What are Accounting Technicians?

Accounting Technicians work in accounting and finance alongside chartered accountants, in a wide range of jobs from accounts clerks to credit control officers to financial managers.

Accounting Technicians work in all sectors of the economy, in industry and commerce, accountancy practices and the public and voluntary sectors. Some are self-employed, offering their services to the general public.

About AAT

The AAT is the professional body for Accounting Technicians, with more than 100,000 Members and Students worldwide. Formed in 1980, it is sponsored by four of the major accountancy bodies in the UK:

The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA)
The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW)
The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS)

These organisations provide non-financial support and are represented on the AAT's Council. They offer fast-track entry or exemptions into their qualifications to AAT-qualified Students.

The AAT is unique in that it is the only professional accounting body to be accredited by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA), and is the only specialist awarding body for National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) in Accounting. The AAT is also approved by the Scottish Qualifications Authority to provide Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQs) in Accounting.

The Education and Training Scheme

The AAT awards NVQs/SVQs in Accounting at Levels 2, 3 and 4. These three levels are also known as the Foundation, Intermediate and Technician Stages of the AAT's Education and Training Scheme. Approximately 69,000 Students throughout the world are currently registered on the Scheme.

International Award in Accountancy Training (IAAT) - an alternative qualification

The International Award in Accountancy Training (IAAT) is based on the AAT Accounting Qualification's six mandatory exams from the NVQ/SVQ pathway and you will be awarded IAAT when these are successfully completed.

The IAAT is ideally suited to those who are not currently working in the field of finance and accounting as assessment of competence is through written examination only. Unlike the NVQ/SVQ pathway, the IAAT does not require students to prepare work based evidence of skills.

Those who are considering a career in Accounting, but who are not able to attend class room based training sessions, may also find the International Award in Accountancy Training (IAAT) an ideal Distance Learning study programme.

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