AAT Level 4 Diploma in Professional Accounting

The AAT Diploma in Professional Accounting covers higher accounting tasks, including drafting financial statements, managing budgets and evaluating financial performance. On completion, students will be able to specialise in areas such as tax, auditing and credit control.

The purpose of the AAT Diploma in Professional Accounting is to enhance the skills developed from the AAT Level 3 Diploma in Accounting, enabling students to maximise opportunities in their current or new employment. This AAT qualification is a competence-based qualification that gives you the relevant and practical skills to do a wide range of accounting and finance jobs.

This qualification would enable you to progress on to ACA, ACCA or CIMA professional accounting qualifications or enable you to join at the second-year stage of a finance degree at many universities. Units covered:

• Applied Management Accounting
• Drafting and Interpreting Financial Statements
• Internal Accounting Systems and Controls

• Business Tax
• Personal Tax
• Cash and Financial Management
• Credit and Debt Management

You will be assessed through time constrained competence-basic external online examinations on each of the above units during the programme.

Teaching and learning methods:

Classroom based teaching and practice exercises to develop accounting skills, IT skills and exam preparation in computer suites. Sessions are delivered by highly qualified industry accountants.

Guest lecturers and workshops from professionals working with accountancy practice and a range of finance departments.

Advice and guidance sessions and careers workshops.

Next steps:

Finance is at the heart of every business, so demand for accounting and finance skills will never go away. Jobs in accounting and finance are extremely diverse and deliver exciting career opportunities. With AAT on your CV, you demonstrate a level of industry excellence and work-readiness sought after by employers across all industries.

The Professional Diploma in Accounting may lead to employment as:

• Assistant Financial Accountant
• Commercial Analyst
• Cost Accountant
• Fixed Asset Accountant
• Indirect Tax Manager
• Payments and Billing Manager
• Payroll Manager
• Senior Bookkeeper
• Senior Finance Officer
• Senior Fund Accountant
• Senior Insolvency Administrator
• Tax Supervisor
• VAT Accountant
• Accounts Payable
• Expenses Supervisor

This course is open to adults who are over 19 years old.

You will need a Merit or Distinction at AAT Level 3, GCSE Maths and English grades of 4 or above (C or above) and a very good attendance record to show you have the skills and motivation required to succeed at this level.

You will study at our Future Skills Centre, which opened in 2021 near Exeter Airport. The centre has free on site parking as well as an on site cafe and a designated study room for adult learners.

AAT membership (currently £251 per year).

AAT coursebooks and question banks (currently around £200 for all required books).