A Level Accountancy (AS & A2) course

A Level Accountancy course. This fast track A Level course can be completed from home at your own pace from anywhere in the world. Students can enrol anytime 365 days a year and once registered can be studying within days. No set term times and no enrolment dates. For those students with aspirations of becoming a fully qualified accountant or hoping to move into further education in the near future then an A level course provides the ideal platform to build from. Acknowledged and recognised worldwide an A level in any subject on your CV speaks volumes.

For those of you new to A levels, these courses consist of two parts, the AS and A2 . Both parts are covered here providing students with an opportunity to acheive their full A level AQA certification and invaluable UCAS points. Perfect for students looking to gain a university place.

Enrol online or call our office on 0121 2880181 and one of our friendly advisors will process your details for you.

The process of accounting supports businesses in the measuring, monitoring and planning of their operations. People skilled in accounting should be able to tell whether or not the business is performing well financially, the strengths and weaknesses of the business and to communicate their results to the owners of the business. The process of Accounting is the practical ability to record, classify and summarise data and business related information. This course is designed to allow you to study at your own pace and is designed to develop an interest and understanding of accounting in the real world, both on a business and personal level.

An outline of what is offered in our A Level Accounting course:

AS Level

Unit 1: ACCN1 – Introduction to Financial Accounting
Written examination: 1 hour 30 minutes

Unit 2: ACCN2 – Financial and Management Accounting
Written examination: 1 hour 30 minutes

A2 Level

Unit 3: ACCN3 – Further Aspects of financial Accounting
Written examination: 2 hours

Unit 4: ACCN4 – Further Aspects of Management Accounting
Written examination: 2 hours

Unit 1: ACCN1 – Introduction to Financial Accounting

Module 1 Introduction to financial accounting

• A business / organization and what its purpose is
• Presentation of a business / organization’s financial information
• The fundamental accounting concepts which govern financial reporting
• Identification of a series of stakeholders to a company

Module 2 Recording financial data

• Business transactions and the duel effect of these transactions
• Recording entries in the Books of Prime Entry and the Memorandum ledgers
• Using this information to monitor trade receivables and trade payables
• Double Entry accounting and the "T-Account"
• Introduction to the accounting equation

Module 3 Checking accounting records

• Preparing a trial balance and ensuring it balances
• Reasons why a trial balance would not balance (summary of the various errors)
• The impact errors make on the profit/ (loss) and how these can be corrected
• Suspense account (neither balance sheet nor profit & loss)

Module 4 Balance Sheet and Profit & loss

• Familiarization with profit and loss and balance sheet proformas
• Adjustments to trial balance (depreciation, bad debts, accruals and prepayments)
• Case study to prepare financial statements

Unit 2: ACCN2 – Financial and Management Accounting

Module 1 Business entity concept

• The 3 types of business entities
• Advantages and disadvantages of these organizational structures

Module 2 Accounting concepts

• Background to accounting concepts and the IASB’s framework
• Qualitative characteristics of financial information
• Cover the concepts relating to the qualitative characteristics (historic cost, going concern, accruals, consistency, prudence, materiality, realisation, business entity and objectivity)

Module 3 Further aspects of preparing primary accounts

• Advance look at balance sheet and profit & loss statements and adjustments.
• Specifically for bad debts and allowances for doubtful debts, income due and received in advance
• Depreciation of fixed assets; Reasons why a business needs to depreciate
• Introduction to new depreciation method – reducing balance – and comparison of the two methods
• Accounting for the disposal of fixed assets, incorporating accumulated depreciation account entries
• Capital vs. Revenue expenditure

Module 4 Limited Company accounts

• Assess Loan capital vs. Share capital as a source of finance - advantages and disadvantages
• Updating P&L and balance sheet with interim and final dividends; corporation tax liability; share premium; revaluation of fixed assets
• Understand what bonus issues / rights issues are and clearly identify the differences between them
• Make the necessary entries to the accounts for bonus and rights issues

Module 5 Ratio analysis and business performance

• Interpreting financial statements of sole traders and limited companies
• Comparing ratio analysis across competitors, across accounting periods and with other businesses
• Consider how various transactions effect ratios consider also the limitations of these ratios
• Understand that cash does not equal profits

Module 6 Ratio Introduction to budgeting

• Budgeting within business
• Importance of budgeting within an organisation
• Assumptions made in budgets and their weakness
• Preparing cash budgets

Module 7 ICT within accounting

• Learn how ICT helps with regard to double entry book keeping; maintaining and managing stock levels; monitoring debtors; preparing budgets
• Advantages / Disadvantages with ICT tool

