Foundation Level structure and requirements

The ACCA Diploma in Financial and Management Accounting (RQF Level 2) is awarded on the completion of exams Recording Financial Transactions (FA1) and Management Information (MA1), and also Foundations in Professionalism.

The ACCA Diploma in Financial and Management Accounting (RQF Level 2) is suitable for those aspiring to work or already working in:

• a junior accounts clerk/junior bookkeeper role in an SME
• a range of junior accounting administration roles within an accounting department of a larger organisation or financial shared service centre.

The ACCA Diploma in Financial and Management Accounting (RQF Level 2) is broadly equivalent to GCSE level.

Exams

• FA1 Recording Financial Transactions
• MA1 Management Information

The ACCA Diploma in Financial and Management Accounting (RQF Level 3) is awarded on the completion of exams Maintaining Financial Records (FA2) and Managing Costs and Finance (MA2), and also Foundations in Professionalism.

The ACCA Diploma in Financial and Management Accounting (RQF Level 3) is suitable for those aspiring to work or already working in:

• Accounting administration roles in small, medium or large enterprises in private practice, the corporate or public sectors.
• Various roles in financial or cost and management accounting within an accounting department of a larger organisation or in financial shared services or Global Business Services (GBS) centres.

The ACCA Diploma in Financial and Management Accounting (RQF Level 3) is broadly equivalent to 'A' level.

Exams

• FA2 Maintaining Financial Records
• MA2 Managing Costs and Finance

The ACCA Diploma in Accounting and Business (RQF Level 4) is awarded on the completion of the exams Business and Technology (FBT), Financial Accounting (FFA), Management Accounting (FMA) and Foundations in Professionalism.

The ACCA Diploma in Accounting and Business (RQF Level 4) is suitable for those aspiring to work or already working in the following types of roles:

• basic bookkeeping
• trainee accountant in a commercial organisation or accounting practice
• accounts clerk in public sector.

The ACCA Diploma in Accounting and Business (RQF Level 4) is broadly equivalent to HND level/ the first year of a degree.

Exams

• FBT Business and Technology
• FFA Financial Accounting
• FMA Management Accounting

ACCA has retained the Certified Accounting Technician (CAT) Qualification as part of the foundation level qualifications. In order to obtain the CAT Qualification, students will need to complete the following:

• FA1, MA1, FA2, MA2, FBT, FFA and FMA exams
• two of the three specialist exams; FAU, FFM and FTX
• a practical experience requirement
• Foundations in Professionalism.
  

Students completing the CAT Qualification can claim exemption from exams FA1, MA1, FA2 and MA2 based on practical experience.

On completion of the CAT Qualification, students may then progress onto the ACCA Qualification if they wish to do so, starting at the Applied Skills exams. They can also count the four essentials competences and one year's work experience gained to achieve the CAT Qualification towards the three years' work experience and 9 performance objectives required for the ACCA Qualification.

There is a certification fee for this award, payable when CAT holder status is granted. See fees and charges for details.

• Find out more about the experience requirement

Additional requirements

We believe good accountants should be professional and ethical and so we’ve included ethics at every level of our qualification. This is why students need to complete an online module in order to achieve Foundations level awards.

The module has been designed to help you understand what it means to act professionally and ethically at work. Once you complete the module you will receive certificates for all the awards you complete.

• Find out more about the Foundations in Professionalism module

Students resident in Scotland will receive award certificates for the Scottish regulated titles.