Apprenticeship Standard in Professional Accounting or Tax Technician for Adults

Maths and English GCSE 9-4 (A*-C) or Functional Skills Level 2. If you don't have the required grades or can't provide your certificates, you will have to complete an assessment. You will not be able to achieve your apprenticeship without the required maths and English qualification.

Applicants should have a sound knowledge of accounting principles to undertake the AAT Level 4 programme. Previous achievement of the AAT Level 3 Advanced Diploma in Accounting is preferred.

You are expected to commit attending one day a week at the Highbury Campus during term-time. Additional attendance at College may be required during half-terms/holidays for workshops and revision sessions. 

Study method – Online and On Campus

We have partnered with Mindful Education to deliver this course through our flexible Online and On Campus model.

Online, you will study award-winning video lessons, which are available on demand, and can be viewed from your phone, tablet or computer – meaning you can choose how, when and where you want to study. Lessons are accompanied by animations and motion graphics to bring concepts to life. Practice questions, downloadable lesson materials and interactive case studies help to enhance the learning experience further. This blended approach allows more flexibility in when college hours are completed, but these must form part of the apprentices working hours. The development of effective self management skills an digital skills are essential. Apprentices are expected to have completed all online learning sessions ahead of on campus sessions.  

Learners should expect to spend around 7-9 hours studying independently online each week.

On campus, you benefit from weekly classes with a college tutor – without having to commit to attending multiple evenings each week. 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. Classes run from 9am-12:15pm.

You are required to build a portfolio of your work. An assessor will be in regular contact to provide support, and to arrange on-site visits to observe your ability and skills in your daily role. It is important for you to take ownership of your own learning by seeking out opportunities to gain new skills on the job. You will be required to upload and submit your portfolio of evidence to SEPA for review.

The End Point Assessment is a structured interview that is held in a Smart Room. The training provider is responsible for ensuring you can complete the discussion in a suitable environment, either the training provider's or employer's premises. Also, part of the End Point Assessment is a synoptic assessment. The entire process from discussion to results may take up to six weeks. The results from the synoptic assessment will also take up to six weeks to be issued. Both assessment elements are graded individually. A minimum of 70% is needed to achieve a pass for the synoptic assessment, while the structured interview will be graded a fail, pass or distinction. Both results will be combined to provide an overall grade for the apprenticeship.

The accountancy skills developed by studying this qualification will enable you to seek employment with confidence, potentially run your own accounting practice, and/or to progress to study chartered/certified accountancy qualifications.

The Diploma for Professional Accounting Technicians can lead to the achievement of professional AAT (MAAT) status. The skills and knowledge you will gain throughout this qualification will qualify you for roles including: Accountant, Assistant Auditor, Accounts Payable and Expenses Supervisor, Assistant Financial Accountant, Assistant Management Accountant, Commercial Analyst, Finance Adviser, Junior Analyst, Professional Accounting Technician.