Download - AAT Advanced and Professional Diploma in Accounting · Our flexible AAT Advanced Diploma and Professional Diploma in Accounting combined course is the final step in achieving the

AAT Advanced and Professional Diploma in Accounting

Call our expert AAT advisors

on 0800 015 4350

Looking for more information? Call our expert AAT advisors on 0800 015 4350

Build lifetime success with our flexible, accredited coursesBuild lifetime success with our flexible, accredited courses

AAT, the Association of Accounting Technicians, are the UK’s leading membership and awarding body for technical accountants, with over 133,000 members worldwide. They award more than 90% of all skills-based accounting and finance qualifications.

Their qualifications are well-respected and sought-after by employers around the globe, as they give you practical, industry-focused knowledge that you can put to use from day one. An AAT qualification demonstrates that you have the most up-to-date accounting knowledge, the highest professional standards, and the drive to achieve your ambitions.

AAT: the gold standard for vocational accounting training Our flexible approach and

extensive support system allow you to achieve your very best.

That’s why our AAT pass rate is an astonishing 95%.Our AAT pass rate has been based on

1,280 exam sittings and 1,215 passes by

ICS Learn AAT students between

July 2015 and June 2016.

Years of Experience

We’ve been pioneers in flexible learning for 128 years, so you’ll

benefit from more than a century of educational expertise.

Payment Plans

You can spread the cost of your course with an interest-free

monthly payment plan.

Personal Tutor & Live Classrooms

As well as online course materials, you’ll benefit from unlimited

academic support and live tutor-led AAT webinars.

We’re the UK leader in online learning, and our flexible courses are perfect if you’ve got a busy life. They allow you to shape your study around your schedule: learn at your own pace, in your own time, wherever suits you best on whatever device you are on, whether that be mobile, tablet or laptop. That’s why students from all over the world trust us to help them take their career to the next level.


Our flexible AAT Advanced Diploma and Professional Diploma in Accounting combined course is the final step in achieving the highest AAT qualifications - all without giving up your job, family time or social life. Your study can be completely shaped to suit you.

In this combined course, you’ll master advanced accountancy skills, including bookkeeping, preparing final accounts, and management costing techniques. You’ll be able to draft financial statements for limited companies, recommend strategy for accounting systems, and build and present complex management accounting reports. Everything you learn will be firmly grounded in the importance of professional ethics.

Once you’ve completed your course, you’ll have completed all the AAT Accounting qualification levels and can apply for professional MAAT status.

You can hold a variety of senior and well-paid accounting roles, start your own practice, or enter a fast track route with a Chartered Accountancy body.

Why this course is right for you

This course is perfect for you if:

You are looking to achieve internationally-recognised professional MAAT status

You want the skills to excel as a fully qualified accounting technician

You want to fast-track your path to becoming a Chartered Accountant

You aspire to run your own accounting practice or hold a senior accounting role

Entry Requirements

To take this course, you’ll need the Foundation Certificate in Accounting (Level 2), or some accounting experience in an entry-level or support role.

You must be over 19, and if English isn’t your first language, you’ll need an IELTS score of 5.5 or equivalent.

If you have any disabilities which you believe may impact your studies or assessments, please inform your Course Advisor before enrolment so that we can advise you on whether reasonable adjustments can be made to accommodate your needs.

If you have a criminal record or have been made bankrupt, AAT may not accept you as a member.

ICS Learn have been fantastic in every facet. The content is easy to access and follow, and as it’s online I can study at a pace that is easy to fit in with work. The modules are such that every little thing can be linked to my everyday duties, it just marries beautifully.

In fact, one of my colleagues who has already passed Advanced and Professional Level with another company has repeatedly stated that he wished he’d done his own learning via ICS Learn.

Terry Couzens, AAT Advanced and Professional Diploma Combined Course


Achieve your

career goals with usYour course is the perfect foundation for building lifetime career success. With the benefit of our flexible approach, cutting edge course materials, and unbeatable tutor support, you’ll be well on your way to a lucrative and rewarding Accountancy career.

What’s it like studying online?

Get expert advice,

& get startedWhether you’re set on a course or are still deciding

which level is right for you, the first thing to do is call our specialist course advisors. There won’t be any sales

pressure - we know that taking a new qualification is a big decision. We’ll take the time to learn about your

experience, education and ambitions to make sure you pick the right course.

Easily keep track of progress & take exams as you learnYou’ll complete progress checks throughout your course, so you and your tutor know exactly how you’re doing. You’ll sit practice exams before your assessments to ensure you’re fully prepared. When you’re ready, you’ll sit your exams at your local AAT centre.

Get unlimited support from

your AAT TutorAll our tutors are carefully selected AAT experts with

years of experience in distance learning, so they’re perfectly positioned to give you all the help you need. They’ll be with you from enrolment to graduation, so

there’ll always be a real person on hand by phone, email or chat if you get stuck.

Study when &

where it suits youYou can get started on your course whenever you choose, and complete it as quickly or slowly as you like within the support period - there are no cohorts or deadlines, so we won’t chase you if you need to take some time off. Plus, all your study materials are online, so you can study from anywhere and on any device!


