AS/A LEVEL ACCOUNTING

WHAT IS ACCOUNTING?

Accounting techniques are used by a massive range of organisations – businesses, councils, hospitals, schools, clubs, and charities among others. Anyone who aims to pursue a career in any structured organisation will benefit from having a qualification in Accounting. Accounting looks at the collection, recording, compiling and forecasting of financial information. You will examine how managers can use financial information in their decision making, also question the value of many accounting techniques and consider their relevance in the modern world.

WHY STUDY ACCOUNTING?

This new specification is designed to encourage you to develop an understanding of the importance of effective accounting information systems and an awareness of their limitations. It will help you to gain an understanding of the purposes, principles, concepts and techniques of accounting and an appreciation of the effects of economic, legal, ethical, social, environmental and technological influences on accounting decisions. It combines well with a wide range of subjects and you will see value in the breadth of career options it can offer. It is often used as a platform for the further study of finance and accounting.

USEFUL SKILLS & INTERESTS

You should have the capacity for methodical and critical thought.

COURSE STRUCTURE & CONTENT

At AS you will learn the fundamentals of record-keeping and the purposes, techniques and consequences of effective financial accounting. You will consider how financial accounting helps in the measuring, monitoring and planning of successful business operations. The AS is made up of two units covering the following topics:

• The purposes of accounting.
• Accounting records: subsidiary books and ledger accounts and their verification.
• Trading and profit and loss accounts and balance sheets.
• The different types of business organisations.
• Further aspects of the preparation of the final accounts of sole traders.
• Internal final accounts of limited companies.
• Ratio analysis and the assessment of business performance.
• Introduction to budgeting and budgetary control.
• The impact of ICT in accounting.

The A2 is made up of a further two modules and focuses on the following areas:

• Sources of finance.
• Incomplete records.
• Partnership accounts.
• Published accounts of limited companies.
• Accounting standards.
• Stock valuation.
• Manufacturing accounts
• Marginal, absorption and activity based costing.
• Standard costing and variance analysis.
• Budgeting.
• Factors affecting decision- making.

HOW WILL I BE ASSESSED?

Each of the units will be assessed by external examinations.  Unit one will be taken in January and unit two at the end of the academic year.

COURSE COMMITMENT

Accounting is a vocational skill as well as an academic subject.  As with any vocational skill you will only improve with constant practice.  You must be prepared to put a lot of time in on practical accounting exercises to ensure success. You will be asked to sign a departmental commitment form that sets out the expectations of the department detailing a two way agreement between staff and students based on hard work and dedication to the team ethos of the department.

ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS

You need to have met the standard college entry requirements of five GCSE grade C or above, including a GCSE grade C or above in Mathematics as number work will feature in almost all lessons!  You do not need to be doing AS maths to do accounting – the course does not use higher level mathematical concepts, but you will make full use of GCSE techniques.

PROGRESSION ROUTES

Many students secure employment in accounting, banking, insurance, business or retailing. Accounting also leads to University courses in accounting, business, economics, finance, and is a good supporting course for all other degrees.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Full course specifications can be found at www.aqa.org.uk.

If you require further information please contact Mike Mackin, the Department Manager.