Accountancy Level 2

Level 2 Apprenticeship Accountancy

Our AAT accredited Foundation Accountancy Apprenticeship enables you to learn on the job whilst developing your knowledge and skills through an AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians) accounting qualification. With a focus on basic level accounting and finance, this apprenticeship aims to provide you with skills that you can utilise in the workplace. Contents

Apprenticeship Framework

The aim of the AAT Certificate in Accounting is to provide you with a basic level of accounting and finance skills that you can utilise in the workplace. You will develop skills in finance administration, double entry book keeping, basic costing principles and purchase, sales and general ledgers.

The programme prepares learners for roles such as:

• Accounts Assistant/Clerk

• Cashier

• Credit Control Clerk

• Finance Assistant

• Purchase / Sales Ledger Clerk

• Book Keeper

Who is this apprenticeship for?

This programme is aimed at new financial members who want to gain skills in financial accounting within a corporate financial team, accountancy practice or public sector organisation.

Overview

The AAT Certificate in Accounting delivers a solid foundation in finance administrationcovering areas such as double entry bookkeeping to basic costing principles as well as an understanding of purchase, sales and general ledgers.

On completion of this apprenticeship you will achieve the following:

• Level 2 Foundation Apprenticeship in Accounting

• AAT Certificate in Accounting– Level 2

• Level 1 Essential Communication Skills

• Level 2 Essential Application of Number Skills

• Prentis-iaith Welsh Language Development

On the following pages, you will find information relating to the main qualification as well as other aspects that will make up this apprenticeship programme, including Essential Skills and Welsh Language Development.

Entry requirements

AAT does not set any entry requirements for this qualification. However, for the best chance of success, we recommend that students begin their studies with a good standard of English and Maths, preferably a GCSE in both subjects at Grade C and above. ACT can provide support in these subjects with access to the Wales Essential Skills Toolkit (WEST) and as part of the apprenticeship Framework Essential skills may need to be achieved in order to fulfil the English and Maths requirements. Accountants work at the very heart of a business and are expected to be able to communicate information clearly and appropriately to a given audience. AAT recommends that students use AAT Skill check to ensure that they are ready to start on a particular qualification.

Please note: ACT will require the results of the AAT Skill check and may request a further ACT skills scanner if appropriate to ensure registration at the correct level.

Level 2 Certification in Accounting

Delivery Overview

This AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians) course is an entry-level accounting qualification, ideal for anyone who is seeking an introduction to basic accounting principles and skills.

This flexible course is delivered in partnership with Mindful Education, and combines online learning with remote face-to-face lessons via Microsoft teams.

What will I learn?

This qualification will prepare you for junior and entry level accounting roles. It delivers a solid foundation in finance administration - covering areas such as double entry bookkeeping to basic costing principles and using accounting software.

On successful completion of this course, you will be awarded an AAT Level 2 Foundation Certificate in Accounting. This internationally recognised AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians) qualification enables those working in accounting or those who looking to pursue accountancy as a career to gain knowledge, practical experience and the all-important certification often sought by employers.

Course Delivery - Online and In Class element Study Method – Online and On Campus remote lessons

We have partnered with Mindful Education to deliver this course through our flexible Online and ‘On Campus’ Remote model. Learners will be expected to attend 2.5 to 3 hour class lessons every week, with separate study of online materials during allotted time at work. Class sessions will be a mixture of remote lessons and/or face to face lessons at our Ocean Park House offices

Online content through Mindful Education that can be accessed at any time, using a mobile, tablet or desktop – meaning you can fit your study around work commitments, minimising disruption in the workplace. Online lessons last for around 90 minutes and are accompanied by animations and motion graphics to bring concepts to life. The online platform contains Practice questions, downloadable lesson materials and interactive case studies help to enhance the learning experience further and learners

should expect to spend at least 5-6 hours studying independently online each week. Guidance from Mindful Education is that learners should expect to spend around 8-10 hours studying independently online each week.

In class sessions (face-to-face and/or remote sessions delivered ‘Microsoft Teams’), you benefit from face-to-face classes with an experienced tutor. A combination of classroom-based lessons, group exercises and discussion encourage apprentices to apply theory to real-life workplace situations. Your tutor will review what you have learnt during your online lessons and will be on hand to provide guidance on progress and assessment. Regular discussion with classmates will help to reinforce key points while also providing the additional support and motivation that comes from being part of a group. Workshop sessions will either be delivered during the day, or the evening, and this will be discussed in greater detail during sign-up stages. Attendance at these workshops is compulsory in order to complete the qualification.

