AAT Level 3 Diploma in Accounting

The four modules of the AAT Level 3 Diploma in Accounting from the Association of Accounting Technicians, looks at the wider industry context of preparing accounts. The qualification enables you to pursue accountancy career opportunities as a finance officer.

Level 3 is the next accounting step in your AAT studies you will cover financial accounts preparation accounting knowledge ready for more senior roles. You will learn new AAT Level 3 topics in accounts preparation for sole traders, partnerships and small limited companies.

You'll also learn how to prepare accounts that are respectful of professional ethics and created within the legal framework. You'll cover spreadsheet techniques, recording depreciation calculations for non-current assets and advanced management accounting techniques including how to produce management accounting information.

Module 1 - Business Awareness (BUAW)

You'll gain a comprehensive understanding to develop business communications with the external and internal environment in which the finance function operates. This will include different business types and organisational requirement for all business types and data security within the wider business environment.

Module 2 - Financial Accounting: Preparing Financial Statements (FAPS)

You'll gain knowledge to master financial processes and techniques required including trial balance, advanced double-entry bookkeeping skills and financial processes for sole traders final accounts preparation that are produced within the legal framework. You'll understand the importance of data security and professional ethics when preparing accounts.

You will learn how to apply accounting principles to the complexities of advanced double entry bookkeeping when preparing final accounts and financial reports.

This professional accounting module covers preparing accounts for partnerships, interpret financial statements to measure profitability ratios that ensures positive cash management. You'll develop your knowledge in professional ethics understanding so the accounts comply with all ethical boundaries.

You'll cover maintaining accounting records, including maintaining cost accounting records, and works with non current assets in line with higher level accounting techniques.

Module 3 - Management Accounting Techniques (MATS)

Gain the skills necessary to provide management accounting information to prepare internal cost management reports for analysis, interpretation and presentation for better decision-making

You will also learn how to provide management accounting information to cover cash management as part of short-term decision-making. You'll also develop skills needed in financial processes and the techniques required to produce internal reports and support analysis. Included in this unit is the technical skills required for spreadsheet techniques.

Module 4 – Tax Processes for Businesses (TPFB)

Gain a thorough understanding of business tax processes and navigate the complexities of VAT within a business context.

Based on 6 - 8 hours of study per week, you can complete your course within 9 - 12 months. We give you up to 15 months access to ensure you have total flexibility in your studies.

There are 4 exams in the AAT Level 3 Diploma in Accounting. You sit one computer-based exam for each of the four modules.

AAT membership is required before you can sit your assessments. Exams are sat at an AAT exam centre or by remote invigilation

Contact e-Careers for support in booking your remote invigilation exam with us.

AAT Level 3 Exam Fees

The AAT exam fees are paid to the assessment centre when you book each exam:

• The exam fees vary with each centre and range between £130 - £150

Exam Duration

• Business Awareness: 150 minutes
• Financial Accounting: Preparing Financial Statements: 150 minutes
• Management Accounting Techniques: 150 minutes
• Tax Processes for Businesses: 90 minutes

Once you've completed your computer based exams, the raw marks are converted into a percentage and weighted according to the unit weightings below to provide an overall grade.

• Business Awareness: 15%
• Financial Accounting: Preparing Financial Statements: 40%
• Management Accounting Techniques: 30%
• Tax Processes for Businesses: 15%

You must score at least 70% in each exam to pass the overall qualification.

Passing Scores:

• Distinction: 90–100%
• Merit: 80–89%
• Pass: 70–79%
• Unclassified: 0–69% (or failure to pass one or more assessments)

To sit the AAT assessment, you must have paid your student membership and exam fees, which are additional to the course fee.

The benefits of studying AAT Level 3 Distance Learning are:

• Flexibility to self-study at your pace and in your own home
• Access to tutor support via the learning portal - With fast response times
• Access to live lectures, recorded lectures, e-learning and Kaplan books
• Online/distance learning is more affordable than traditional classroom
• You can start your studies 365 days a year
• No set timetables you choose when and where you study

We recognise that everyone learns differently so we supply a range of learning methods to ensure all needs are met equally.

AAT Level 3 Training Methods:

• Interactive e-learning - for all learning types
• Live online classroom - for structured learning
• Record Lectures - for flexible on-demand study
• Hard copy Kaplan books - for traditional learning

Our AAT Level 3 online distance learning course includes:

• Access: Our online materials and recorded lectures are available 24/7 via a laptop, PC, tablet or phone.
• e-Learning Platform: You'll receive interactive e-learning with frequent knowledge tests, videos, animations, and built in guidance every step of the way. Also included are flash cards, mock exams, question banks and presentations.
• Live Online Classroom: Tutor-led live online classrooms, including workbook, tutorials and exam preparation.
• Recorded lectures:All live classrooms are recorded and available on demand. With recorded videos, there are no time related worries, you study at a time that suits you.
• Kaplan hardcopy Textbooks: You will receive 4 x Kaplan study textbooks (one for each module) for study offline.
• Tutor Support: Get help when you need it on study or exam guidance from an AAT award winning accounting Tutor.
• AAT Level 3 Online Courses Free: Xero Certification and an Excel course, suitable from beginner to advanced is included at no extra cost.
• Bonus: This course is eligible for the TOTUM student discount card - giving you savings on shopping, leisure, holidays and much much more.

Affordability is central to every course offered at e-Careers. To stop study draining your finances, you can spread the cost with 0% finance plans.

• 0% Finance available up to 24 months – Available to students
• Employers - Training a team? Contact us for a bespoke quote with up to 12 months 0% finance available
• Price-match guarantee.