Unit 3: ACCN3 – Further Aspects of financial Accounting

Module 1 Sources of Finance

• Reasons why a business would want to take out debt
• The different finance options available to businesses:
• Internal finance, shares, debentures, bank loans and overdrafts, and mortgages but excluding hire purchase or leasing as forms of finance

Module 2 Incomplete records

• Introduction to and preparation of a statement of affairs using all available information
• The business equation and how this can be used to calculate profit
• Use control accounts to identify missing sales / purchases figures
• Sales, cost of sales and gross profit relationship to calculate the missing figures (Mark up and Margins)
• Use information gathered to prepare the financial statements
• Understand the drawbacks of preparing accounts using incomplete records
• Comment on the accounts prepared

Module 3 Partnership Accounts

• Prepare year end partnership accounts
• Understand and comment on partnership accounts
• Understand and be able to prepare partner capital and current accounts
• Deal with retirement of partners / acceptance of new partners
• Account for new profit sharing ratios
• The process for admitting a partner, retirement of a partner and dissolution of a partnership Revaluing goodwill when the partnership changes
• Knowledge of the Partnership Act 1890 is essential

Module 4 Published accounts of Limited companies

• Published accounts: Why limited companies have to publish accounts, the stockholder’s interest in these published accounts and its corporate report and the limitations of the published accounts
• Prepare non-current asset schedules which agrees to the non-current assets on the face of the balance sheet
• Prepare a cash flow statement in line with IAS 7 (indirect method). Comment on the value of cash flow statements to stakeholders.
• Discover auditors and their responsibilities and role within an organization
• The difference between auditors and directors duties with regard to the accounts

Module 5 Accounting standards

• Introduce students to the accounting standards applicable to this course
• Discuss the nature of the standards and how they relate to the qualitative characteristics of financial statements

Module 6 Stock valuation

• The concept of valuing stock
• The AVCO and FIFO method for valuing stock
• Explain how the different methods produce different profit figures

Unit 4: ACCN4 – Further Aspects of Management Accounting

Module 1 Manufacturing accounts

• Understand the manufacturing industry and prepare and interpret a set of manufacturing accounts
• Calculate prime costs, overhead costs, factory cost of finished goods, and profit on manufacture and make provisions for unrealized profit.

Module 2 Marginal, absorption and activity based costing

• Understand the terms used to track costs and perform basic calculations to produce this information. Terms include direct costs, indirect costs, variable costs, semi variable costs, fixed costs, marginal cost, contribution and break-even;
• Calculate break-even points and understand the limitations of use with break-even analysis
• Introduction to absorption costing, marginal costing and activity based costing. Interpretation and comparison of the three. Noting what a cost centre is and how this is used in the costing process
• Calculate profit based on absorption and marginal costing
• What is a service centre and how to absorb these costs into a product (using elimination method only)
• Explanation of what cost pools and cost drivers are
• Understand and calculate overhead absorption rates applying them over machine hours and labour hours
• Introduction to cost cards and how this can be used in pricing policy
• Decision making tools (make/buy, price setting, optimum use of resources, accept / decline additional work)

Module 3 Standard cost and variance analysis

• Interpret and comment on the system of standard costing
• Calculate sales volume and sales price; material usage and material price; labour efficiency and labour rate
• Understand the correlation between variances
• Prepare a budget vs. actual report

Module 4 Capital Investment Appraisal

• Investment decisions are inherently based on assumptions and these must be appreciated as a limitation to the investment appraisal tool
• Introduction to payback periods and net present values
• Students will be introduced to discounted cash flows at this stage
• Make recommendations to management as to which project to use, this should be based on calculations and financial analysis already performed

Module 5 Budgeting: Further considerations

• Reasons why we budget and how we use this information within the business
• Understand and interpret purchases, sales, production, labour, debtor and creditor budgets and how these relate to the main budget summary
• Prepare and comment on forecast operating statements and balance sheets

Module 6 Social accounting

• Discussion on corporate social responsibility, other factors beyond mere numbers which affect a business decision making

Students are recommended to posses the ability to read and write english to GCSE standards and be over 16 years of age.

AQA A level in Accounting.

All students have one year to complete this course from date of registration. On average this course is completed in 200 hours.

We recommend that students complete 5-6 hours per week as a minimum to get the most from this course. Remember to work out a study plan / timetable before you start and try and stick to it. Coursework can be completed as quickly as you want as shown below.

Course materials are provided in paper format and delivered direct to your door within 7 days of enrolment.

