A guide to AAT qualifications

We are delighted to guide and facilitate you on the AAT Qualifications. The AAT courses are the world's renowned accounting and finance qualifications. You can benefit from a KBM now and again. This guide will help you understand the AAT courses, assessments, job opportunities, and salaries by covering the following essential points:

  • What is the AAT?
  • AAT Qualifications worldwide popularity
  • What are the AAT Qualifications?
  • AAT Qualified accountants' average salaries
  • AAT Level 1 Qualifications
  • AAT Level 2 Qualifications
  • AAT Level 3 Qualifications
  • AAT Level 4 Qualification
  • AAT Qualifications' assessments
  • Options at the AAT Qualifications' completion
  • Become a Chartered Accountant
  • How does the AAT accelerate your potential?

What is the AAT?

The Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) has 150,000+ members worldwide in more than 90 countries. It is a leading Accounting Technicians' professional body. The AAT has been active since 1980. AAT UK's leading chartered accountancy bodies such as CIPFA, ICAEW, CIMA and ICAS are sponsoring the AAT. 

Employers want employees with AAT qualifications. Xero has revealed their very recent review states that more accounting & bookkeeping practices found AAT qualifications essential when employing than any other skill. 

You'll be increasing essential skills that you can start using instantly. AAT course provides a glaring effect on your career and also offers self-assurance. Even before you finish the course, only learn theories, not solve the purpose.

KBM is highly capable of providing a range of AAT-certified accounting and bookkeeping courses. Our training will equip you with the competence, knowledge and applied skills required to succeed in the accounting and finance sector. 

Most accounting students choose KBM because of our successful track record; we prepared thousands of AAT accountants and bookkeepers. Our AAT pass rate is beyond 97%.

AAT Qualifications worldwide popularity

Financial management is the centre of any size business. The bookkeeping and finance skills demand is continuously high compared to other sectors. The AAT establish a level of excellence and competence sought after by employers – AAT enhances the value of your CV. 

Also, KBM's practical, industry-focussed training prepares you to achieve finances, budgets and cash flow effectively. Moreover, it plays a significant role in your business growth.

The AAT accounting qualifications provide specialisms. They have international recognition and acceptance, helping all sizes of businesses. Also, the AAT equally works for employees and employers to bring essential business skills. 

Further, the qualifications of the AAT are a much-respected symbol of guarantee and excellence in accounting. KBM offers AAT qualifications blended with extensive practical training. Our courses focus on practical training, daily bookkeeping knowledge and competence. 

What are the AAT Qualifications?

For Bookkeeping and Business Skills, the AAT offers the following qualifications:

The AAT offers the following Accounting qualifications:

AAT Qualified accountants' average salaries

The average AAT accountant salary in the UK is £27,000 per year or £14 per hour. Most senior AAT professionals make up to £38,000 annually. You can start with entry-level jobs at £23,000 yearly. Also, your job location and experience make the salaries variable.

AAT Level 1 Qualifications

AAT Level 1 Award in Bookkeeping

This AAT Level 1 Bookkeeping course suits everyone and requires no accounting background. It offers tremendous skills for manual, single-entry bookkeeping. Also, you can complete it in between three and six months. It prepares you for the following job opportunities:

  • Cashier
  • Clerical Assistant
  • Trainee Bookkeeping Assistant

AAT Level 1 Award in Business Skills

You will understand a business with the AAT Level 1 Business Skills course. You can start it with any background. It includes working in a business environment and applying numbers for business. You can quickly complete this qualification between two and three months. This level 1 business qualification unlocks the following jobs:

  • Data Entry Clerk
  • Accounts Administrator
  • Administrative Assistant

AAT Level 2 Qualifications

AAT Level 2 Certificate in Accounting

Everyone can start the AAT Level 2 Certificate in Accounting with any background. It delivers a solid foundation and core accounting administration knowledge. Further, it provides skills for purchase, sales, and general ledgers. Also, you will gain double-entry bookkeeping and basic costing skills. 

This AAT level 2 course has a six to twelve months completion time. You can pursue the following jobs at completion:

  • Sales Ledger Clerk
  • Accounts Assistant
  • Purchase Ledger Clerk
  • Accounts Administrator
  • Accounts Payable Clerk
  • Trainee Finance Assistant
  • Accounts Receivable Clerk
  • Trainee accounting technician

AAT Level 2 Certificate in Bookkeeping

This AAT Level 2 Certificate in Bookkeeping course properly develops your valuable double-entry bookkeeping skills. You will accurately understand transactions and accounting books, and ledgers' entries. Also, you will understand credit notes' and sales invoices' calculations. Associated accounting documents and processes knowledge you will gain. 

