AAT Level 3 Certificate in Bookkeeping

This qualification will develop complex skills and knowledge necessary to work in a bookkeeping role or to progress to higher level accountancy roles or study. Students completing this qualification will become competent in financial processes including application of accounting principles and standards, completion of reconciliations, calculation and entry of year-end adjustments and preparation of financial statements for sole traders and partnerships. They will also be introduced to business issues regarding payroll and value added tax (VAT), including an understanding of the documents and reports required by HMRC, VAT small business schemes, timescales for report submissions and payments, and penalties for non-compliance. This qualification is suitable for those already working in finance or those having completed Level 2 Certificate in Bookkeeping. The qualification is open to those who are working and those who are not currently in employment.

What topics will I study?
The purpose of the AAT Level 3 Certificate in Bookkeeping is to ensure that students have the solid bookkeeping skills necessary for most finance roles. Students will gain the knowledge and skills needed to carry out typical bookkeeping transactions and tasks in two mandatory units:

Financial Accounting: Preparing Financial Statements
This unit provides students with the skills required to produce statements of profit or loss and statements for financial position for sole traders and partnerships, using a trial balance. Students will gain the double-entry bookkeeping skills needed to record financial transactions into an organisation’s accounts using a manual bookkeeping system.
During the course you will develop your learning and understanding in:

• Understand the accounting principles underlaying final accounts preparation
• Understand 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
• Produce financial statements for sole traders and partnerships
• Interpret financial statements using profitability ratios
• Prepare accounting records from incomplete information

Tax Processes for Businesses
This unit explores tax processes that influence the daily operations of businesses and is designed to develop students’ skills in understanding, preparing, and submitting Value Added Tax (VAT) returns to HM Revenue & Customs. The unit provides students with the knowledge and skills needed to keep businesses, employers, and clients compliant with laws and practices that apply to VAT and payroll.
Percentage contribution of this unit to the overall qualification grade: 30%.
During the course you will develop your learning and understanding in:

• Understand legislation requirements relating to VAT
• Calculate VAT
• Review and verify VAT returns
• Understand principals of payroll
• Report information within the organisation

Next steps: 

The skills developed by studying this qualification will enable a student to seek employment with confidence and/or to progress to the next level of learning. A student completing this qualification will develop the underpinning skills required in all accountancy and finance roles. They will use bookkeeping skills to confidently perform accounting transactions and understand how to process financial information in accordance with set procedures and schedules. The AAT Level 3 Certificate in Bookkeeping can lead to further AAT study with us or to employment as a:

• Professional bookkeeper
• Senior bookkeeper
• Accounts manager
• Ledger manager

Further AAT study available with us includes the full AAT Level 3 qualification and the AAT Level 4 Diploma in Accounting.
AAT membership for the Level 3 Bookkeeping qualification currently costs £94 (Level 3 Bookkeeping membership only required). Once you pass you bookkeeping qualification you can apply for AAT qualified Bookkeeper (AATQB) membership with the AAT, at an annual cost of £132. The AATQB membership entitles you to use of AAT designatory letters, access to CPD resources, training and webinars, AAT helplines, as well as a large range of other benefits.

Our Future Skills Centre includes provision for school leavers and adult learners and focuses on courses for high-tech jobs in aeronautical, engineering, digital, construction and clean growth.

AAT membership costs approximately £50 (per bookkeeping level).