AAT (Accountancy)

Interested in a career in accountancy? Start with AAT…

AAT stands for the Association of Accounting Technicians. It’s the UK’s leading professional membership body for accounting staff and has over 150,000 members in over 90 countries worldwide. The AAT Accounting Qualification is greatly respected in the financial industry and is designed to give students all the practical skills they need to build a career in finance.

AAT qualifications are globally recognised and are generally considered prerequisites for several accountancy positions. What’s more, employers including the NHS, HMV and Procter and Gamble have all successfully used AAT qualifications to help their employees develop their accounting skills, cementing AAT’s position as industry-leaders when it comes to accountancy.

At United College Sixth Form we offer AAT Level 2 in Year 12 and AAT level 3 in Year 13.

WE ARE THE ONLY EDUCATIONAL PROVISION IN SWINDON OFFERING THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE AAT ALONGSIDE A LEVELS.

AAT Level 2 – The foundation stage of AAT, this course introduces essential accounting skills and principles such as the double entry system, trial balances and credit control.

AAT Level 3 – The intermediate stage of AAT, Level 3 builds on the theory learn at the previous stage, but places more of a focus on specific accounting tasks, including the formal preparation of accounts. Once completed you will be awarded the AAT Diploma in Accounting.

On achieving AAT Level 3 you can gain up to 56 UCAS points which is equivalent to an A at A level.

Advantages of becoming AAT qualified

Some key advantages of becoming AAT qualified include:

A nationally and internationally recognised qualification
A pathway for career development, training and progression
Being in demand by employers in both the public and private sector, with many employers considering AAT qualifications as essential
Greater confidence in your own skills and abilities
Access to, and the support of, a professional body within the accountancy sector

What can you do after an AAT qualification?

Qualifying from an AAT accountancy course can allow you to choose from a range of accountancy roles in the financial sector. The Level of AAT membership you possess can have an impact on the type of firm that you will be hired by and your average salary.

The higher the standards of your AAT qualification, the greater your professional development and career progression will be. If you want to begin your journey to becoming a qualified accountant, then obtaining an AAT certificate can help you achieve this goal!

What are the career opportunities with AAT?

AAT offers a fantastic first step on your journey towards becoming a qualified accountant. Once you have completed the Certificate Level, you will be qualified to apply for range of job opportunities such as:

AAT Level 2
- Accounts payable clerk
- Accounts officer
- Payroll administrator

AAT Level 3
- Finance officer
- Assistant accountant
- Bookkeeper

AAT Level 4
- Accounts manager
- Commercial analyst
- Financial accountant

How much can I earn once AAT qualified?

This will vary depending on individual employer, location, certification and job title. As a general guideline, once Level 2 qualified you could be earning somewhere in the region of £20,000 as a starting salary (as an Accounts Clerk, for example).

However, progressing through the levels will allow you to take the next step in your accounting career, which could see you move on to positions such as Purchase or Sales Ledger Supervisor, or Accounts Manager. For these positions, you’ll be much more likely to command salaries above £30,000, even rising to the £50,000 mark for the most experienced.

AAT can be studied in its own right or as part of the Business and Finance Pathway.

AAT (Accountancy)

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