What opportunities will this course give me?

Once qualified, students automatically become AAT affiliate members and, with relevant work experience, will qualify for AAT full membership, enabling use of the designatory letters MAAT after their name. However, the primary and most important outcome of this qualification is that it can lead to a wide variety of well-paid accountancy and finance jobs, some of which are professional accounting technician, assistant auditor, assistant management accountant, commercial analyst, payroll manager, senior financial officer, accounts payable and expenses supervisor, assistant financial accountant, cost accountant, fixed asset accountant, indirect tax manager, senior fund accountant, senior insolvency administrator, tax supervisor and VAT accountant. The AAT qualification can give qualified students exemptions towards part of the UKs chartered and certified accountancy qualifications.

What will I be learning?

This unit focuses on the importance of managing cash within organisations and covers the knowledge and skills required to make informed decisions on financing and investment in accordance with organisational policies and external regulations.

Students will identify current and future cash transactions from a range of sources. They will learn how to eliminate non-cash items in the financial information provided. Using various techniques, students will prepare cash budgets considering the timing of transactions required to monitor the flow of cash into and out of organisations.

Understanding the importance of cash management is key to the sustainability of organisations, therefore students will identify shortfalls and surpluses in cash budgets and take appropriate action to deal with them. Students will understand how to reforecast cash budgets and reasons for deviations from budget.

Students will appreciate how an organisation needs to meet its financial obligations to avoid the risk of financial failure and the different methods of financing available to meet short- and long-term financing requirements, along with the types of investments available for surplus funds.

Students will gain an understanding of the external regulations and considerations that relate to cash and finance, including any financing and investment decisions, to comply with an organisations policies and principles, which may not be purely focused on maximising wealth.

This unit is optional in the Level 4 Diploma in Professional Accounting.

Why is this course for me?

Each unit of the full qualification is studied and assessed separately and each unit may take up to 14 - 27 weeks to complete. Successful completion of all units will result in the student being awarded a Professional Diploma in Accounting (Level 4) by the AAT. The course of study is via distance learning. Study text books and online resources are supplied upon commencement and supplemented by administrative email and telephone support from the Distance Learning Coordinator, as well as limited individual 1:1 tutorial upon request. The first three mandated and the two chosen specialist units are assessed individually in end-of-unit computer-based assessments. Exams are taken at the college by way of computer based assessment, the assessment for this module must be taken by the end of the unit learning agreement.

What do I need to sign up?

Applicants must have achieved a Level 3 accounting qualification. 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. All 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. This module is available from 01 February 2022.

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

Application Information

Please note that all courses are subject to minimum numbers and course descriptions may be subject to change. A place on your chosen course is not confirmed until all of the necessary enrolment paperwork is signed and any relevant fees are paid. The team will be in touch to discuss this with you, once your application has been processed.

Course Code

AC22U4/CSFT

Need some further advice?

Contact the Brand, Engagement and Learner Recruitment Team for further guidance - email bebetter@eastleigh.ac.uk or call 023 8091 1000

The Equality Act

The College wishes to ensure that it complies with the requirements of the Equality Act 2010. If you are a disabled person, please ensure that we know what you need so that we can make all reasonable adjustments to help you succeed.