Our mission is to make learning affordable and accessible for all, no matter your circumstances. That’s why we make spreading the cost of your course as simple and manageable as possible with our flexible, interest-free payment plans.

You can get started right away with a deposit, then pay the rest through monthly direct debit. Our plans are flexible, so you can pay your balance off sooner if you’d like.

If you think your company will fully or partly fund your learning, we can help you put together a case, and invoice them for the cost of your course. Simply discuss this with your advisor when you enrol and they’ll give you all the information you need.

Employer-funded Accounting courses can be enrolled as an all-inclusive package which combines course, exam, centre and AAT Membership fees.

You also have the option of paying the full amount up-front if you’d prefer.

Flexible, affordable payment options

AAT and Exam Centre Fees

In order to sit your exams and receive your qualification, you’ll need to pay a few external fees:

AAT Registration Fees

AAT Annual Student Membership Fees

AAT Exam Fees

Exam Centre Administration Fees

You’ll pay these directly to either the exam centre or AAT, although we can include a year’s student membership on your payment plan. Our course advisors will fill you in on the latest AAT fee information so you’re not hit with any nasty surprises, and they’ll also advise you on how to pay them. Your exam centre fees will vary depending on the centre you choose.

I work Monday to Friday full-time, so studying for my AAT course during set hours after work just wasn’t an option for me. With ICS Learn I am able to study on my lunch break or at weekends, and after work if I want to. I love having the flexibility to choose where and when I study – I feel in control of my learning.

Faheema Patel, AAT Advanced Diploma in Accounting

You can find out the cost of the course on our website, along with payment plan details and any discounts we’re offering this month. Alternatively, you can call our course advisors to find out more.


Next steps after AAT:

After completing the professional Diploma, you can apply for full AAT membership (MAAT) or Fellow Membership (FMAAT) if you have the relevant experience. This will increase your professional credibility and allow you to put the designatory letters MAAT or FMAAT after your name. You’ll also gain access to technical and ethical advice and continued professional development resources.

You could choose to continue your education and become a Chartered Accountant. Your AAT qualification can fast-track your learning with all the major UK Chartered Accountancy bodies, allowing you to skip certain modules and let you quickly achieve chartered status. You can fast-track with:

Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA)

The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW)

Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS)

Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)

Once you’ve completed the combined course:

When you finish the AAT Advanced and Professional Diploma in Accounting, you’ll have achieved the highest AAT qualifications and will be well-prepared to excel in a variety of senior accounting roles.

Jobs you’ll be qualified for include:

Where your qualification will take you

Average Salaries with an AAT Qualification

Foundation Certificate

Advanced Diploma

Professional Diploma

between £17,000 & £24,000

between £20,000 & £30,000

up to £40,000

Professional accounting technician

Commercial analyst

Payroll manager

Tax supervisor

Senior bookkeeper

Senior financial officer

Senior fund accountant

Senior insolvency administrator


How we support you

When you enrol, you’ll be able to join a live induction webinar so that we can show you how to navigate the Student Community, answer any questions you have, and - most importantly - give you a warm and friendly welcome to studying with us!

Your study materials have been specially designed for online learning by AAT and distance learning experts, and they’re split into bite-sized sections so they’re easy to follow from home.

Learning online doesn’t mean learning alone. In addition to your assigned AAT tutor, who’ll answer all your questions about coursework and exams, you’ll have our dedicated Student Support team waiting in the wings to help you with administrative tasks, using the Student Community, and any other non-academic queries you might have.

That means that no matter what you need, there will always be someone here to help. We’re with you every step of the way.

You’ll also benefit from a huge range of resources, including:

Mock Assessments

Interactive Quizzes

Progress Checks

Online Activities

Lively Group Forums

Personal Journal

AAT Resources

The Student Community is our easy-to-use online learning platform. It’s a one stop shop that allows you to:

Access your course materials

Contact your tutor and Student Support team

Submit your assignments

Connect with your fellow students

Live Online Classrooms

You’ll have the option of joining live tutor-led online classrooms. These let you talk to the tutor, interact with other students, and get help with anything you’re stuck with. The majority are scheduled during lunchtimes, evenings and weekends so they’re as easy as possible to fit around work, and they’re recorded too so you can replay them anytime.


In total, this combined course consists of 12 units, 6 for each half of the combined qualification, and is worth 56 UCAS credits. Typically students complete the Advanced course in around 6 months, and the Professional course in 8 - 12 months. However, as you can work at your own pace, how quickly you complete the course is up to you. We give you a support period of 38 months to ensure you’ve got maximum flexibility.

About your course

Unit assessments test what you’ve learned in that specific unit. They generally involve multiple choice questions, or sometimes written answers. You must complete all the unit assessments before you sit the synoptic exam

The synoptic assessment will test what you’ve learned across multiple units. It allows you to demonstrate your new knowledge and skills by applying them to a realistic scenarios

To complete your course, you’ll sit 11 assessments. Five of these assessments come from the Advanced Diploma while six are from the Professional Diploma.

