Students in South Africa to study AAT by distance learning

The first distance learning centre to offer the AAT accounting qualification has opened in Cape Town. Premier Accountancy Training (Pty) Ltd received accreditation from the AAT and FASSET in March 2007 and has been open to students since May.

The AAT accounting qualification is offered at centres in Cape Town, Centurion and Johannesburg. However, the distance for many students to get to these centres means there can be a physical barrier to being able to study the AAT unless they live in one of the bigger conurbations. The option of distance learning means that many…

Are you the Accounting Technician of 2008?

At the AAT, we are very proud of our membership and their achievements. So once again, we are proud to be sponsoring the Accounting Technician of the Year award at the Accountancy Age Awards. We are looking for our rising stars to enter and show why they should be the Accounting Technician of the Year.

Not only will applicants have a high level of technical ability, but they must also be able to show how they affected their working environment. They should look at how they addressed market needs and added value to their organisation.

How to make your career work for you

Paul Buzzard had enjoyed a successful career as a teacher until he needed to give up full time work to look after his severely disabled daughter who needs around the clock care.

Paul explains: “My daughter, Ione is nine years old suffers from cerebral palsy and is a quadriplegic. She needs daily physiotherapy and often is fed through a tube. Despite her difficulties, she has a delightful personality. Much of her caring falls to me, as my wife Jenny suffers from a bad back.

I have three other children and my youngest son suffers from…

Piecemeal tax changes

Although welcoming the Chancellor’s announcement to introduce the ‘entrepreneurs’ relief’ for capital gains tax, the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT), the UK’s leading professional education and membership body for accounting staff, is concerned that the proposals are knee-jerk and not thoroughly thought through.

“What this policy development seems to lack is long-term consideration,” explained the AAT’s Director of Professional Development, Adam Harper. “All these changes have been introduced on a piecemeal basis, driven as much by expediency as by a desire for reform.”

“Even with the relief that has been announced for some business owners…

A Student’s Guide to International Financial Reporting Standards

What this book doesn’t tell you about accounting standards you probably don’t need to know.

Clare Finch has produced a remarkable book, extremely well written and concise which brings to life in full colour the otherwise drab subject of accounting standards. A quick review shows why this book is an ESSENTIAL for all students sitting accountancy exams to international financial reporting standards.

From the moment you pick it up you can sense that this is something different from traditional books on the same subject.

Firstly, the colour coded pages group standards on a ‘need to…