AAT Level 4 Diploma in Professional Accounting

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.   

• Course access time 18 months – Meets learning style flexibility.

• Join our high achieving student community – Receive one-to-one coaching support.

• Easy access 24/7 study via our learning portal – Tutor support 7 days a week.

• Over 200 AAT approved UK assessment centres - short travel distances from home.

• Course resources & delivery meets all learning styles – Live classroom – multi-viewable recorded classroom –key topic animation & interactive online learning – Hardcopy books for manual learning.

• Exam fees and AAT registration are available as an additional cost.

• Average completion time based on 6-8 hours of study a week is 34 weeks.

• Fast response – coaching and teaching support.

• Enrolment 365 days a year.

A TOTUM PRO Student Discount Card

Studying with Gold Edge Training means more than a new career. As a student, you can apply for a TOTUM membership (formerly known as NUS extra), a TOTUM PRO Student Discount Card offers over 400 discounts and deal on everything from everyday essentials, dining out, new cloths, tech and travel. Carry your card at all times and watch the discounts add up.

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 of faculty. 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.

Kaplan recorded lectures

By the time your studies reach level 4 you are very much set in your personal study pattern.  Students prefer recorded lectures at level 4 because they like to have the control of where they include the lectures in their plan. Plus they like control to stop and start and integrate with other resources such as their books.

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.

Your level 4 Diploma in Accounting studies move away from sole traders financial statements to large limited company financial statements. You will also learn to draft consolidated financial statements for group accounts when a number of subsidiary companies are owned by one group. You will also look at all aspects of limited and consolidated company accounts.

Mandatory units

The Applied Management Accounting unit looks in depth at internal finance control and efficiency. As with previous levels, preparing internal controls procedures at AAT level 4 is not a legal requirement, it is an essential, common sense requirement that ultimately ensures business survival.

The areas covered in this extensive diploma in accounting unit are: organisational planning process, planning and risk assessment. You will learn the importance of assessing the financial efficiency of operating procedures plus study to prepare cash budgets on a top down basis. Budgeting will include analysing variations between actual and budgeted expenditure.

Overall this AAT level 4 unit is responsible for increasing profits through the reductions of cost whilst also ensuring, income generated profits are not evaporated through unnecessary spending.

Drafting and Interpreting Financial Statements is a direct follow-on from preparing financial accounts at level 3.

To draft statutory financial statements within the regulatory and conceptual frameworks, it is necessary to learn all statements and accompanying notes to the accounts.

Internal Accounting Systems - This Diploma in Professional Accounting unit looks at the efficiency of the processes, procedures and internal control systems that affect the accounting function. In the drive to achieve optimum operational efficiency, company projects are suggested and reviewed for performance. A key element in reviewing the organisation's accounting system is to complete a cost benefit analysis of any proposed projects. This helps to ensure that accounting systems strategies are upheld and any benefits gained, are financial and not comfort benefits.

Optional Units

Business and Personal Taxation are the most popular optional units alongside credit and debt management.

The Diploma in Professional Accounting taxation looks at the tax implications of both personal tax and business tax.

The key areas covered across the 2 exams at AAT level 4 are: Learning to prepare business tax computations, other business taxes plus calculate income tax and national insurance. It will be necessary for you to learn about national insurance contributions, inheritance tax, capital gains tax, taxation systems, reporting taxation and tax planning opportunities that avoid tax overpayments.

Audit Assurance looks at external audit and the assurance framework. Audit and assurance techniques are usually studied by students wishing to or already working in practice rather than in industry.

Credit and Debt Management focuses on leading and lagging techniques to manage cash flows. A good credit controller will ensure a debtors payment ratio is as close to 30 days as is possible. At the same time, trying to stretch creditors payment ratio to over 30 day where possible. This maximises cash flow and ensures finances are available when long and short-term debts fall due. Key areas covered are: assess credit risk, checking financial management credit is controlled and contract law is adhered to. You will need to learn processes that ensure a company's organisational credit control processes are effective and appropriate debt management systems are in place.

Cash and Financial Management ensures that cash within the business is invested when surplus and available when needed. Company growth is reliant on a well balanced cash flow. Managing finance and raising finance is a finely tuned, skilled procedure that reduces the cost of borrowing through interest earned from surplus.

Mandatory Units:

Level 4 Professional Diploma in Accounting Q2022

• Applied Management Accounting - 1 exam

• Drafting and Interpreting Financial Statements - 1 exam

• Internal Accounting Systems and Control

Choose 2 of 5 options listed below:

• Business Tax - 1 exam

• Personal Tax - 1 exam

• Audit and Assurance - 1 exam

• Cash and Financial Management - 1 exam

• Credit and Debt Management - 1 exam

Booking 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 them when you are ready. We will advise you on how to book closer to when you are ready for the first exam. 

The level 4 Diploma in Accounting is for students who have already passed the level 3 or have an accountancy career. If you don’t meet either criterion, you will need to complete the level 2 and or 3 first. There are no successful shortcuts in accountancy.

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

An AAT accountancy 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 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 first level myself”.

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 above are the median mid-point from survey participants only.  These salaries will vary with level of experience, position held, company size and geographic location.

Q. Do I have to study Chartered Accountancy after AAT if I want to be a Manager in Accounts?

A. No.  It is your choice totally whether you study further.  Many heads of accounts departments and finance directors are AAT accountants and not chartered accountants. There is a very good reason why the AAT is the most desired qualification by employers. AAT deliver a high and diverse level of knowledge that is instantly work place ready. This level of hands on knowledge is not available in any other accounting qualification. Most high flying AAT accountants find they achieve their career ambitions without studying Chartered.

Q. Should I study to become an AAT Accountant Before Applying for Work?

A. It is possible, but preferable not to. Studying the three levels without corresponding work experience will not affect your ability to study and pass the exams. If you have a choice, the sensible option is to study and build work experience simultaneously. There is also a financial benefit to applying for work as soon as you can. 

Q.  What roles can I expect to do when I am an AAT Accountant?

A.  This is an impossible question to answer with any certainty because it really does depend on your ambitions and your experience to date. The AAT qualification will open every accountancy door to you. Once you step inside it is down to you to build your career.  

Q. If I want to study Chartered after AAT should I skip AAT Level 4 and Go Straight to Chartered.

A. No.  Most employers now, especially accountancy practices, insist on employees studying the full AAT before going on to do Chartered. Mainly because of the hands on, work-based knowledge learnt in AAT is not equalled in Chartered Accountancy. Also, you are four times more likely to pass Chartered if you study the AAT first.   

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.