Prior to this, you’ll complete mock assessments that’ll be marked by your tutor to ensure you’re fully prepared. There are two kinds of AAT assessment:

Professional Diploma in Accounting

Unit Type Hours of study Unit Assessment Length Tested in Synpotic?

Management Accounting: Budgeting Core 60 2 hours 30mins Yes

Management Accounting: Decision and Control Core 90 2 hours 30mins Yes

Financial Statements of Limited Companies Core 90 2 hours 30mins Yes

Accounting Systems and Controls Core 60 None Yes

Business Tax Elective 60 2 hours No

Personal Tax Elective 60 2 hours 30mins No

Cash and Treasury Management Elective 60 2 hours 30mins No

Credit Management Elective 60 2 hours 30mins No

Unit Hours of study

Unit Assessment Length

Tested in Synpotic?

Advanced Bookkeeping

90 2 hours Yes

Final Accounts Preparation

60 2 hours Yes

Management Accounting: Costing

80 2 hours 30 mins Yes

Indirect Tax 60 1hour 30mins Yes

Ethics for Accountants

50 None Yes

Spreadsheets for Accounting

50 None Yes

Advanced Diploma in Accounting

The synoptic test for the Advanced course will consist of two separate sessions of 1 hr 30 mins each, and the synoptic test for the Professional Diploma will be one 3 hour test. Synoptic assessments take place throughout the year at times set by AAT, so you should plan your study around this.


Spreadsheets for Accounting

Design and structure appropriate spreadsheets to meet

customer needs

Use spreadsheet software to record, format and organise

data

Use relevant tools to manipulate and analyse data

Use software tools to verify accuracy and protect data

Use tools and techniques to prepare and report accounting

information

Final Accounts Preparation

Distinguish between the financial recording and reporting requirements of different types of organisation

Explain the need for final accounts and the accounting and ethical principles underlying their preparation

Prepare accounting records from incomplete information

Produce accounts for sole traders

Produce accounts for partnerships

Recognise the key differences between preparing accounts for a limited company and a sole trader

Indirect Tax

Understand and apply VAT legislation requirements

Accurately complete VAT returns and submit them in a timely manner

Understand the implications for the business of errors, omissions and late filing and payment

Report VAT-related information within the organisation in accordance with regulatory and organisational requirements

Ethics for Accountants

Understand the need to act ethically

Understand the relevance to the accountant’s work of the ethical code for professional accountants

Recognise how to act ethically in an accounting role

Identify action to take in relation to unethical behaviour or illegal acts

Management Accounting: Costing

Understand the purpose and use of management accounting within an organisation

Apply techniques required for dealing with costs

Apportion costs according to organisational requirements

Analyse and review deviations from budget and report these to management

Apply management accounting techniques to support decision making

With our flexible AAT courses, you’ll get the same exceptional learning experience as you’d expect in a traditional classroom, but with no restrictions on when, where, and at what pace you learn. Our courses cover everything you need to know to achieve your accounting career goals and build lifetime success.

What you’ll learn (Advanced)

Advanced Bookkeeping

Apply 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


Management Accounting: Decision and Control

Analyse a range of costing techniques to support the management accounting function of an organisation

Calculate and use standard costing to improve performance

Master a range of statistical techniques to analyse business information

Develop financial and non-financial performance techniques to aid decision making

Evaluate a range of cost management techniques to enhance value and aid decision making

Management Accounting: Budgeting

Prepare income and expenditure forecasts

Prepare budgets

Improve organisational performance through budgeting

Create budget reports to inform business decisions

Accounting Systems and Controls

Demonstrate an understanding of the role and responsibilities of the accounting function within an organisation

Evaluate internal control systems

Improve an organisation’s accounting system and underpinning procedures

Analyse recommendations made to improve an organisation’s accounting system

Financial Statements of Limited Companies

Understand the purpose and use of management accounting within an organisation

Apply techniques required for dealing with costs

Apportion costs according to organisational requirements

Analyse and review deviations from budget and report these to management

Apply management accounting techniques to support decision making

What you’ll learn (Professional)

Core modules


Personal Tax

Analyse the theories, principles and rules that underpin taxation systems

Calculate income tax and National Insurance (NI) contributions payable by a UK taxpayer

Account for capital gains tax

Discuss the basics of inheritance tax

Business Tax

Complete tax returns for limited companies, sole traders and partnerships 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

Cash and Treasury Management

Master statistical techniques and financial information to prepare forecasts of cash receipts and payments

Prepare cash budgets and monitor cash flows within the organisation

Evaluate the principles of cash management within the context of regulation and government monetary policies

Credit Management

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

Present advice and recommendations to management on the credit control system

Elective modules (Choose two)

What you’ll learn (Professional)

Find out more at :www.icslearn.co.uk

@ICSLearn ICSLearn

Download - AAT Advanced and Professional Diploma in Accounting · Our flexible AAT Advanced Diploma and Professional Diploma in Accounting combined course is the final step in achieving the

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