ACCA Certified Accounting Technician

Course details

The Certified Accounting Technician (CAT) Qualification is suitable for anyone who wants a solid foundation of knowledge in finance and accounting. It will provide students with all the technical skills and knowledge they need to perform an accounting-support role and work at a technician level. The qualification is part of the Foundations in Accountancy suite of awards.

After completing the CAT Qualification, students can continue their studies with the ACCA Qualification and work towards becoming a qualified chartered certified accountant.  Students will be given exemption from the first 3 exams of the ACCA Qualification (Fundamental 1, Fundamental 2, and Fundamental 3) and the 1 year’s practical experience can count towards the 3 years of practical experience needed for the ACCA Qualification.

Entry Requirements

• Minimum 16 years old plus
• IELTS 4.5 or pass in English language at GCE ‘N’ level or its equivalent
• No other academic requirement

Course Outline

Recording Financial Transactions (FA1)

This module introduces the candidate the fundamentals of preparing and recording financial documentations from the originating documents and processing ledger transactions up to the trial balance stage, including relevant banking procedures, cash recording, journal entry and relevant control accounts.

Topics to be covered include:

• Types of business transactions and documentation
• Duality of transactions and the double entry system
• Banking system and transactions
• Payroll
• Ledger accounts
• Cash and Bank
• Sales and Credit transactions
• Purchases and Credit Transactions
• Reconciliation
• Preparing the Trial Balance

Maintaining Financial Records (FA2)

This module introduces the candidate the fundamentals of maintaining financial records, explaining its context and purpose with reference to accounts preparation, with the focus on the double-entry system and on recording, processing and reporting transactions.

It also cover the use of the extended trail balance and how to identify and correct errors, including reconciliation of the control accounts, and the posting of period end adjustments.

Topics include:

• Explain general accepted accounting principles and concepts
• Outline the principles and process of basic bookkeeping
• Preparing journals and ledger accounts
• Recording transactions and events
• Prepare a trial balance
• Reconcile the control accounts and cashbook
• Extending the trial balance, year-end adjustments and final accounts
• Partnerships

Management Information (MA1)

This module introduces the candidate to basic costing principles and techniques, as well as the tools for applying these principles and techniques. It includes the introduction of the business organisations and the specific role of management accountant within the organisation.

Another focus area is cost classifications and the sources of information and coding, to ensure that cost information is properly classified.

Topics include:

• Nature and purpose of cost and management accounting
• Costing systems and code data
• Costs classifications
• Accounting for materials, labour and expenses
• Actual and expected costs

Managing Costs and Finances (MA2)

This module introduces candidates to costing and financing principles and techniques, including the elements of management accounting which are required for decision-making.

This module is different from financial accounting, as the focus is on costing techniques used in business, including cash management.

Topics covered are:

• Role of Costing
• Cost Classification
• Cost Accounting Technique
• Management Accounting Techniques
• Principles of Cash management

Accountant in Business (FAB)

This module acts as an introduction to business structure and purpose, and to accountancy as a central business function. The module examines the structure and governance of businesses, including ethics. It looks at the business in the context of its environment, including economic, legal, and regulatory influences on aspects such as governance, employment, health and safety, data protection and security.

This module introduces the students to the accounting profession, regulatory framework, accounting, auditing and internal control. Additionally the module covers key management and people issues such as inpidual and team behavior, leadership, motivation and personal effectiveness. 

Topics covered are:

• The business organisation, its stakeholders and the external environment
• Business organisation structure, functions and governance
• Accounting and reporting systems, controls and compliance
• Leading and managing inpiduals and teams
• Personal effectiveness and communication in business
• Professional ethics in accounting and business

Management Accounting (FMA)

This module introduces students to costing principles and techniques, and elements of management accounting which are used to make and support decision-making. It covers the nature and purpose of cost accounting, distinguishing it from financial accounting.

The main focus is cost classification and behavior and how the use of computer spreadsheet and applied business mathematics to understand the measurement and behavior of business costs. Thus a central part covers costing techniques and the use of standard and budgeting costing for the purpose of planning and controlling business costs. 

Topics covered are:

• The nature, source and purpose of management information
• Cost accounting techniques
• Standard costing
• Performance Measurement

Financial Accounting (FFA)

The candidate will be introduced to the fundamentals of financial accounting, and the context and purpose, including the different bases of accounting. It focuses on the double-entry system and on recording, processing and reporting business transactions including the preparation of basic financial statements of incorporated and unincorporated entities. 

Topics to be covered are:

• The context and purpose of financial reporting
• The qualitative characteristics of financial information
• The use of double-entry and accounting systems
• Recording transactions and events
• Preparing a trial balance
• basic financial statements
• Preparing simple consolidated financial statements
• Interpretation of financial statements

Options Modules ( 2 to be completed)

Foundations in Taxation (FTX)

This module covers the underlying principles and the major technical areas of taxation, as they affect the activities of inpiduals and businesses, at a level appropriate for someone working at technician level. Having covered the core areas of the basic taxes, students should be able to compute tax liabilities, explain the basis of their calculations, complete the tax returns and identify the compliance issues for each major tax through a variety of business and personal scenarios and situations. 

Topics to be covered are:

• Introduction to the Singapore tax system and tax administration
• Adjusted profit/ loss computations for trades and professions
• Personal income tax
• Corporation tax liabilities
• Goods and services tax

Foundations in Financial Management (FFM)

This module examines all aspects of cash and working capital management, and to develop an understanding of the sources of short and long-term finance. It also aims to develop the knowledge and understanding of the way organisations finance their operations and plan, allocate and control resources to optimise returns. 

Topics to be covered are:

• Working capital management
• Cash budgeting
• Managing cash balances
• Financing decisions
• Investment decisions
• Credit management

Foundations in Audit (FAU)

This module aims to develop knowledge and understanding of external audit and the techniques used in the conduct of external audits. Additionally it also aims to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of internal control systems. 

Topics to be covered are:

• Business Environment and audit framework
• Internal control
• Audit evidence and procedures
• Audit completion

Teacher:Student Ratio 1:50

Certificates in Audit, Tax and Financial Management

It is possible for students to sit the Options papers in audit, tax and financial management as inpidual awards.  Certificates will be awarded on the successful completion of the option paper and Foundations in Professionalism.