In summary:

• Each learner will be required to attend weekly, sessions (either face-to-face, or remotely), lasting between 2 and 3 hours

• Learners will be expected to access online content via Mindful Educationguidance from the Mindful Education team is that this can take between 8 and hours per week.

• ACT advise that learners/employers allocate at least 1 working day per week to allow for the study of this programme (suggested, full day, same day as the class session)

Apprenticeship Programme Delivery

You will also be assigned a Learner Journey Officer as part of your apprenticeship who will meet you remotely via Microsoft Teams on a 1-2-1 basis every month, in order to give you the opportunity to discuss progress outside of the classroom. At these monthly meetings, a review will be completed via an e-portfolio called Onefile and this will be a digital audit of your ongoing progress. The Learner Journey Officer will liaise directly with your tutor to report any concerns although you will also have access to your AAT tutor should you need to contact them directly.

Employer involvement is also key to the success of the apprenticeship programme and therefore they will also have access to the Onefile progress reviews, and will be contacted on a regular basis in order to discuss any concerns raised.

Learners will be provided with a class timetable which will detail the dates of classes and the dates of exams. All exams are hosted at our Ocean Park House Office based at East Tyndall Street, Cardiff, CF24 5EA and run during the day only. An ACT invigilator will be present to support the exam process and ensure compliance with AAT’s policies and procedures. All exams require a pass mark of 70% in order to complete the qualification.

AAT at ACT is funded however it is the responsibility of the learner or employer to pay for the AAT student registration in order to undertake this programme. The registration process should be completed by the learner prior to attending your AAT programme with ACT. Please ask us for details of the registration process before attending your first class.

The first attempt of each exam will be covered by ACT however if any resits are required, the learner will be responsible for this fee. AAT fees are as follows;

• AAT Student registration - £175 for the full course. This is payable direct to AAT.

• Exam fee if resits required - £61

Units of Study

The Level 2 course covers a range of key areas, including:

• Introduction to Bookkeeping

• Principles of Bookkeeping

• Principles of Costing

• The Business Environment

You will also develop business communications and lifelong learning skills, applying what you learn on the course to the wider industry context

Learning outcomes for each unit are below.

Introduction to Bookkeeping

• Understand how to set up bookkeeping systems

• Process customer transactions

• Process supplier transactions

• Process receipts and payments

• Process transactions into the ledger accounts

This unit is assessed through a computer-based test, 1 hours 30 minutes – 70% pass rate. Same day result.

Principles of Bookkeeping Controls

• Produce trial balances

• Use control accounts

• Use the journal

• Reconcile a bank statement with the cash book

This unit is assessed through a computer-based test, 1 hours 30 minutes – 70% pass rate. Same day result.

Principles of Costing

• Understand the cost recording system within an organisation

• Use cost recording techniques

• Provide information on actual and budgeted costs and income

• Use tools and techniques to support cost calculations

This unit is assessed through a computer-based test, 1 hours 30 minutes – 70% pass rate. Same day result.

The Business Environment (Synoptic Assessment)

• Understand the principles of contract law

• Understand the external business environment

• Understand key principles of corporate social responsibility (CSR), ethics and sustainability

• Understand the impact of setting up different types of business entity

• Understand the finance function within an organisation

• Produce work in appropriate formats and communicate effectively

• Understand the importance of information to business operations

This unit is assessed through a computer-based test, 2 hours – 70% pass rate. 6-week turnaround for marking.

Length of time to complete

Your AAT syllabus will be delivered over a 12-month period however to include any essential skills qualifications, the recommended time to complete this apprenticeship programme is 14 months

Progression

On successful completion of this course, you can progress to higher levels of the AAT Accounting Qualifications via apprenticeship training or through part-time courses (Level 3 and then on to Level 4).

Career opportunities

The skills and knowledge you will gain throughout this qualification will qualify you for roles including Accounts Assistant, Finance Assistant, Credit Control Assistant or Purchase Ledger Clerk.

Have any questions about our Level 2 Certificate in Accounting?

We are here to help. If you have any further questions or enquiries about the main qualification element of the programme, please contact our Route Manager:

Ann Rees

Route Manager for Accounting and Education and Development annrees@acttraining.org.uk

Essential Skills Qualifications

When you agree to undertake an apprenticeship, you may be required to complete Essential Skills as part of your apprenticeship framework.