This course is self-contained so you will not need to use any extra textbooks. However, you may find useful to read other books on this subject:

• Business Accounting 1 - Frank Wood & Alan Sangster, FT Prentice Hall. ISBN 0273655523
• Business Accounting 2 - Frank Wood & Alan Sangster, FT Prentice Hall. ISBN 0273655574
• Business Accounts - David Cox, Osborne books

Unit 1: ACCN1 – Introduction to Financial Accounting

• 50% of AS Level
• 25% of A Level
• 1 hour 30 minutes written examination
• 80 raw marks
• Four compulsory questions – each carrying a variable number of marks, each with a variable number of sub-questions.

Unit 2: ACCN2 – Financial and Management Accounting

• 50% of As Level
• 25% of A Level
• 1 hour 30 minutes written examination
• 80 raw marks
• Four compulsory questions – each carrying a variable number of marks, each with a variable number of sub-questions.

Unit 3: ACCN3 – Further Aspects of financial Accounting

• 25% of A Level
• 2 hours written examination
• 90 raw marks
• Four compulsory questions – each carrying a variable number of marks, each with a variable number of sub-questions. This unit is synoptic.

Unit 4: ACCN4 – Further Aspects of Management Accounting

• 25 % of A Level
• 2 hours written examination
• 90 raw marks
• Four compulsory questions – each carrying a variable number of marks, each with a variable number of sub-questions. This unit is synoptic.

Assignment Information

Throughout the course there will be self-assessment questions, and tutor marked questions, to enable students to monitor their progress

Recommended Centres

English Maths Science Tuition Centre Ltd.
40 Showell Green lane
Sparkhill
Birmingham,
B11 4JP
England
United Kingdom

Tel: 0121-771-1298

info@englishandmaths.com

http://www.englishandmaths.com/Index.php

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3A Tutors Ltd
1A High Street
Staple Hill
Bristol
BS16 5HA

Tel: 0117 9109931

Email: enquiries@3at.org.uk

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Harrogate Tutorial College
2 The Oval
Harrogate
HG2 9BA

Telephone +44(0)1423 501041

E-Mail study@htcuk.org

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Campbell Harris Tutors Ltd
185 Kensington High Street
London
W8 6SH
Telephone 020 7937 0032

Email principal@campbellharris.co.uk

Web Site http://campbellharris.co.uk/Content.asp?ID=18

Please visit AQA for exam information.

http://www.aqa.org.uk/admin/p_private.php

The contract for sitting exams is between you and the centre and we will provide you with comprehensive instructions on when and how to deal with the examination centre. Exams are taken in January and June of each year. There is no flexibilty to take exams at any other time.

Q: When can I enrol?

The beauty of distance learning means that students can enrol at anytime they wish 365 days of the year. Enrolments and payment can be made online or by calling our office on 0121 2880181.

Q: How soon after enrolment can I start studying?

Students would normally receive course materials via post within 7 days of enrolment

Q: Is this course accredited?

Yes! This course prepares students for the AQA A Level examinations. 

Q: Is there any funding available towards the course fees?

UK Open College is a privately run college therefore we do not have access to funding

Q: Do you offer any discounts for the unemployed or low income households?

Unfortunately discounts are not available

Q: Can I pay monthly for my course?

Yes! We do offer payment plans for this course to students resident in the UK only.  See fees page for further details.

Q: How do I know whether this is the right course for me?

In truth we cannot be sure if this course or indeed home learning will meet every students needs. To help we have a money back guarantee scheme in place which allows students to receive and try the course materials for seven days to establish whether this course is the ideal course for them. If it's not simply notify us via email or telephone within the seven day period for a full refund. Please be aware this is a strict seven day scheme and no refunds are processed once this period has expired.

Q: Is this course available to International students?

Yes ! We currently have students all over the world studying with the college. 

Q: Are there any deadlines for course assignments?

No! You can submit course assignments at your own pace. The only deadline is for completion of the whole course which requires students to finish within one year of registration.

Q: What if I have questions relating to my course or have problems understanding some of the questions?

No problem! All students have access to a personal tutor for the duration of their course with whom they may correspond with. You are not on your own when you study with us! We really do want you to pass your course!

Q: Will I have to purchase any additional books or materials?

It will state clearly in the course detail if additional books are required. These are not included in the course fees. Students are required to ourchase these independantly. They are not provided by the college.

If you require any further information on this course then please call our administration team on 0121 288 0181 and we will be happy to help you as much as we can. Alternatively complete the information request form below and one of our friendly advisors will contact you.

Course Fee: Starting at: £349.00