AAT Level 4 Diploma in Professional Accounting | Furness College

AAT Level 4 Diploma in Professional Accounting

The Level 4 Diploma is the final level of the AAT qualification and covers higher level accounting tasks, including drafting financial statements for companies, managing budgets and evaluating financial performance. You will also have the opportunity to specialise in areas of tax and credit control.

This level is the natural progression if you have already completed levels 2 and 3, or if you are at a more advanced stage in your career and want a qualification to give you the confidence and proof that you have the skills to do the job. Direct entry to Level 4 is suitable to those with existing advanced/higher qualifications in accounting and/or relevant experience.

Once you’ve achieved this level, you will be a qualified accounting technician. With evidence of one year’s full time or equivalent past relevant work experience, you will be able to apply to become a full member of AAT and use the letters MAAT after your name. You will also qualify for exemptions from many professional chartered accountancy qualifications e.g. CIMA, ACA, ACCA and CIPFA.

Fees: £2573. Subject to change. Students pay registration fees direct to AAT.

Start date: September 2026

Course Content

What Modules will you Study?

Througout this course, you will study:

Drafting and Interpreting Financial Statements
This unit will provide you with the skills and knowledge for drafting financial statements of single limited companies and consolidated financial statements for groups of companies. It ensures that students will have a proficient level of knowledge and understanding of international accounting standards, which will then be applied when drafting the financial statements. Students will also have a sound appreciation of the regulatory and conceptual frameworks that underpin the preparation of limited company financial statements.

Applied Management Accounting
This unit will help you to understand how the budgetary process is undertaken. Students will be able to construct budgets and then identify and report on both areas of success and on areas that should be of concern to key stakeholders. Students will also gain the skills required to critically evaluate organisational performance.

Internal Control and Accounting Systems
This unit will help you to consider the role and responsibilities of the accounting function, including the needs of key stakeholders who use financial reports to make decisions. Students will review accounting systems to identify weaknesses and will make recommendations to mitigate identified weaknesses in future operations. Students will apply several analytical methods to evaluate the implications of any changes to operating procedures.

Business Tax
This unit will introduce you to UK taxation relevant to businesses. Students will understand how to compute business taxes for sole traders, partnerships and limited companies. They will also be able to identify tax planning opportunities while understanding the importance of maintaining ethical standards.

Personal Tax or Credit Control
This unit will provide you with the fundamental knowledge of the three most common taxes that affect taxpayers in the UK: Income Tax, Capital Gains Tax and Inheritance Tax. With this knowledge students will be equipped to not only prepare the computational aspects of taxes, where appropriate, but also appreciate how taxpayers can legally minimise their overall taxation liability.

How long is the course?

The course runs over 33 weeks and will consist of one morning and one afternoon class. The qualification will require at least an equal amount of home study and students are encouraged to read their text book at home and use the practice questions available in the text to hone their skills learnt in class.

Where will I learn?

Channelside Campus

How much will this course cost?

Fees: £2573. Subject to change. Students pay registration fees direct to AAT.

Should you have any funding queries, please contact our helpful and friendly Student Services Team:

T: 01229 825017
E: info@furness.ac.uk

Whilst some adult courses are fully funded for 19+ learners, funding can depend both on the course itself and/or the learner's personal circumstances, including their current income levels and previous qualifications.

https://www.furness.ac.uk/being-a-student/student-services/

Entry Requirements

What are the entry requirements?

Students should have already accomplished AAT Level 3 Diploma in Accounting or have achieved direct entry due to prior relevant qualification and/or experience and should have an adequate level of English and Mathematics (Level 2 or equivalent is recommended).

The appropriate entry point for newcomers to the AAT programme will be discussed with students at interview to ensure they are directed to the most appropriate entry point.

The AAT requires that students disclose any criminal records or financial barriers to membership e.g. County Court Judgements, bankruptcy etc. Applicants should seek advice from the AAT (www.aat.org.uk) to ensure they can meet these requirements for AAT student membership before enrolment takes place.

Progression

What opportunities will this lead to?

Satisfactory completion of this qualification together with meeting other conditions may lead to membership of the Association of Accounting Technicians and enable such successful applicants to use the letters MAAT after their name. For those who wish to proceed, exemptions are available from the first year of professional accountancy qualifications (e.g. ACCA, CIPFA, CIMA, ACA)

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