What are Essential Skills?

Essential Skills qualifications develop learners’ knowledge and understanding of Application of Number (Numeracy), and Communication (Literacy) These qualifications enable learners to demonstrate that they can apply these vital skills to a range of situations whilst at work, in learning and throughout life.

The Essential Skills qualifications you are required to complete depend upon your previous qualifications, the apprenticeship level you are completing and your own particular needs.

The Essential Skills qualifications are all available at four levels, depending on your individual needs (Entry 3, Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3) and includes:

Essential Application of Number Skills

• Understand numerical data

• Carry out calculations

• Interpret and present results findings

Essential Communication Skills

• Speaking and listening

• Reading

• Writing

Wales Essential Skills Toolkit (WEST)

All learners will undertake WEST when signing up for an apprenticeship. These are a set of online skills assessments that calculate the level of ability and understanding in Literacy (Communication), Numeracy (Application of Number) and Digital Literacy.

The WEST assessments are not exams and have no pass or fail criteria. WEST assessments can be completed in Welsh or English, and the Application of Number assessment is bilingual (any learners who would like to explore this, just ask!). There are no set time limits for any of the assessments, but they must be taken under supervised conditions.

WEST is a vital part of your learner journey. The results help your Essential Skills Tutor plan your learning programme to meet your specific needs. As well as assessments, you will also be encouraged to use WEST to develop your skills throughout your apprenticeship programme. Your Essential Skills Tutor will provide guidance on how to use WEST fully.

Course Delivery

If you are required to complete your Essential Skills as part of the apprenticeship framework, they will be discussed at your first visit with your Assessor and employer.

Through analysis of your WEST results and a detailed conversation, a learning plan will be put in place to support the achievement of any Essential Skills you are required to complete.

Together you will agree the best times and locations for the support for both you and your employer, balancing your personal needs and your work life commitments.

Examples of how we will support you with this include:

• Support with a member of our Essential Skills team

• Attendance at group workshops

• Digital workshop sessions

If you have already achieved qualifications in literacy and numeracy, but would like to further develop these skills with the support of our Tutors, just let your Assessor know and this can be arranged for you.

Length of time to complete

We tailor your learning programme to your needs; so every learner’s learning programme is unique. Whilst we cannot say for certain how long it will take to complete your Essential Skills qualification(s), we are able to give you a little guidance on time frames. These guidelines depend on the apprenticeship level you are completing and your own particular needs. For example:

*Includes Task and Test

Please note:

• Each skills session is between 1.5 to 2.5 hours, depending upon method of support. Your Essential Skills Tutor will discuss the time required for your Essential Skills assessments with you, which will also depend upon the level you are taking.

• We often find that where we need to work with you to upskill by more than one level, we may ask you to attend some extra sessions with us. Don’t worry – we have a range of ways that we can help you to do this (for example through skills sessions).

• We can support you on a one to one basis, but as you may appreciate these spaces are limited. Please discuss with your Assessor.

Proxy

If you already hold qualifications, these may be used as ‘proxy’ towards your apprenticeship framework. As a result, you will be exempt from achieving that particular Essential Skill, if you wish.

Below are some examples, although this list is not exhaustive. All applications for proxy will be checked and confirmed at the start of your apprenticeship. Please be aware that original certificates will need to be produced within the first 8 weeks in order to be exempt from Essential Skills.

This will be discussed with you before you sign up with us, and will also be followed up by your assessor before and during your first visit from us.

Have any questions about Essential Skills?

We are here to help. If you have any further questions or enquiries about Essential Skills element of the programme, please contact our Essential Skills Manager:

Julie Maughan Essential Skills Manager juliemaughan@acttraining.org.uk

Welsh Language Development

As part of your Welsh Government funded framework, you will be supported to develop and maintain your Welsh language skills for the workplace.

What is Welsh Language Development?

ACT are committed to playing their part in the Welsh Government Million Speakers strategy. All learners will complete the Prentis-iaith Welsh Language Development course as part of your framework with us.

Don’t panic – this is as a means of development and is aimed to support you with the development of your Welsh Language skills. This course is specially designed to give apprentices a basic knowledge of Welsh for the workplace and consists of 6 interactive modules to complete online. The course will be completed throughout your framework, with support from your assessor.

Already bilingual?

If you are Welsh speaking you will undertake your learning bilingually. In practice this means that you can choose the elements of your learning that you would like to complete through the medium of Welsh. You will be able to discuss your particular preferences with your assessor.