Programmes - CERTIFIED ACCOUNTING TECHNICIAN (CAT)

Course Title

CERTIFIED ACCOUNTING TECHNICIAN (CAT)

Course Structure

ACCA is the world’s largest and fastest-growing international accountancy body, with over 300,000 members and students in 160 countries. ACCA’s reputation is grounded in 100 years of providing quality accounting and financial qualifications. With a predominantly young and dynamic membership, ACCA aims to create value for the profession and the business community.

STARTING OUT
The CAT Scheme is designed to equip you with all the necessary technical skills and knowledge required to fulfil a support role in accountancy. Upon completion you will have an internationally recognised technical level qualification. It can be used as a first step into a career in accountancy or to validate the skills and experience you have already gained in employment.

The CAT qualification comprises a set of exams and a practical experience requirement.
Key features include:
• a choice of internationally relevant syllabus options
• an open access policy – no formal qualifications are necessary to start the course
• the option to study on a full – time or part-time basis and via face-to-face, distance learning or self study
• the use of the designator letters CAT
• the opportunity to subscribe to the CAT alumni, entitling you to a range of lifestyle and learning benefits

Duration

1 year

Entry Requirement

There is no formal academic entry requirement when registering for the CAT qualification – as long as you are over 16 years of age you are eligible to register.

Grading & Assessment

Candidate will be assessed through the CAT exams

Final award

Upon completion of the CAT exams and gaining one year’s relevant work experience, you will be eligible to apply for Certified Accounting Technician status and use the letters CAT after your name. In addition to obtaining the CAT qualification, you can join the CAT alumni.

Awarding body

ACCA, UK

Course benefit

PLAN YOUR ROUTE THROUGH THE SYLLABUS
The CAT syllabus is designed to meet the needs of your working environment. You have the option to study either International or UK-based accounting and auditing papers .
Students based in Malaysia also have the opportunity of taking a local version of Paper 9. This paper is set in accordance with national taxation regulations and you will be automatically offered the local taxation paper.

STUDY ROUTES
You can choose to study on either a part-time or full-time basis.

REACH YOUR DESTINATION
Upon completion of the CAT exams and gaining one year’s relevant work experience, you will be eligible to apply for Certified Accounting Technician status and use the letters CAT after your name. In addition to obtaining the CAT qualification, you can join the CAT alumni.
Benefits of subscribing to the CAT alumni include access to :
• a programme of courses designed to help you specialise or extend your knowledge
• networking events which give you a chance to meet with others from ACCA’s community
• a range of relevant publications
• discounts from a variety of products and services
• MyACCA – an e-resource centre with information on employment and careers-related issues.

Modules

BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY – THE CAT EXAMS (9 papers)

LEVEL	PAPER	TITLE	AIM
Introductory 55% pass mark	1	Recording Financial Transactions	To develop knowledge and understanding of the operational aspects of maintaining accounting systems and procedures relating to invoicing, receipts and payments, recording income and expenditure, the preparation of ledger accounts, and the preparation of an initial trial balance.
Introductory 55% pass mark	2	Information for Management Control	To develop the ability to use a computer system safely and effectively and to understand the need for data and information to be kept confidential and secure. To develop knowledge and understanding of how organisations provide basic management information for decision-making, planning and control.
Intermediate 50% pass mark	3	Maintaining Financial Records	To develop knowledge and understanding of the techniques used to maintain accounting records and prepare final accounts of unincorporated entities.
Intermediate 50% pass mark	4	Accounting for Costs	To develop knowledge and understanding of how organisations record, analyse and report current and future costs and revenue data for use within the organisation.
Advanced 40% pass mark	5	Managing People and Systems	To develop knowledge and understanding of the role of a manager in an effective, efficient, safe and secure accounting environment. This includes the co-ordination of work, activities, the maintenance of an effective accounting system, people management, personal effectiveness an health and safety and security issues within the workplace.
	6	Drafting Financial Statements	To understand and apply the techniques used to prepare year-end financial statements of partnerships and limited companies, which comply with legislation and accounting standards, and to interpret financial statements and the relationships between their elements using ratio analysis.
	7	Planning, Control and Performance Management	To develop knowledge and understanding of the application of management accounting techniques to support the management processes of planning, decision-making, control and performance measurement.
Plus two options From	8	Implementing Audit Procedures	To develop knowledge and understanding of the audit process from the planning stage through to the reporting stage and the techniques used in the conduct of internal and external audits.
	9	Preparing Taxation Computations	To develop the ability to prepare computations of tax liability for both individuals and businesses resident in the UK for the purposes of income tax, corporation tax, capital gains tax and value added tax. In addition, to develop knowledge and understanding of the manner in which dealings must be conducted with the inland Revenue and Customs & Excise, including knowledge of the statutory timescales for the submission of claims and returns and the due dates for the payment of tax liabilities.
	10	Managing Finances	To develop knowledge and understanding of the way organisations finance their operations, plan and control cash flows, optimise their use of working capital and allocate resources to capital expenditure projects.

Career Opportunities

Many of our graduates are recruited by leading firms in the accounting profession, while others choose careers in banking, insurance, industry or local government.
These are excellent. Our accountancy graduates are much in demand both within the accountancy profession and also in other areas of business. There are a number of professional accountancy bodies which offer further training to our graduates and this leads to careers in Audit, Business, Management, the Public Sector and Taxation.
The programme has many links with employers and this is reflected in its good employment track record. Many graduates choose to pursue careers with an accountancy firm whilst others complete their professional training in industry or the public sector. Others seek careers in consultancy; banking and finance; retailing; marketing or teaching. Each year a number of students choose to enter postgraduate study in finance and accounting.

Programme Pathway

Intakes

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