTAX – Principles of Taxation
This unit introduces taxation for taxpayers in the UK. You will look at the different types of income that a UK taxpayer may have, including from employment, self-employment, property and investments. You will be able to calculate each type of income. You will also be able to calculate National Insurance contributions on relevant types of income. This unit also introduces Capital Gains Tax. You will learn how to calculate Corporation Tax for companies, including income from trading, property and interest, as well as chargeable gains for companies.

You will also look at the administrative requirements of UK tax law, including the implications of errors, and late filing or late payments. Finally, you will understand ethical issues facing UK taxpayers and the responsibilities that an agent has in giving advice on tax issues to business clients. You will be able to identify tax planning opportunities, while understanding the importance of maintaining ethical standards.

AVBA – Advanced Business Awareness
This unit will prepare you for real-world challenges and opportunities in the business environment, enhancing your employability and professional growth. By understanding complex business concepts and practices, you will be able to make informed decisions, improve organisational effectiveness, and contribute to sustainable business practices.

You will explore how businesses set their goals and strategies and how to make decisions that align with them. You will develop skills to improve personal effectiveness through effective time management and enhancing communication skills. You will also gain a sound understanding of promoting equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in the workplace, and managing change effectively.

You will be equipped with the skills to collect, clean and analyse data, understanding the principles of data protection, in addition to learning how a business can use data analytics to make better business decisions.

You will look at the difference between laws and ethics and the importance of professional ethics in handling ethical conflicts and legal issues. This knowledge will help you navigate complex ethical and legal challenges in your professional roles, ensuring you act with integrity and uphold the highest standards of professional conduct.

Finally, you will understand key sustainability concepts and standards and will learn how to promote sustainable business practices, whilst understanding the benefits and challenges of implementing sustainability policies.

In addition to your classroom/online learning, you should aim to study for approximately eight hours per week.

You will undertake five computer-based exams. As we are an AAT accredited exam centre, these exams can be taken at college without the need to travel to an external exam centre.

Classroom Attendance
Classroom lessons are held at our training centre in Godmanchester, just outside of Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire, and can be started throughout the year. You can choose between the following two options:

• Tuesdays from 9:15am-1pm
• Mondays from 5:30-8:30pm

Online learning
Our online, distance learning courses can be started at any time. You will work through your online course materials at a time that is convenient to you and be supported by a personal tutor.

You must be competent in complex double-entry bookkeeping and have achieved the AAT Level 3 Diploma in Accounting.

As our courses include online learning components, students are required to have access to a PC or laptop with a reliable internet connection.

Course Fees
£3,088

Awarding Body Fees
All students or employers are required to pay the following awarding body fees in addition to the course fees. Please note that these are recharged at cost and may be subject to change.

• AAT membership
• AAT Exam fees (approximately £564)
• Textbooks (approximately £33 per unit)

Please note, if you have previously undertaken some level 4 AAT units, it is possible to take individual units at a cost of £700 per unit plus any relevant awarding body fees.

Advanced Learner Loan
If you are over 19 years of age and living in England you may be entitled to apply for an Advanced Learner Loan to help fund your studies (subject to loan availability).

CAW Loans2Learn
Course fees must be paid in full before the course begins. If you are unable to do so, we offer a personal loan scheme (Loans2Learn) that can help you to spread the cost into manageable monthly payments over a period of up to five years, subject to eligibility. It can be used to fully, or partially, cover your course fee (but does not cover any awarding body fees, such as enrolment and examination fees which are payable on top). More information can be found here.

The current rate of interest for a CAW Loans2Learn is 9%. Click on the calculator icon to calculate your monthly repayment options based on different repayment term lengths.

Example repayment - a Loans2Learn loan for the full course fee of £3,088 over 36 months would equate to monthly repayments of approximately £99 per month (please note this is an indicative price based on current fees and interest rates).

General Advice
Sources of financial help can be found on our student finance page. Before making any financial decision it is recommended that you seek advice from an independent source, for example the Money Advice Service.

If you have not achieved your qualification by the planned end date detailed in your individual learning plan, continued support and course access is available by paying monthly direct debit payments, or applying for a supplementary or increased loan, until certification is achieved.

These are current figures and may be subject to change. The differences in course fees reflect the level of funding that is available as a result of government policies and priorities. These may be as a result of age, employment status, previous education achievements, or location for example, and are outside the control of CAW Business School (The College of Animal Welfare).

This course is eligible for the Ministry of Defence Enhanced Learning Credits (ELC) Funding. Read more here.

After completing the AAT Level 4 Diploma in Professional Accounting qualification, you will be able to apply to become an AAT full member and use the letters MAAT after your name. You’ll enjoy elevated professional credibility and status, increasing your opportunities for career progression and fulfilling your salary expectations.

The Level 4 AAT qualification will allow you to work in a variety of roles, such as:

• Senior Finance Officer
• Assistant Financial Accountant
• Payroll Manager

No, there is no requirement to already be working in a finance role. In fact, many students undertake AAT courses to change career, or enhance their CV ahead of applying for job in finance/accounting.

Whether you are planning on attending college for classroom-based lessons or looking to study via online, distance learning, there’s no need to wait as you can enrol to start at any time.

Once you are enrolled and ready to start you will work through the online course materials in your own time. You will be allocated a tutor as a point of contact to support you through the course.

No, as a private further education provider fees are applicable to all students. We do have a Loans2Learn scheme that can help you to spread the costs of study into manageable monthly payments.

Yes, many of our students who are employed in a finance job choose to undertake this qualification as part of the AAT Level 4 Apprenticeship Professional Accounting Technician.