Gold Edge Training are fully accredited by the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) to deliver their programmes.  The AAT is the leading worldwide accountancy awarding body recognised by employers in over 100 countries.  AAT members hold accountancy positions from finance director to sales and purchase ledger assistants.  It’s your choice where you would like you career to go.

The complexities of level 4 means it is even more important to learn with the right resources that meet how you naturally learn.
If you have ever struggled to learn before it is because the methods used were not compatible with how you learn best, it was not a failing in you. Until this is identified, most people do not realise there is choice in how they learn and the resources they use. By taking a moment to consider what resources or methods works for you, will enable you to unleash the real and natural learner inside.
Understanding how you learn best is not complicated. Without realising because it’s automatic, you lean towards your preference every day. There are four key learning styles: Auditory Learning – Visual Learning – Reflective learning – Kinaesthetic learning. All learners have small traits of each style, but most learners will have the majority of their traits in one method, usually visual learning 65% of learners followed by auditory 35% of learners. For more information to decide on your learning style please click on the following link ‘DESIGN YOUR COURSE’

The financial unit looks in depth at preparing limited company accounts at corporate level including group accounts. You will learn of the many financial statements produced at year-end plus understand the international legal reporting statements that underpin all accounts preparation.
In addition, you will study the intricacies associated with minority and majority share holdings when preparing consolidated accounts.
In summary, the corporate accounts prepared at level 4 completes your overall understanding of financial accounts preparation across all types and sizes of business.
The next unit studied is applied management accounting. This looks at internal cost management. You will learn to prepare all budgets from the strategic budget cascading to the department specific budgets. Your studies will then take you beyond the budgets to analyse project outcomes and measure the performance budgeted forecasts.
The third unit investigates management accounting systems by exploring the role of the accounting function within the organisation. You will learn to evaluate internal control systems and understand the impact of technology on the accounting system giving you the knowledge to review and recommend change where necessary.
The first three units of level 4 are the compulsory units. In addition, you are required to choose 2 optional units from a choice of 5 options. The options are: Business Taxation, Personal Taxation, Audit and Assurance, Cash and Financial Management plus Credit and Debt Management.
The selection made is often decided by your working environment i.e. practice or industry. The two options of cash or credit management are usually chosen by students working in industry. Personal tax and audit are only relevant to people working in practice. Business tax is a favoured option in both accounting sectors.

Compulsory Units:

• 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 It is time to consider booking your exam when you begin the revision stage of your studies. By level 4 you know how long your revision takes so knowing exactly when to book should be a fine tuned process. By booking your exam at the beginning of revision, you are setting 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. All assessment centres who take external students (circa 200 centres across the UK) have systems to make exam booking simple.
We will advise you on how to book closer to when you are ready for the first exam.

• You can study the Professional Diploma level 4 if you have already gained the Diploma in Accounting level 3 or an equivalent manual level 3 accounting qualification such as ICB.
• You can also enrol directly on to level 4 if you have a full degree in Accountancy or Finance. If your degree is in banking or financial services, it is unlikely that you would get exemptions to level 4 but may be able to get exemption to level 3.
  If you would like advice, please fill out our enquiry form with the details of your degree and our head teacher will be able to help you. Alternatively, please ring us on 02394 00 3559.
• Choosing your options: We recommend when enrolling on to the level 4 not to choose your options immediately. They are the last 2 exams that you sit at this level. It is best to complete the compulsory units first before choosing allowing yourself to get a feel for which options best suit you and your career plans.

The sky is your limit when you study for an AAT accountancy career. – It can also take you anywhere in the world. The further you progress through your AAT studies the more options and opportunities will open up to you..
The AAT studies are underpinned by international accountancy standards , which is why they are internationally recognised. Employers seek to employ people with the AAT qualification because it delivers practical, workplace ready skills.

AVERAGE BASIC SALARY FOR EACH LEVEL OF AAT MEMBERSHIP

* Please note the salaries above are the median mid-point from survey participants only. These salaries will vary due to prior experience, position held and geographic location.

We offer various convenient and affordable method of payments. You can pay for your course in the following ways:

• Payment in full at enrolment
• Payment by instalment plan:
  • 3-month plan
  • 6-month plan
  • 9-month plan
  • 12-month plan

Employer Sponsored:
If your employer is sponsoring your studies and would like a specific quote including exams and AAT registration fees please email our head teacher christine.baxter@goldedgetraining.co.uk
Please include your postcode to locate your local assessment centre and the course of your choice.

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 continue further.  It is not compulsory in order to achieve an excellent career in accountancy.  Many heads of accounts departments and finance directors are AAT accountants, not Chartered Accounts.  Achieving a high position in accountancy is not just about the qualification, it is about your ability, your drive and the experience you build through working practice.  There is a very good reason why the AAT is the most desired accountancy 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 as well.

Q. Should I study to become an AAT Accountant Before Applying for Work?
A. It is possible, but preferrable not to.  Studying the three levels without corresponding work experience will not affect your ability to study and pass the exams.  For some students who are looking after young children, the study is preparation for a return to work in the future.  In this instance, it’s fine to study only as long as the understanding is their that experience will need to be built up on returning to work.

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.  It is common in accountancy for the employer to finance your future study saving you a great deal of money.

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 through that doorway, it is down to you to build experience and earn management respect in order to gain the promotions you are working towards.

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. This is for several reasons. Firstly, the hands on work-based knowledge you learn in AAT is not equalled in Chartered Accountancy. Secondly, you are four times more likely to pass Chartered if you study the AAT first and finally, there is no benefit in time or money to not completing the level 4. If you complete level 4 first you have a solid, sought after qualification to build a career on whilst studying Chartered. You will also get Chartered exemptions for the full AAT. If you skip level 4 you will have to start at the beginning of Chartered and sit exams that you have already passed.

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.