Finance and Accounting

Finance and Accounting

About the Finance and Accounting Certificate

Contrary to popular belief, accounting is not just about counting up numbers. Accountants are expected to store, sort, retrieve summarise and present financial information and then analyse and interpret it. These processes work to assess a company’s expenditure and keep the business financially healthy. If you want to work in accounting, this could be the course for you.

The course is spread across six interesting and informative home study modules. Starting at the beginning, unit one explains what accounting is and outlines the objectives, concepts and policies involved in the profession. As students move through the course they will move on to more advanced topics including budget control and capital investment.

Who should study this course?

This distance learning course has been designed for individuals interested in pursuing a career in finance or accounting. Individuals who are planning to start their own small business may also find this qualification useful.

What happens after the course?

On successful completion of this distance learning course you will have a broad knowledge of accounting and the practices involved. If you want to further expand your skills, you may consider embarking of further accounting courses with us.

Alternatively, you may decide to use your qualification to find work. There are a wide number of opportunities in this field and many chances to progress. It’s worth noting that to become an accountant you may have to pass a CPA exam first. Jobs include but are not limited to:

• Accountant
• Credit controller
• Payroll assistant

For more information about this course, give us a call on this number: 01202 006 464

Modules

Part 1: Financial Accounting

Unit 1: Introduction to Accounting

Introduction

Objectives

1. What is accounting?

2. Organisations, objectives and management

3. Financial and managerial accounting

4. Profit, profitability and cash

5. Accounting conventions, concepts and policies

6. Capital and sources of finance

7. Capital structure - limited liability company

Unit Summary

Unit 2: Financial Statements

Introduction

1. Objectives

2. Content of financial statements

3. The "big three"

4. The balance sheet

5. Measurement of profit

6. The income statement

7. Bookkeeping and books of account

8. The trial balance

9. Judgement

10.The cash flow statement - profit versus cash

Summary

Review activities

Unit 3: Interpretation and Analysis of Published Financial Statements

Introduction

Objectives

1. The analysts

2. Analytical techniques

3. The key issues

4. The principal ratios

Summary

Part II: Management Accounting and Financial Management

Unit 4: Cost and Management Accounting
Introduction

Objectives

1. Introduction to management accounting

2. Costs and historical costing

3. Controlling costs

4. Total absorption costing

5. Marginal costing

6. Break-even analysis

Summary

Appendix: examples of cost units

Unit 5: Budgetary Control

Introduction

Objectives

1. The household budget

2. Benefits of budgeting

3. Rules for budgeting and budgetary control

4. Cash budgets

5. Behavioural implications of budgeting

6. Control though comparative statements

7. Fixed and flexible budgets

Summary

Unit 6: Capital Investment Appraisal and Project Evaluation

Introduction

Objectives

1. Capital investment appraisal

2. What is investment?

3. Evaluation - alternative approaches

4. Judgement

5. Non-financial aspects of capital investment appraisal

Summary

Further reading

Entry Requirements

There is no experience or previous qualifications required for enrolment on this course. It is available to all students, of all academic backgrounds.

All course fees, inclusive of all payment plans including our Premium Credit Limited option, must be settled before certification can be ordered.

*You will have access to the course for 24 months.

Assessment Method

After each lesson there will be a question paper, which needs to be completed and submitted to your personal tutor for marking. This method of continual assessment ensures that your personal tutor can consistently monitor your progress and provide you with assistance throughout the duration of the course.

On successful completion of your course you will receive the learndirect Certificate of Completion of Training in Finance and Accounting.

Your course certificate will also state the number of CPD points/hours the course is eligible for.

View a sample of the certificate (opens in new window)

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