Business and Finance – Level 3

Required qualifications

In order to complete this course, you will need 5 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 following topics:

• Exploring Business
• Developing a marketing campaign
• Personal and Business finance
• Event Management
• Recruitment and Selection
• Double-entry bookkeeping and the Accounting Equation
• Basic costing
• How to effectively communicate financial data to business stakeholders
• Contract law and the impact of the economy on a business
• Business ownership and administration
• Corporate Social Responsibility and the importance of corporate sustainability and ethical behaviour

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, students are able to progress onto the Level 3 Accounting Diploma to further develop their finance skills. Learners can also complete another year studying Business to gain the Extended BTEC Diploma, which is the equivalent to 3 A’ levels.

The combined business and accounting knowledge and skills gained through the Business and Finance programme, will provide an excellent commercial foundation, enabling students to apply for a range of jobs or apprenticeships in the business sector; to start up their own business; or to continue with their Business and Accounting studies, with the ultimate goal of applying for a degree course, based on their preferred specialism.

Work experience

Our dedicated Work Experience team are here to help and support you in finding a meaningful work experience opportunity.

Recent studies have shown that employers consider work experience to be extremely desirable. Whilst qualifications are hugely important, employers also require candidates to have skills and experience necessary for the workplace.

Preparing you for the working world is very important to us, so that you may be successful in your next step.

Work experience placements provide you with the opportunity to develop your skills; have a better understanding of the industry you want to work in and give you an insight into what it is like to be employed. They can also be great fun and very rewarding and you may even be offered a great reference, a part–time job, holiday working hours, apprenticeships or full-time jobs.

Once you start your course you will be provided with further information about work experience programmes, but it is never too early for you to start thinking about work experience placements and finding an employer who will offer you an opportunity.

Work experience is an opportunity for you to gain experience in your chosen career path in order to develop relevant skills. Equally, it also helps you to acquire employability skills, attitudes and behaviours that are essential for future employment. There will be an opportunity for you to reflect on your performance during work experience and you will receive some form of reference/feedback from the employer.

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.

The BTEC is assessed through unitised assignments marked by the tutors and two external examinations. A D* grade in the BTEC extended certificate will give you 56 UCAS points.

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.