AAT Level 4 Diploma in Professional Accounting

To progress comfortably on this course, you’ll need to have good accounting knowledge and be able to perform all the financial and management accounting tasks which are tested on the AAT Level 3 course. Plus you’ll need a good standard of English literacy and basic Maths skills. We recommend you register with AAT before starting this course. This will give you your AAT student number, which enables you to enter for assessments.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to apply complex accounting principles, concepts, and rules to prepare the financial statements of a limited company. You’ll also learn management accounting techniques to aid decision making and control, prepare and monitor budgets, and measure performance.

This level consists of compulsory and optional units:

Compulsory units

Drafting and Interpreting of Financial Statements (DAIF)

• The reporting frameworks that underpin financial reporting
• How to draft statutory financial statements for limited companies
• How to draft consolidated financial statements
• How to interpret financial statements using ratio analysis

Applied Management Accounting (AMAC)

• The organisational planning process
• How to use internal processes to enhance operational control
• How to use techniques to aid short-term and long-term decision making
• How to analyse and report on business performance

Internal Accounting Systems and Controls (INAC)

• The role and responsibilities of the accounting function within an organisation
• How to evaluate internal control systems
• How to evaluate an organisation’s accounting system and underpinning procedures
• The impact of technology on accounting systems
• How to recommend improvements to an organisation’s accounting system

Optional units (choose two)

Business Tax (BNTA)

• How to prepare tax computations for sole traders and partnerships
• How to prepare tax computations for limited companies
• How to prepare tax computations for the sale of capital assets by limited companies
• The administrative requirements of the UK’s tax regime
• The tax implications of business disposals
• Tax reliefs, tax planning opportunities and agent’s responsibilities in reporting taxation to HM Revenue and Customs

Personal Tax (PNTA)

• The principles and rules that underpin taxation systems
• How to calculate UK taxpayers’ total income
• How to calculate income tax and National Insurance Contributions (NICs) payable by UK taxpayers
• How to calculate capital gains tax payable by UK taxpayers
• The principles of inheritance tax

Audit and Assurance (AUDT)

• The audit and assurance framework
• The importance of professional ethics
• How to evaluate the planning process for audit and assurance
• How to evaluate procedures for obtaining sufficient and appropriate evidence
• How to review and report findings

Cash and Financial Management (CSFT)

• How to prepare forecasts for cash receipts and payments
• How to prepare cash budgets and monitor cash flows
• The importance of managing finance and liquidity
• Ways of raising finance and investing funds
• Regulations and organisational policies that influence decisions in managing cash and finance

Credit and Debt Management (CRDM)

• The relevant legislation and contract law that impacts the credit control environment
• How information is used to assess credit risk and grant credit in compliance with organisational policies and procedures
• The organisation’s credit control processes for managing and collecting debts
• Different techniques available to collect debts

The Level 4 course is assessed by unit assessments.

Unit assessment

A unit assessment only tests knowledge and skills taught in that unit. At Level 4 they are:

• Available on demand
• Scheduled by and sat at AAT approved assessment venues
• Marked by the AAT and the results are released after 6 weeks

Getting your results

Assessment results will be available in your MyAAT account when they are released.

Grading

To be awarded the AAT Level 4 Diploma in Accounting qualification you must achieve at least a 70% competency level in each unit assessment.

Resits

You can resit an assessment to improve your grade. Results from the assessment with the highest marks will be used to calculate your final grade. There are no resit restrictions or employer engagement requirements for any fee paying student on any of our AAT courses.

AAT approved venues

You can search for your nearest venue via the AAT website launch.

• We’re always on hand when you need us
• You’re fully supported with access to expert tutors, 7 days a week, responding via email within 4 working hours
• You’ll also be assigned a mentor to help and guide you through the order of subjects to study in, and check that the level you’re starting at is right for you. You can also contact them whenever you need to throughout your course and get a response within 24 hours Monday to Friday
• For full details on Academic and Mentor support opening hours, please visit the Contact us page.

Partnering with the best, you’ll always have access to market leading AAT online content powered by Kaplan and online materials from Osborne books. All day, every day for as long as you subscribe.

After you’ve passed this level, you can work in a variety of jobs including forensic accountant, tax manager, accountancy consultant and finance analyst, earning salaries of up to £37,000 as you advance and gain experience.

AAT full members (MAAT) and fellow members (FMAAT) are eligible for exemptions that allow you to take the fast track route to chartered accountant status. You can stay with the same training provider. Eagle offers affordable courses approved by the ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) which you can subscribe to.

You are required to become a member of the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) launch to fulfil your qualification. Fees associated with admission and exam fees are in addition to the cost of the course and payable direct to the AAT. Exam fees are paid to the exam centre.

• AAT One off Level 4 Registration Fee: £240
• AAT Assessment Fees: £70 to £80 per unit but this can vary depending on where you sit your assessment.

Please be aware that these are subject to change.