L3 Diploma in Accounting (AAT)

This qualification covers a range of essential and higher-level accounting techniques and disciplines. Students will learn and develop skills needed for a range of financial processes, including maintaining cost accounting records, advanced bookkeeping and the preparation of financial reports and returns.

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.

Do you already have some accounting experience? Test your knowledge with AAT Skillcheck to find out the best qualification to start with.

Your first exam attempt for each unit will be included in your course fee, but any retakes are charged at £75 per exam.

Students will need to purchase the appropriate textbooks and register for an AAT membership. Costs will vary depending on your course, course level (Level 2 or Level 3) and the type of AAT membership required.

You will receive guidance on the appropriate AAT membership and any required equipment once you’ve enrolled.

• Explore the impacts of new technologies in accounting and the risks of data security
• Develop your understanding of business types, governance and legal frameworks
• Build your communication skills when passing information to stakeholders
• Learn the core principles of advanced double-entry bookkeeping
• Learn how to produce financial statements and how to prepare accounting records from incomplete information
• Understand the procedures required for the acquisition and disposal on non-current assets
• Deepen your knowledge of profitability ratios and depreciation calculations
• Investigate deviations from budgets and use spreadsheet techniques to provide accounting information
• Learn how to support short-term decision making with management accounting techniques
• Explore the principles of cash management and how to attribute costs to organisational requirements
• Expand your knowledge of VAT requirements and VAT returns
• Learn the principles of payroll of how to report information within an organisation

At the end of each unit, you will complete an end-of-unit assessment.

All end-of-unit assessments are held at our Ashford Campus. Students will be expected to purchase the relevant textbooks and an AAT membership, see the ‘costs’ tab for more information.

Upon successful completion of this qualification, learners can apply to a range of roles within the financial sector, finding entry level roles as a junior accountant or finance assistant. Learners may also wish to continue their education, progressing onto the Level 4 Diploma in Professional Accounting.