AAT Advanced Diploma in Accounting
The AAT Advanced Diploma in Accounting is an intermediate level qualification that's perfect if you're already working in accounting and are looking to develop your skills. It's also ideal if you've completed the Foundation Certificate/Level 2 Certificate in Accounting and want to continue your professional development.
It'll give you real-world technical accounting knowledge that you can use in your job from day one.
You'll master advanced bookkeeping and final accounts, and further your knowledge of spreadsheets for accounting. You'll learn management costing techniques, and understand VAT issues in business. You'll also cover professional ethics for accountants.
If you don't have any prior experience or qualifications, you can gain the Advanced Diploma in Accounting through our AAT Foundation Certificate and Advanced Diploma combined course.
Not the right level for you? Have a look at the AAT Foundation Certificate or the AAT Professional Diploma.
The Advanced Diploma in Accounting (AQ2016 Syllabus) is worth 53 UCAS credits. It sits on the Qualifications and Credit Framework at Level 3, or Level 6 in the Scottish system.
This course has a Total Qualification Time (TQT) value of 520 hours. The TQT is a measure of how long it will take to complete a qualification and includes the Guided Learning Hours as well as any unsupervised learning and time spent on independent research.
The AAT Advanced Diploma consists of six separate units. They're listed below along with the key topics you'll learn about in each one.
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
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
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
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
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
The Advanced Diploma in Accounting is ideal if you've got a Foundation Certificate in Accounting qualification (or Level 2 Certificate, as it was previously known), or if you're currently working in an accounting role. You should have good numeracy skills and attention to detail.
When you've finished the AAT Advanced Diploma in Accounting you'll be equipped to work in roles such as:
- Accounts Assistant
- Accounts Payable and Expenses Supervisor
- Accounts Payable Clerk
- Assistant Accountant
- Audit Trainee
- Professional Bookkeeper
- Corporate Recovery Analyst
- Credit Controller
- Finance Officer
- Indirect Tax Manager
- Insolvency Executive
- Payroll Supervisor
- Finance Assistant
- Senior Bookkeeper
- Tax Assistant
If you continue your AAT Accounting training to the next and final level, the Professional Diploma, you'll be a fully qualified Accounting Technician. You'll be eligible to apply for professional MAAT status once you have the relevant work experience. You could start your own accounting practice, or study on a fast-track route to become a Chartered Accountant.
You could hold well-paid roles such as:
- Professional accounting technician
- Assistant auditor
- Assistant management accountant
- Commercial analyst
- Payroll manager
- Senior bookkeeper
- Senior financial officer
- Accounts payable and expenses supervisor
- Assistant financial accountant
- Cost accountant
- Fixed asset accountant
- Indirect tax manager
- Payments and billing manager
- Senior fund accountant
- Senior insolvency administrator
- Tax supervisor
- VAT accountant
After completing the Advanced Diploma course, you could move on to the most advanced AAT Accounting qualification, the AAT Professional Diploma in Accounting.
You'll sit five exams for the Advanced Diploma course. Four will be unit assessments:
- Advanced Bookkeeping
- Final Accounts Preparation
- Management Accounting: Costing
- Indirect Tax
You'll then complete a final synoptic exam, which will cover material from all six units you've studied. Synoptic exams for this course take place six times a year, so you might have to book in advance to secure your place.