qualiFiCation inFormation

aCCa

THE ACCA SYLLABUS CONTENT

kNOwLEdGE
business organisation structure, governance and management key environmental influences and constraints on business and accounting history and role of accounting in business specific functions of accounting and internal financial control leading and managing individuals and teams recruiting and developing effective employees nature and purpose of cost and management accounting cost classification, behaviour and purpose business mathematics and computer spreadsheets cost accounting techniques budgeting and standard costing short-term decision making techniques

ACCOUNTANT iN BUSiNESS

use of double-entry and accounting systems recording transactions and events preparing a trial balance preparing basic financial statements

chargeable gains national insurance contributions VAT obligations of the tax payer and/or their agents inheritance tax neW

Fundamental ProFessional

SkiLL
COrpOrATE ANd BUSiNESS LAw
(ENGLiSH vAriANT)

fiNANCiAL rEpOrTiNG (Uk)

mANAGEmENT ACCOUNTiNG

essential elements of the legal system the law of obligations employment law the formation and constitution of business organisations capital and the financing of companies management, administration and regulation of companies legal implications relating to companies in difficulty or in crisis governance and ethical issues relating to business

conceptual framework for financial reporting regulatory framework for financial reporting financial statements business combinations analysing and interpreting financial statements

AUdiT ANd ASSUrANCE

(Uk vAriANT)

pErfOrmANCE mANAGEmENT

fiNANCiAL ACCOUNTiNG

context and purpose of financial reporting qualitative characteristics of financial information and fundamental bases of accounting

specialist cost and management accounting techniques decision-making techniques budgeting standard costing and variance analysis performance measurement and costing

audit framework and regulation internal audit internal control audit evidence review reporting audit procedures neW financial management function financial management environment working capital management investment appraisal business finance cost of capital business valuations risk management

fiNANCiAL mANAGEmENT

TAxATiON (Uk vAriANT)

UK tax system income tax liabilities corporation tax liabilities

ESSENTiAL
GOvErNANCE, riSk ANd ETHiCS
governance and responsibility internal control and review identifying and assessing risk controlling and managing risk professional values and ethics

OpTiONAL
AdvANCEd fiNANCiAL mANAGEmENT
role and responsibility towards stakeholders advanced investment appraisal acquisitions and mergers corporate reconstruction and reorganisation treasury and advanced risk management techniques economic environment for multinationals emerging issues in finance and financial management

cost and management accounting neW forecasting neW e-business neW

AdvANCEd TAxATiON
(Uk vAriANT)

the professional and ethical duty of accountants the financial reporting framework reporting the financial performance of entities financial statements of groups of entities specialised entities implications of changes in accounting regulation in financial reporting the appraisal of financial performance and position of entities current developments

COrpOrATE rEpOrTiNG

BUSiNESS ANALYSiS

strategic position, choices and action business process change information technology project management financial analysis

strategic planning and control economic, fiscal, market and environmental factors performance measurement, systems and design strategic performance measurement performance evaluation and corporate failure current developments and emerging issues in management accounting and performance measurement

AdvANCEd pErfOrmANCE mANAGEmENT

understanding of the tax system through the study of further capital taxes taxation aspects of personal and corporate financial management impact of relevant taxes on various situations and courses of action, including the interaction of taxes minimising and/or deferring tax liabilities by the use of standard tax planning measures communications with clients, HMRC and other professionals in an appropriate manner

AdvANCEd AUdiT ANd ASSUrANCE

regulatory environment professional and ethical considerations practice management assignments reporting current issues and developments internal audit neW

qualiFiCation inFormation

aCCa

THE ACCA SYLLABUS CONTENT ACCA ExAm STrUCTUrE

PROFESSIONAL (five papers in total)
Essentials
Professional Accountant Corporate Reporting Business Analysis

Options (two to be completed)

Advanced Financial Management Advanced Performance Management Advanced Taxation Advanced Audit and Assurance

FUNDAMENTALS
Skills
Corporate and Business Law Performance Management Taxation Financial Reporting Audit and Assurance Financial Management

Knowledge
Accountant in Business Management Accounting Financial Accounting

fEATUrES
eXams 14 exams in total (including two optional papers). Exams are restricted to twice a year in June and December ProGress tHrouGH tHe aCCa exams must be done in sequential order (unlike the ACA where there are multiple routes through the qualification providing greater levels of flexibility) oPtions choice of exam modules at final level means that not all ACCA students follow the same syllabus, gain the same skills or can demonstrate consistent levels of achievement Case studY ACCA has no Case Study within their exam structure PraCtiCal eXPerienCe three years of work experience required, but this may not integrate with students exam learning as experience can be gained before, during or after exams. Work experience can be gained in any environment even if not authorised to train ACCA students which can make consistency of learning standards difficult to guage etHiCs module ethics is covered in relevant exams. An online ethics training module has been introduced for new students from 2007, but is not compulsory for all existing ACCA students. Recommended to be taken in the early stage of training. No other formal ethics training offered as training progresses Bsc in aPPlied aCCountinG degree from Oxford Brookes can be gained by students on completion of all nine fundamental papers and the Professional Ethics module plus students must complete an Oxford Brookes research and analysis project Pass rates 49% first time pass rate at the ACCA final exam (compared to 80% first time pass rate at the ACA final exam) studY leave typical length of study leave is 25 weeks over a three-year training period eXam attemPts Unlimited but exams must be taken within 10 years time to qualiFY 58% of ACCA students qualify in three years or less, while 23% will continue their studies for five years or more (compared to 77% of ACA students who will qualify in three years or less)

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