What opportunities will this course give me?

Skills developed through this qualification can lead to employment as an accounts assistant, an accounts payable and expenses supervisor, an accounts payable clerk, an audit trainee, a credit controller, a finance officer, an indirect tax manager, an insolvency executive, a payroll supervisor, a senior bookkeeper, and a tax assistant

What will I be learning?

This unit explores tax processes that influence the daily operations of businesses and is designed to develop students skills in understanding, preparing, and submitting Value Added Tax (VAT) returns to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). The unit provides students with the knowledge and skills that are needed to keep businesses, employers and clients compliant with laws and practices that apply to VAT and payroll. Students will learn about
legislation and the importance of maintaining their technical knowledge through monitoring updates.

For VAT, students will understand the registration and deregistration rules, including signing up for Making Tax Digital (MTD), and the rules relating to specialist VAT schemes. Students will be able to recognise different types of supplies and calculate VAT correctly, understanding the importance of the rules relating to the recovery of input VAT and the sanctions and penalties for inaccuracies, omissions and failure to make submissions and payments within the correct timescales. Students will be able to verify the accuracy of calculations, invoices and tax points, and will learn about the correction of errors. When learning about the content of the VAT return, students will understand how to apply special rules when goods and services are imported and exported out of the UK and the
European Union (EU), and how to extract the appropriate data to complete VAT returns.

In relation to payroll, students will understand the processes for businesses involved in calculating pay and deductions and the content of documents and reports produced on software, along with the timescales for submission and payment.

The application of ethical principles is threaded throughout this unit. All work must be carried out with integrity, objectivity and a high degree of professional competence. There must be due care with regards to confidentiality about any personal data being processed and, from a business protection aspect, with the correct approach to professional behaviour. Students will understand how to communicate VAT and payroll matters to relevant individuals and organisations.

Why is this course for me?

Each unit of this full qualification is studied and assessed separately and each unit may take anything from 10 to 25 weeks to complete. Successful completion of all units will result in an award of the Advanced Diploma in Accounting (Level 3) from the AAT.

this course of study is via distance learning. Study text books and online resources are supplied upon commencement email and telephone administrative support is available from the Distance Learning Coordinator, as well as limited individual 1:1 tutorial support upon request.

Exams are taken at the college by way of computer based assessment and the assessment for this unit must be completed by the end of the unit learning agreement.

What do I need to sign up?

Applicants must have achieved a Level 2 accounting or book-keeping qualification, or be able to demonstrate a competent knowledge and understanding of double-entry book-keeping and basic accounting functions. Candidates will be required to attend an interview with the course administrator prior to commencing on the course and demonstrate an appropriate standard of Literacy and Numeracy by way of a short assessment. Some elements of the course include a significant amount of writing and literacy skills are as critical as numeracy skills. Basic IT skills will also be required.

Is there anything else I need to know?

The Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) is a professional body and membership is required in order to undertake this qualification. Registration with the AAT must be made upon commencement of the course and will incur an additional cost.

Text and revision workbooks are provided as well as specialist online resources.

This module of study will be available from 01 February 2022.

Application Information

An application form is available to complete online or direct from the Information, Advice and Guidance team, Eastleigh College, Chestnut Avenue, Eastleigh, Hampshire, SO50 5FS. Telephone 02380 911299. For further information please contact Jim Douglas, AAT Administrator, telephone 02380 911021 or email jdouglas@eastleigh.ac.uk.

Course Code

AC22U3/TPFB

Need some further advice?

If you require further advice and guidance about any of the course costs and/or funding options available to you, the College has a dedicated IAG Advisor who can be contacted on telephone 023 8091 1299.