Professional Accounting - Level 4 (AAT)

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Build your accountancy career with an industry-leading qualification

The AAT Level 4 in Professional Accounting is a competence-based qualification that gives you the relevant and practical skills to do a wide range of accounting and finance roles. During the course, you will cover higher accounting tasks including drafting financial statements, managing budgets and evaluating financial performance, as well as optional specialist units including business tax, personal tax, external auditing and credit management, and cash and treasury management.

Before applying, please check whether you meet the entry requirements under 'Key Information' for this course. Don't hesitate to call us on 01253 504343 if you need assistance.

  • £35,000 average annual starting salary
  • Opportunities in both established businesses and dynamic start-ups
  • 100,000 annual job openings in the North West

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Entry Requirements

It is expected that you will already hold the AAT Level 3 Diploma. However, some students may be eligible to begin at AAT Level 4 depending on the accounting qualifications already held and/or appropriate and extensive work experience.

To support your application, you are required to complete an analytical diagnostic assessment in addition to having English and Maths GCSE’s or functional skills. This course is ideal for a wide range of applicants including those already employed in an accounting or finance environment, unemployed or those seeking a career change and want to move into accountancy.

  • Course code TP1FE007
  • Duration 18 Months
  • Day/s of week Thursday
  • Time 09:30 - 16:00

Next course dates

Start date Location Duration
10 Sep 2026
University Centre
18 Months
12 Jan 2027
University Centre
18 Months
01 Sep 2027
University Centre
18 Months
12 Jan 2028
University Centre
18 Months

Where can this subject lead?

Career progression

Finance is at the heart of every business, so demand for accounting and finance skills will never go away. Jobs in accounting and finance are extremely diverse and deliver exciting career opportunities with generally excellent pay. There is often a shortage of skills in this sector, so well-qualified individuals with a professional work ethic should quickly secure rewarding employment.

With AAT (an internationally recognised qualification) on your CV, you demonstrate a level of industry excellence and work-readiness sought after by employers across all industries and sectors.

Employment Opportunities

The Diploma in Professional Accounting is designed to lead to employment in any of the following roles: 

Accounts Supervisor | Assistant Financial Accountant | Accounts Payable Supervisor | Accounts Receivable Supervisor | Payroll Manager | Senior Finance Officer | Cost Accountant.

Key information

Qualification obtained

Diploma for Professional Accounting Technicians

Fees and funding

Whilst many adult courses are fully funded for 19+ learners, funding can depend both on the course itself and/or the learner's personal circumstances, including their current income levels and previous qualifications. 

To find out if you might be eligible for full or partial funding or for an Advanced Learner Loan, please visit our Financial Support section. You will also find more information here about additional financial support you might be entitled to such as help to cover childcare and equipment costs.

Extra costs and equipment

Student membership of the professional body is a requirement within 6 weeks of the course commencement.

Recommended textbooks are required for this programme.

Regulation and Accreditation

Accrediting Institution: N/A

Awarding Body: AAT

Regulatory Body: Ofsted

Terms and conditions

Please visit our Student Terms and Conditions page for more information.

What will I learn?

The AAT Level 4 Diploma in Professional Accounting consists of five mandatory units:

  • Applied Management
  • Accounting
  • Drafting and Interpreting
  • Financial Statements
  • Internal Accounting Systems and Controls

In addition, students are required to complete two of five optional units:

  • Business Tax
  • Personal Tax
  • Audit and Assurance
  • Cash and Financial Management
  • Credit and Debt Management

Industry placement, field trips and guest speakers

There are no mandatory work placements or field trips associated with this course.

Learning Support - at a glance

  • Higher Education Learning Mentors (HELMs)
  • One-to-one and group learning support sessions
  • Pre-degree preparation workshops
  • IT Support
Discover available Learning Support

How will I learn?

The course is delivered over 18 months and you will be required to attend college one day a week for classroom-based teaching sessions. Learning will take the form of lectures, group discussions, practice sessions and presentations. You will also be expected to undertake some independent study outside of these dedicated teaching hours. The college has computer suites available with dedicated accountancy software allowing you to familiarise yourself with the technology-based tasks you will expected to undertake in the workplace.

Sessions are delivered by highly qualified industry accountants, who are familiar with current working practices in the sector and who are well-placed to advise you on any technical accountancy issues.

Expert tutors

All tutors involved in the delivery of higher education courses within the College are approved to teach the subjects and modules they deliver.

Our recruitment process ensures that tutors delivering a given programme are suitably qualified and, where appropriate, possess relevant technical and industrial experience and a familiarity with professional practice. The aim of this is to enrich students’ learning experience, giving them an insight into what working in the industry is really like.

Ready to take the next step? Navigate to the top of the page and click Apply Now to continue your degree-level journey.

Not the course for you?

Take a look at some of our other degree-level study options and see what sparks your imagination.

How will I be assessed?

You will be assessed through time-constrained competence-based assessments and external online examinations throughout the programme.   Students studying this programme as part of an apprenticeship are also required to complete an EPA (end point assessment, a portfolio and professional discussion).

Assessment Methods

Each module on the course is externally assessed and marked by the AAT. To achieve the qualification you must pass all the individual module assessments, including the synoptic assessment (final examination).