Completing the AAT Level 3 Diploma in Accounting qualifies you for a range of junior to mid-level accounting roles throughout the UK, including accounts assistant, bookkeeper, payroll administrator or credit control assistant.

AAT Level 3 roles are available to candidates with and without experience. If no experience, Career Academy can provide up to 4 months work experience where 1 in 4 students get offered a job.

• Job Title: Accounts Assistant
• Typical UK Salary: £22,000 - £28,000
• Who It Suits: Entry level, suits studiers or completers

• Job Title: Bookkeeper
• Typical UK Salary: £22,000 - £30,000
• Who It Suits: Ideal for self-employed and SME employed roles

• Job Title: Credit Control Assistant
• Typical UK Salary: £23,000 - £29,000
• Who It Suits: Accounts receivable department

• Job Title: Payroll Administrator
• Typical UK Salary: £22,000 - £27,000
• Who It Suits: Finance or HR Department – Payroll focus

• Job Title: Finance Assistant
• Typical UK Salary: £20,000 - £26,000
• Who It Suits: Broad entry point across all sectors

• Job Title: Accounts receivable/payable clerk
• Typical UK Salary: £21,000 - £26,000
• Who It Suits: Invoice processing – High availability

• Job Title: Tax Assistant
• Typical UK Salary: £24,000 - £30,000
• Who It Suits: Usually accounting practice entry role

• Job Title: Trainee Management Accountant
• Typical UK Salary: £26,000 - £32,000
• Who It Suits: Progression planned to study CIMA post AAT

Note* Salaries will vary based on location, sector and company size. London roles typically pay 10% - 15% above national average.

Step 1: On successful completion at Level 3 you'll become a Professional Bookkeeper and can apply to have AATQB letters after your name.

Step 2: Step 2: Having successfully completed Level 3 you have the higher level skills in operational accounting and with experience, you’re ready to move into middle-management. If you haven’t started Level 3 yet, why not enrol onto a Level 3 and 4 package

Step 3: Looking beyond completing Level 4. You can fast-track to chartered status (CIMA/ ACCA/ ACA/ CIPFA) with your exemptions earned at Level 4 AAT. With CIMA/ ACCA/ CIPFA you will be exempt from the first level exams.

Enrol today and start your journey to career success. The first step is the hardest, thereafter every move is a step closer to realising your dreams.

The AAT Level 3 student membership is paid when you begin to study your AAT Level 3 career studies.

The student membership gives you access to additional study materials through your MyAAT account. The Level 3 student membership also allows you to book, and sit the four Level 3 exams. The exam fees are additional to the membership fees.

On successfully passing two of the exams at Level 3:

• Financial Accounting: Preparing Financial Statements
• Tax Processes for Businesses

you can apply directly to AAT to become a Professional Bookkeeper with designatory AATQB letters after your name.

There is an additional fee paid to AAT to apply for AATQB

• AAT Level 3 is right for you if you have passed AAT Certificate in Accounting Level 2 or the equivalent level from other awarding bodies.
• AAT Level 3 is ideal if you have an accounting and finance degree and want to convert your theoretical knowledge to work-based understanding.
• AAT Level 3 is perfect if you have extensive work experience and a strong understanding in manual double-entry booking.
• AAT Level 3 Diploma in Accounting is an option if you have passed AAT Bookkeeping Level 2.

There are three components to the AAT Level 3 overall costs each are paid to different locations and at different times. The following table shows a clear breakdown.

• What are the Three Cost Components of AAT Level 3: Course Fees
• Who is it Paid To?: Your Training Provider
• When is it Paid?: It is paid at the start of the course In full or by instalments
• Instalment Plans Available: 3, 6, 9 and 12 month Interest free options available.

• What are the Three Cost Components of AAT Level 3: AAT Student Membership
• Who is it Paid To?: Training Provider or AAT
• When is it Paid?: Paid with Course Fees or Paid to AAT Shortly After Enrolment
• Instalment Plans Available: Paid in Full at Registration

• What are the Three Cost Components of AAT Level 3: Exams sat at Assessment Centre
• Who is it Paid To?: Assessment Centre
• When is it Paid?: When You Book Your Exam
• Instalment Plans Available: Paid In Full at Booking

• What are the Three Cost Components of AAT Level 3: Remote Invigilated Exams at Home
• Who is it Paid To?: Your Training Provider
• When is it Paid?: When You Book Your Exam
• Instalment Plans Available: Paid In Full at Booking

If you have studied the AAT Level 2 Certificate in Accounting or equivalent, studying the AAT Level 3 is definitely within your capabilities when you study with e-Careers. Everything learnt at Level 2, is designed to be the foundation knowledge that you build upon at Level 3. This means you already have a basis of understanding.

The AAT Diploma sits at Level 3 on the QCF/RQF UK regulated qualifications framework. It’s equivalent to 2 A-Levels.

Level 3 is recognised as a pathway to AAT Level 4, which in turn is a fast-track to CIMA/ACCA/ICAEW. It is also a university entry qualification.

• AAT Level 3 Equivalents: AAT Level 3 – Distinction
• UCAS Points: 56 Points

• AAT Level 3 Equivalents: AAT Level 3 – Merit
• UCAS Points: 48 Points

• AAT Level 3 Equivalents: AAT Level 3 – Pass
• UCAS Points: 32 Points

Most students complete their level 3 within 9 to 12 months based on 6-8 hours of study a week. Full-time study can reduce this to 6 to 9 months based on 15-20 hours study a week.