Level 2 Certificate in Accounting

Level 2 
Certificate in Accounting

How long it takes on average: 12 months

Level 2 (Level 6 in Scotland)

Typical job opportunities: accounts administrator, accounts assistant, trainee accounting technician

Syllabus

1) Introduction to Bookkeeping

This unit provides students with an understanding of manual and digital bookkeeping systems, including the associated documents and processes. Students will learn the basic principles that underpin double-entry bookkeeping systems.

Percentage contribution of this unit to the overall qualification grade: 25%.

Learning outcomes

• Understand how to set up bookkeeping systems.
• Process customer transactions.
• Process supplier transactions.
• Process receipts and payments.
• Process transactions into the ledger accounts.

2) Principles of Bookkeeping Controls

This unit builds on the knowledge and skills acquired from studying Introduction to Bookkeeping and explores control accounts, journals and reconciliations. Students will develop the ability to prepare the value added tax (VAT) control accounts as well as the receivables and payable ledger accounts. They'll use the journal to record a variety of transactions, including the correction errors. Students will be able to redraft the initial trial balance, following adjustments.

Percentage contribution of this unit to the overall qualification grade: 25%.

Learning outcomes

• Use control accounts.
• Reconcile a bank statement with the cash book.
• Use the journal.
• Produce trial balances.

3) Principles of Costing

This unit gives students an introduction to the principles of basic costing and builds a solid foundation in the knowledge and skills required for more complex costing and management accounting tasks. Students will learn the importance of the costing system as a source of information that allows management to plan, make decisions and control costs.

Percentage contribution of this unit to the overall qualification grade: 20%.

Learning outcomes

• Understand the cost recording system within an organisation.
• Use cost recording techniques.
• Provide information on actual and budgeted cost and income.
• Use tools and techniques to support cost calculations.

4) The Business Environment

This unit provides knowledge and understanding of key business concepts and their practical application in the external and internal environment in which students will work. Students will gain an understanding of the legal system and principles of contract law and an appreciation of the legal implications of setting up a business and the consequences this may have. This unit will also give an understanding of how organisations are structured and where the finance function fits.

Percentage contribution of this unit to the overall qualification grade: 30%.

Learning outcomes

• Understand the principles of contract law.
• Understand the external business environment.
• Understand the key principles of corporate social responsibility (CSR), ethics and sustainability.
• Understand the impact of setting up different types of business entity.
• Understand the finance function within an organisation.
• Produce work in appropriate formats and communicate effectively.
• Understand the importance of information to business operations.