What jobs can I apply for after my AAT Professional Diploma in Accounting training?
Completing your AAT Professional Diploma in Accounting training and passing your exams will provide you with the necessary knowledge, skills, and certificates necessary to legally review financial reports, maintain general ledgers, reconcile account balances and more. This will enable you to progress into more senior roles and undertake more senior responsibilities, helping you work towards a promotion or a new job role.
Additional pathways also include working towards becoming a Chartered Accountant, starting your own accountancy business, or taking on a new senior job.
Typical job roles include:
Senior Bookkeeper - £31k
Accounts Payable/Expenses Supervisor - £33k
Commercial Analyst - £34k
Senior Finance Officer - £37k
VAT Accountant - £37k
Payments & Billing Manager - £39k
Payroll Manager - £40k
Cost Accountant - £40k
Fixed Asset Accountant - £45k
Indirect Tax Manager - £56k
(Source: Payscale)
Licence types and Services
When you have earned your AAT Level 4 qualification, you can set up your own business and apply to provide 18 services (Level 4).
These services include:
AAT Licensed Accountant (Level 4) - All the above plus: Financial accounts and accounts preparation for statutory purposes, Budgeting and forecasting, Management accounting, Personal and Business income tax, Inheritance, Capital gains and Corporation tax, Limited assurance engagement, Independent examination, Company secretarial services, Internal audit, and Forensic accounting.
Designatory Letters
Earning your AAT Level 4 qualification will give you professional MAAT status, letting you use the designatory letters MAAT after your name. These designatory letters show you have gained the skills, experience, and knowledge that employers are looking for, which can result in an increase in your earning potential. You can also now legally submit final balances for any sized organisation.
MAAT (gained with AAT Level 4) - An AAT full member is a qualified accountant who has successfully demonstrated the experience and skills necessary to be approved for MAAT status. Delegates who have earned their MAAT status can use the designatory letters MAAT after their name and they can apply for a licence to run their own practice as an AAT Licensed Accountant or Bookkeeper.
What can I expect from a job in Accounting?
At this level, you will be very comfortable working on higher level accounting tasks required of a Finance Officer or Senior Accountant, where responsibilities may include:
Reviewing financial reports
Reconciling account balances and bank statements
Maintaining general ledger and preparing month-end close procedures
Managing cash controls
Producing error-free accounting reports and presenting results
Salaries vary by industry, sector, and role; however, industry averages range between £32,500 and £42,500 a year, with some companies offering above £60,000 a year, at this level.