AAT Level 1 Award in Bookkeeping

We help you to recognise the learning skills you already use in everyday life.  We then coach you to develop those skills further through the techniques listed below.  There is an optimum level learner in all of us, it just needs to be nurtured to perform.  Our learning style course approach allows all to achieve maximum success.  Listed below are some of the skills you will learn through our ‘key to success’ coaching:

Positive learning

Positive learning is a mental and physical attitude that once developed, will simplify, and increase your ability to learn, to store knowledge and increase the speed of your recall.  ‘I will’ and ‘I can’ will replace ‘I can’t do’ and ‘I don’t remember’. 

Personalised achievable timetables’

Motivating, successful study fits around life’s commitment, not the other way around.  Success is not just passing exams; it’s completing a lesson that you fully understand.  Your coach will help you set a realistic timetable that achieves all outcomes and exceeds personal goals. 

Develop your knowledge recall

Everything you learn is stored in your memory, but not always readily recalled.  You will learn techniques to believe in your ability to recall.  Over time, instant recall will emerge eradicating any negativity like ‘I’ve forgotten and need to revisit a lesson’ thoughts.

Time efficiency

Your AAT study will be part of your life for a while.  Time efficiency management will decrease your completion time without affecting your free downtime.  We’ll show you how 15 minutes can be as effective in study as a full lesson timeframe.

There is a reason why we receive multiple AAT excellence award nominations.  Our consistently high achieving students demonstrate that we get AAT training right.   

• Your fast-track AAT Level 2 qualification access time 12 months – Meets learning style flexibility.
• You will study the AAT Level 2 Certificate in Bookkeeping plus Sage Certification. Combined they will give you the required knowledge to successfully progress to level 3.
• Join our high achieving student community – Receive one-to-one coaching support.
• Easy access 24/7 study through our learning portal – Tutor support 7 days a week
• Over 200 AAT approved UK computer based exam centres - short travelling distance from home.
• Resources & delivery for your AAT courses meet all learning styles – Live classroom – multi-viewable recorded classroom –key topic animation & interactive online learning – Hardcopy books for manual learning – Sage training and certification.
• Exam fees and AAT registration are available as an additional cost.
• Average completion time based on 6-8 hours of study a week is 18 weeks.
• Fast response – coaching and tutor support.
• Interest free instalment plans available
• Enrolment 365 days a year.

A TOTUM PRO Student Discount Card

As a Gold Edge Training student, you can apply for a TOTUM membership (formerly known as NUS extra). The TOTUM PRO Student Discount Card offers a wide range of discounts and deals on everything from dining, fashion, tech to travel, and daily essentials. Currently there are over 400 discounts and deals on the TOTUM PRO platform with more being added daily.

The fast-track programme is unique to Gold Edge Training and has been popular and highly successful for over 10 years.  Many of our past students who are now accountants owe their first job in accounting to the Gold Edge fast-track programme where we offer you a wider choice of resources and learning methods than any other training provider.

Since its launch in 2012, the Gold Edge Training reputation is renowned nationwide for high achieving student.  Our exam passes rate far exceed the AAT national average because we develop the learner as well as teach them the AAT.

Our coaching programme was designed and written by our head accountancy teacher.  Alongside teaching and pioneering learning style online delivery, she has specialised in developing the learning skills of accountancy students for over 24 years. 

At Gold Edge, we treat all learners and employers as individuals needing bespoke learning packages. With a collective pedigree of AAT experience spanning nearly 40 years, we’ve learnt to understand AAT students.  We deliver excellence through listening and acting on their personal learning requirements.

Flexibility

You control your speed of learning – We support at the same pace.  Our programmes are designed to be studied anywhere and at any time.  15 minutes to spare?  Use it to prepare for the next lesson or recap the last.  These study snippets will increase your learning capacity during the next full lesson.

Kaplan hard copy study textbooks & exam kit books

Optimum learning style study requires a balance of different resources and different learning methods.  How you learn online is different to how you learn from a book.  When you learn from multiple resources and methods your depth of understanding increases, which strengthens your ability to recall.

Live online classroom

We offer live classroom sessions in the day and evening for levels 2 and 3.  Watching live lessons best suits auditory and visual learners.  The live sessions are also recorded to meet personal availability and the learning style of kinaesthetic and reflective learners.  Learning how to adapt resources to suit how you learn best will enhance your learning experience and increase your knowledge absorption.  All recording can be multi-watched for deeper understanding.

Online interactive content

All students, based on their natural learning style, will prefer or lead with different learning resources.  We offer a full online range of workbooks, animations, interactive questions and videos in addition to the live classroom and hardcopy books.  Amongst the online resources you will find PowerPoint presentations, additional manual question banks and practice exams.

Four-stage revision programme

Our programmes leave nothing to chance in achieving your success.  Learning a subject is not sufficient to pass exams.  Study knowledge needs to transfer to exam ready knowledge.  Our four-stage revision programme of: green light testing to check depth of understanding – completing circa 200 manual exam kit questions - Live exam preparation session and finally, exam practice papers all ensure you are at optimum exam level when entering your exam.  Follow our programme, and you will join our high achieving student community.

The fast-track programmes is a focus on employer entry-level accounting. This the required knowledge for you to gain entry level employment or start self-employment as quickly as possible. 

The fast track includes:

AAT Level 2 Certificate in Bookkeeping - for the key financial accounting knowledge required to kick-start your accounting career and progress on to Level 3 AAT Certificate in Bookkeeping or Level 3 Diploma in Bookkeeping.

You will learn how the finance function fits within the wider business environment. The AAT Level 2 Foundation Certificate in Bookkeeping is a focus on the daily activities of business operations in an accounts external and internal environment. You will learn in depth double entry bookkeeping with knowledge of associated documents, bookkeeping controls, bookkeeping principles and bookkeeping controls principles. Collectively, these compute to the primary foundation accounting knowledge needed to progress to level 3.

