Courses - Business & Law - AS/A Level Accounting

AS/A2 Level: Accounting | Business Studies | Economics | Law
BTEC: National Diploma | National Award | First Diploma

AS/A Level - Accounting
Entry Requirements:
As well as College entry requirements, students must have a Grade “C” or better in GCSE Mathematics.
About the Subject:
The syllabus aims to develop knowledge and understanding of the purposes of accounting, its concepts and techniques and their development, as well as an appreciation of the limitations of accounting. This knowledge is developed against a background of the impact of economic, legal, and technological change on accounting and of the social impact of accounting decisions. The subject suits numerate students with a methodical approach. Students also need to have sound analytical and evaluative skills and to be capable of clear written expression.
Suitable Subject Combinations:
Accounting combines well with a wide range of subjects. Many students have a strong vocational interest and study either Business Studies or Economics and Information Technology with this subject. Other students see value in the breadth of career options it can offer. Other popular combinations with Accounting include Mathematics, Law, Psychology, Media Studies, Foreign Languages and the Sciences.
Course Content:
AS Accounting ACCN1: Introduction to Financial Accounting In this unit students will develop an understanding of how the double-entry system operates and develop skills in keeping accurate accounting records. Students learn how to record a variety of transactions, working from original documents and using the appropriate books of original entry. Students should be able to demonstrate an understanding of the complete double-entry process by transferring relevant accounts to the trading and profit and loss accounts, balancing accounts and preparing a balance sheet set out in good form. ACCN2: Financial and Management Accounting This unit provides candidates with the opportunity to develop their knowledge and understanding of financial accounting and introduces students to some of the ways in which financial accounting can provide valuable information for measuring and monitoring business performance and for planning future business operations. Students will develop their ability to produce final accounts and balance sheets for sole traders as well as limited companies. They will learn how to make more complex adjustments to final accounts. In addition, students will develop an understanding of the concepts which underlie the preparation of financial statements and to explain how these are applied to a variety of situations. A2 Accounting ACCN3: Further Aspects of Financial Accounting In this unit students will have the opportunity to develop their understanding of financial accounting techniques which can be applied where a business does not maintain a complete accounting system. They will also have the opportunity to develop an understanding of the techniques and procedures which are relevant to partnerships. Students will also develop further their understanding of financial accounting in relation to limited companies by developing an understanding of the content of published accounts and their importance to various user groups. Students will study a range of advanced techniques and develop knowledge of accounting by the study of cash flow statements and accounting standards. ACCN4: Further Aspects of Management Accounting This unit provides an opportunity for students to develop further the ways in which accounting techniques can be used to aid the management of a business and contribute to effective decision-making. Students will develop an understanding of manufacturing accounts and certain cost concepts, including contribution, overhead absorption, activity based costing, standard costing and variance analysis. The unit provides an opportunity to develop two techniques for making capital investment decisions and develop further their understanding of sources of finance. Students will develop further their understanding of budgeting and budgetary control and will be expected to consider social accounting factors when making decisions.
Special features of the course:
The course encourages students to study accounting with reference to the wider business environment. Students are offered the same opportunities as their peers studying Economics or Business Studies to participate in residential visits, attend conferences and visit business locations.
Assessment:
AS ACCN1 Introduction to Financial Accounting 50% of AS, 25% of A Level 1 hour 30 minutes written examination 80 raw marks (100 UMS) Four compulsory questions - each carrying a variable number of marks, each with a variable number of sub-questions. Attempted in January of first year ACCN2 Financial and Management Accounting 50% of AS, 25% of A Level 1 hour 30 minutes written examination 80 raw marks (100 UMS) Four compulsory questions - each carrying a variable number of marks, each with a variable number of sub-questions. Attempted June of first year. A2 ACCN3 Further Aspects of Financial Accounting 25% of A Level 2 hour written examination 90 raw marks (100 UMS) Four compulsory questions - each carrying a variable number of marks, each with a variable number of sub-questions. This unit is synoptic. ACCN4 Further Aspects of Management Accounting 25% of A Level 2 hour written examination 90 raw marks (100 UMS) Four compulsory questions - each carrying a variable number of marks, each with a variable number of sub-questions. This unit is synoptic.
Progression:
Students often use this subject as a platform for the further study of Finance and Accounting in Higher Education. Many students decide to pursue a career in accounting and opt for an Accounting degree. The professional accounting examinations offer good exemptions for such degrees but there are many other ways of progressing and exemptions are also offered for relevant degrees. There are a wide range of business related courses with specialist finance options and all business courses will have some financial content for which this subject will prove very useful.