Business and Finance – Level 2

Required qualifications

In order to complete this course, you will need 4 GCSEs at grade C/4 or above. Two of these GCSE requirements must be Maths and English Language.

What skills will I develop?

The course will allow you to build high level skills such as communication, problem solving, teamwork, creative thinking and presentation skills, which are crucial professional skills and behaviours needed to contribute effectively to a business and finance environment. It will also help you to develop independent research and study skills essential for future success at university.

You will study the AAT Level 2 Certificate in Accounting, a nationally recognised professional qualification that provides a strong foundation in core accounting and finance principles. The qualification consists of four mandatory units:

• Introduction to Bookkeeping
• Principles of Bookkeeping Controls
• Principles of Costing
• The Business Environment (Synoptic Assessment)
• Work Experience in Business

These units are designed to build your understanding of how businesses operate and how financial information is used to support decision-making across organisations. Assessment takes place through end-of-unit assessments, with a synoptic assessment completed towards the end of the course to demonstrate your overall knowledge and understanding.

Careers

The accountancy skills developed by studying this qualification will enable a student to seek employment or an apprenticeship with confidence and/or to progress to the next level of learning.

The skills developed in the AAT L2 Certificate in Accounting alone, can lead to employment as:

• an accounts administrator
• an accounts assistant
• an accounts payable clerk
• a purchase/sales ledger clerk
• a trainee accounting technician
• a trainee finance assistant

Having completed the level 2 Accounting course, learners may be able to progress onto the Level 3 Accounting Diploma to further develop their finance skills, or a L3 apprenticeship, or the Business and Administration T level.

Work experience

A key feature of this course is the industry placement, where you will gain valuable experience in a real business or finance setting. This will help you:

• Develop professional behaviours expected in the workplace
• Apply your accounting and business knowledge in real-world contexts
• Build confidence, communication and teamwork skills
• Strengthen your CV and prepare for employment or apprenticeships

Alongside your qualification, you will develop essential employability and transferable skills, including:

• Communication and professionalism
• Time management and organisation
• Problem solving and analytical skills
• Digital and workplace IT skills

These skills are embedded throughout the course to prepare you for working effectively in a business or finance environment.

English and maths

As part of the course students will develop their literacy skills and learn Business and Accounts specific terminology as well as be able to produce financial documents such as invoices, credit notes, bank reconciliations, journals and a trial balance. The ability to communicate information clearly and appropriately to a given audience is a necessary skill in any role and in any type of business, students are therefore also encouraged to practise writing emails to customers, suppliers and other business stakeholders, to prepare them for the workplace. Written assignments are regularly produced, promoting the analysis and evaluation of business information and financial data.

Within the learning environment students will complete team tasks, take part in discussions as well as respond to questioning, which will build confidence and promote effective communication skills. Students are expected to follow both verbal and written instructions both in the classroom and as part of their formal assessments.

As part of the course students will perform mathematical calculations such as multiplication, subtraction, addition, division and percentages. These skills will enable students to confidently carry out financial reporting, produce financial documents and to keep precise records of business transactions. The importance of accuracy within the accounting function is paramount and students are therefore encouraged to be meticulous in their record keeping and to proofread and check their work in order to minimise mistakes.

Other important information

The AAT is assessed by computer-based exams and on completion of the exams you will in some cases receive immediate notification of your result and an analysis of your performance on each task. The synoptic module is human marked and therefore results can take up to 6 weeks.

Expectations: It is essential that a minimum of 95% attendance is achieved for this course and that regular home study is completed, in order to achieve academic success.

What you need to bring to college: You will be expected to provide your own stationery and always attend college fully equipped for lessons with a textbook, course notes, note paper, a calculator and writing implements.

IT: It is essential that you have access to a computer or laptop at home in order to complete independent study and practice and revision activities for AAT exams.