AAT – Internal Accounting Systems and Controls

This course equips students with the skills to protect organizations from employee fraud by evaluating and improving internal control systems. Students will learn the crucial role of the accounting department in preventing resource misuse and will gain tools to assess and strengthen these controls.

The curriculum includes analyzing the structure and responsibilities of the accounting function, considering stakeholder needs who rely on financial reports for decision-making. Students will review and identify weaknesses in accounting systems, recommend mitigations, and evaluate the implications of changes to procedures.

Students will also learn to identify and assess the appropriateness of controls in terms of cost-effectiveness, reliability, and timeliness, ensuring compliance with statutory requirements and adapting practices ethically and sustainably.

Technological changes in accounting, such as data analytics, artificial intelligence, and cloud accounting, are covered to show how these innovations can enhance information processing and presentation. The importance of data security and confidentiality is emphasized given the frequent reports of data breaches.

Finally, students will assess the impact of system changes on users and explore support methods to help users adapt to improvements, ensuring effective and secure accounting practices are maintained..

Learning Outcomes:
On successful completion of this subject, you should be able to:

1. Understand the role and responsibilities of the accounting function within an organisation
2. Evaluate internal control systems
3. Evaluate an organisation’s accounting system and underpinning procedures
4. Understand the impact of technology on accounting systems
5. Recommend improvements to an organisation’s accounting system