As well as providing a firm foundation in accountancy, an A Level in Accounting will provide you with a range of transferable skills such as: problem solving, resources management, people management and leadership.

The first unit, Introduction to Financial Accounting,is designed as a foundation for the course. As you progress in your studies you will have the opportunity to further  develop your knowledge and understanding of both Financial and Management Accounting.

Unit 1: Introduction to Financial Accounting

This is the first of two units studied in your first year. This unit is designed as a foundation for the course and covers double-entry procedures, as applied to the Accounting systems of sole traders. Students will develop an understanding of how the double-entry system operates and develop skills in keeping accurate Accounting records.

Unit 2: Financial and Management Accounting

This unit provides students with the opportunity to develop their knowledge and understanding of financial Accounting and introduces the candidates 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.

Skills to develop in these units are: calculations, interpreting and analysing data, use of judgement and research, applying knowledge to unfamiliar situations, developing arguments and interpreting calculations.

Unit 3: 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. Students will also develop, further, their knowledge of financial Accounting through the understanding of the content of published accounts and their importance to various user groups. Students will extend their range of advanced techniques and knowledge of Accounting by the study of statements of cash flow and international Accounting standards.

Unit 4: Further Aspects of Managements 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. The unit provides an opportunity to develop two techniques for making capital investment decisions and further their understanding of sources of finance.

Skills to develop in these units are: use knowledge selectively to judge the performance of a business based on analysis; ability to draw from numeral values to make assumptions, judgements and evaluations of business performance; develop arguments on how to improve a business's performance; take decisions and identify and solve problems using knowledge of the internal functions of a business.

Each exam equates to 25% of the whole paper.

Unit 1 comprises of a 1 hour 30 minute exam worth 80 marks. The exam is made up of four compulsory questions – each carrying a variable number of marks, each with a variable number of sub-questions.

Unit 2 comprises of a 1 hour 30 minute exam worth 80 marks. The exam is made up of four compulsory questions – each carrying a variable number of marks, each with a variable number of sub-questions.

Unit 3 comprises of a 2 hour exam worth 90 marks. The exam is made up of four compulsory questions – each carrying a variable number of marks, each with a variable number of sub-questions. This unit is synoptic.

Unit 4 comprises of a 2 hour exam worth 90 marks. The exam is made up of four compulsory questions – each carrying a variable number of marks, each with a variable number of sub-questions. This unit is synoptic.

Students require a grade B or above in English and Maths GCSE. Please see the generic entry requirements document for more details.

Successful completion of the first year with a grade C/ D or above is necessary to carry on to Year 13 Accounting.

As well as providing a firm foundation in accountancy, an A Level in Accounting will provide you with a range of transferable skills such as; problem solving, resources management, people management and leadership. Although not a prerequisite, an Accounting A Level will also be an ideal foundation for those wishing to study Accounting, Economics, Business or any other finance related courses at University. Students with an Accounting A Level often enter careers such as Accounting, Banking, Finance or take on Corporate Business Roles.