Business Awareness

You will gain an understanding of the business, its environment and its influence on an organisation’s structure. You will also learn the role of its accounting function and its performance.

• Understand business types, structures and governance, and the legal framework in which they operate
• Understand the impact of the external and internal environment on businesses, their performance and decisions
• Understand how businesses and accountants comply with principles of professional ethics
• Understand the impact of new technologies in accounting and the risks associated with data security
• Communicate information to stakeholders

Financial Accounting: Preparing Financial Statements

You will gain the skills to produce statements of profit or loss, statements of financial position for sole traders, and partnerships using a trial balance. In your job, you may be required to prepare the final accounts and this unit will give you the theoretical knowledge needed to do this.

It will also allow you to understand how final accounts are produced, either manually or by using accounting software.

• Understand the accounting principles underlying 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

Management Accounting Techniques

You will learn about the role of management accounting and how organisations use this information to make decisions.

• Understand the purpose and use of management accounting within organisations
• Use techniques required for dealing with costs
• Attribute costs according to organisational requirements
• Investigate deviations from budgets
• Use spreadsheet techniques to provide management accounting information
• Use management accounting techniques to support short-term decision making
• Understand principles of cash management

Tax Processes for Businesses

This unit explores tax processes that influence the daily operations of businesses. It helps you develop skills in understanding, preparing, and submitting value-added tax (VAT) returns to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).

You will gain the knowledge and skills to keep businesses compliant with laws and practices that apply to VAT and payroll. You will learn about legislation and the importance of maintaining technical knowledge by monitoring updates.

• Understand legislation requirements relating to VAT
• Calculate VAT
• Complete VAT returns
• Understand principles of payroll
• Report information within the organisation

As this is a self-study option, there are no prerequisites. However, we would assume that you have either completed Level 2 previously, or have sufficient knowledge to embark upon this level of study.

Basic numerical skills and a good understanding of the English language is also an advantage.