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Accounting

The study of accounting, including financial and management accounting.

Why study Accounting?

If you're interested in a career in Accounting, then this is the course for you! A-level Accounting will provide you with the skills you need to pursue a career in the financial industry, whether this be an apprenticeship or further study at university.

What will I study?

You will learn how to do the things that accountants do on a day-to-day basis. In the first year of study, you will focus on financial accounting, whereas in your second year you will explore management accounting topics.

Topic areas include (but are not limited to):

an introduction to the role of an accountant
types of business organisation
introduction to and adjustments to final accounts
source documents, books of prime entry and the division of the ledger
double-entry bookkeeping
cash books and bank reconciliation statements
control accounts
correction of errors
accounting concepts and their application
limited company accounts
ratios
budgeting
marginal costing

How will I be assessed and which exam board?

The exam board is AQA and you will undertake two exams at the end of your second year. However, you will be regularly assessed throughout the course to ensure you are fully prepared for your exams.

Where could it take me?

Accounting is one of the only subjects that is geared towards employment in a specific industry, be it an apprenticeship in accounting/finance or commencing further study at university. Winstanley has links with accountancy firms and encourage our students to undertake work experience in their own time to develop their skills.

Students mainly choose to study accounting further at university in a related degree, or decide to pursue an apprenticeship locally or with a 'Big 4' accountancy firm such as Deloitte, KPMG, EY or PwC.

Subject combinations

Accounting goes well with any combination of subjects, but particularly lends itself to Business, Economics and Maths.

What support is available?

As a department, we offer continual support to our students, including highly specialised exam support such as answer structures and help with how best to apply the theory being learnt to questions.

What extracurricular activity is available?

We offer talks from employers which include workshops on applying for apprenticeships. We are also currently in discussions with employers to explore the possibility of them offering a 'day-in-the-life of an accountant' experience to our students. There are also opportunities to participate in national competitions, such as the ICAEW BASE comp.