You can achieve this short course in three months to become eligible for the following jobs:

  • Accounts Administrator
  • Trainee Bookkeeper
  • Finance Assistant
  • Clerical Assistant

AAT Level 3 Qualifications

The AAT Level 3 Diploma in Accounting delivers a more comprehensive range of financial processes. It provides essential and higher-level accounting disciplines' knowledge and expertise. You will gain competence in cost accounting records maintenance, and advanced bookkeeping, alongside financial reports and returns preparation. 

This level 3 qualification has a six to twelve months completion time. At completion, you can apply for the following jobs:

  • Credit Controller
  • Payroll Supervisor
  • Practice Bookkeeper
  • Accounts Payable Supervisor
  • Accounts Expenses Supervisor
  • Accounts Payable Clerk
  • Payroll Administrator
  • Accounts Assistant
  • Finance Assistant
  • Tax Assistant
  • Audit Trainee

Also, this course completion provides the AAT bookkeeping membership (AATQB), demonstrating your bookkeeping skills and expertise to employers, businesses, and colleagues. 

AAT Level 3 Certificate in Bookkeeping

The AAT Level 3 Certificate in Bookkeeping offers complex bookkeeping skills and knowledge to progress to higher-level accounting jobs and studies. You will learn advanced bookkeeping, value-added tax (VAT), payroll, and financial statement preparation. 

Also, it delivers an understanding of financial processes, accounting concepts and principles. This level 3 bookkeeping certificate requires completion between six to twelve months. The course completion prepares you to apply for jobs, like:

  • Professional Bookkeeper
  • Senior Bookkeeper
  • Accounts Manager
  • Ledger Manager

You can apply for the AAT bookkeeping member (AATQB) at completion. Further, it qualifies you to apply for the AAT Licensed Bookkeeper

AAT Level 4 Qualification

AAT Level 4 Diploma in Professional Accounting

This final AAT Level 4 Diploma in Professional Accounting focuses on high-level accountancy. You will learn to draft limited companies' financial statements. Also, you will achieve mastery of complex accounting tasks and various financial management.

Also, you will understand constructing and presenting complex management accounting tasks and reports. 

At completion, you can recommend accounting systems strategies for an organisation. You will complete this qualification between twelve and eighteen months. At completion, you can pursue the following senior job roles:

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

This level 3 course leads you to senior accounting and finance jobs. Also, you can apply for AAT full (MAAT) membership at completion. Further, you can become an AAT Licensed Accountant or Bookkeeper, enabling you to be your own boss.

On the other hand, this level 4 diploma helps you become a Chartered Accountant. It provides valuable exemptions from ICAEW, ACCA, CIMA and CIPFA. Thirty UK universities also give exemptions from degree courses.

AAT Qualifications' assessments

The AAT check your qualifications' knowledge, and skills using computer-based assessments (CBAs), which run entirely on laptops or PC. They conduct assessments in their approved-assessment centres. KBM has its approved assessment venue to assist you. The AAT uses the following threes ways for CBAs:

  • Fully computer marked | result on the spot
  • Fully human marked | result in six weeks
  • Partially computer and human marked | result in six weeks

Options at the AAT Qualifications' completion

When you complete the AAT qualification, you are open to choosing where your desired aims take you; you can:

  • Start work straight away
  • Set up your accounting and secretarial practice
  • Become a Chartered Accountant (CA)

Become a Chartered Accountant

The AAT Accounting Qualifications are a highly appreciated foundation for chartered accountancy. Completing the AAT Level 4 Diploma in accounting enables you to avail yourself of substantial exemptions with all the UK chartered and certified accounting bodies. It includes room ACCA, ICAEW, CIMA and CIPFA.  

You need to complete the three levels of AAT Accounting Qualification and obtain exemptions on the first level of the professional study:

  • Exclusion from the Certificate level (CIMA)
  • Qualify via the AAT-ACA fast-track route (ICAEW)
  • Exemption from the Applied Knowledge level papers (ACCA)
  • Exemption from two out of five subjects from the Test of Capability level (ICAS)

How does the AAT accelerate your potential?

If you are working in an economics role and are looking for a new challenge, AAT can support you in improving your career choices. Enhance your competence and knowledge and study new skills or receive recognition for the skills you already have.

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