The AAT level 2 Certificate in Bookkeeping will teach you about ledger accounts including sales ledger control accounts (accounts receivable) where customer transactions are recorded. Purchase ledger control (accounts payable) where the supplier payments process transactions take place.

The AAT qualifications at level 2 explores control accounts both in their accounting finance administration function and as an accuracy checking mechanism. You will learn appropriate formats within contract law to undertake all control account reconciliations that form part of an initial trial balance. This includes, bank statement reconciliations.

In addition, you will learn the basic principles of ledger accounts for assets, expenses, liabilities and income, to deliver solid foundation bookkeeping principles, accountancy skills and accounting knowledge. The level 2 AAT distance learning bookkeeping course will allow you to study at your own pace

Sage Certificate in Accounting – Whilst no longer part of the AAT qualification, we think it is a strong component of AAT level 2 study as it meets an employer’s key requirement of accounting software knowledge.

Masterclasses for your new career - these are short CPD training courses for profile building on LinkedIn – learn how to give the right CV impression to potential employers – Acquire interview skills to stand out from the crowd.

We will add your new CV to our UK wide recruitment company. We cannot guarantee you a job, but we will guarantee to raise your profile and put your CV forward to local employers where appropriate.

We will act as one of your referees for future employment interviews.

Once employed and on successful completion of your fast-track programme, we can work with you and your employer to move your studies over to government funded (all ages) education for the Level 3 and Professional level of your AAT studies.

AAT Exams

• Introduction to Bookkeeping - 1 exam  (90 mins)
• Principles of Bookkeeping Controls - 1 exam (90 mins)

Sage Exam

• Sage Certification – no additional fee

Booking AAT Exams

When to book your exams - It is time to think about booking your exam when you begin the revision stages of your studies.  Revision on average takes 3 weeks to complete.  Booking an exam at this stage gives you a focused end date for exam readiness.  You can sit your exams close to where you live.  There are no set exam dates for AAT, you sit exams when you are ready.  We will advise you on how to book closer to when you are ready  for the first exam.  Your Sage Certification will be sat online from home.

If you want to begin an AAT distance learning accountancy or bookkeeping course, the Fast-track level 2 programme is a perfect starting point. 

There are no entry requirements to study the Fast-track.  It is expected that you have good basic maths skills and a good command of the English language.

To study you will require access to a PC or Laptop.  The learning platforms are both Windows and Mac compatible.

Whilst the lectures, e-books and interactive e-learning are delivered online.  We also supply a combination of hardcopy Kaplan books and or downloadable workbooks and question banks for balanced learning.

An AAT accounting or bookkeeping career is a career for life - anywhere in the world.  The AAT studies are underpinned by international accountancy standards meaning your skills will be transferrable worldwide.

Employers seek AAT studiers and AAT qualified people because the qualification delivers practical, workplace ready skills.  This demand is the reason why AAT is the leading accountancy qualification.  If you want to attract the attention of employers, especially when starting your career, self-finance your level 2.  There is no stronger message to an employer than to say “I am so keen to work in accountancy that I am happy to start by paying for the level two”.

Below are average salaries for level 2 Association of Accounting Technicians, Both studiers achievers: 

• Accounts Administrator - £23,000 
• Purchase/Sales Ledger Clerk - £23,000 
• Accounts Payable Clerk - £24,000

For level 3 and 4 achievers

• Accounts/Finance Officer - £27,000
• Team Leader/Supervisor - £28,000
• Middle Manager - £36,000
• Director/Senior Manager - £46,000

* Please note the salaries listed above are an average of the participants who took part in the survey only.  All salaries will vary with level of experience, position held, company size and geographic location.

Q. What is the difference between the fast-track & the Level 2 Certificate in Accounting?

A. The fast-track is designed to deliver affordable key knowledge that will gain employment faster. Studying the fast-track programme ensure that you study the most import subjects from the AAT accounting level 2 qualification. The two units you will miss by studying fast-track are:

Principles of Costing: This is an introduction to basic costing unit. Study content, how to support cost calculations for basic costing and cost recording systems. The study also covers cost recording system, cost recording techniques, plus the analysis of actual and budgeted costs. It is fine to miss this unit at level 2, the learning content of Principles of Costing is repeated in full and in a lot more depth at level 3.

The Business Environment Synoptic Assessment is not covered within the fast-track.   This is not a concern. The Business Environment Synoptic Assessment is a non-accounting administration unit.  The content of the Synoptic assessment is learnt naturally through your workplace experience in any role.

Q. Do I have to complete the full level 2 fast-track accounting qualification before applying for a job?

A. No. The AAT level 2 Certificate Bookkeeping qualification is so sought after by employers, they are interested in employing you in an entry position once you have passed your first exam.

Q. Will studying the distance learning Fast-track accounting qualification affect me becoming an AAT Accountant at level 4?

A. No. The Level 2 is a flexible level. Some students are not required to study it at all because of prior experience.  All that AAT require to progress to level 3 is a sound knowledge of double-entry bookkeeping.  This is covered in the AAT Certificate in Bookkeeping. Fast-track is only possible at level 2. You will need to study the full qualifications at level 3 and 4.

Q. I have some accounting experience and don’t know what level is right for me. Can I get help?

A. Yes. Gold Edge Training’s advice and guidance is noted as excellent in all AAT award nominations received. Our head teacher Christine can advise you on the right level for your personal experience and career aims. Please give us a call on 02394 00 3559.

Q. Can I study at my own speed?

A. Yes. No two learners learn at the same pace. We are advocates of stress free learning and expect all learners to be different in the speed they learn.  You set the speed of learning and we follow at your pace.