QCF credits : 3, 4, 8

These qualifications are available at levels 1-3, and evaluate learners' abilities to produce accounts for businesses. They are suitable for anyone looking for a qualification as the starting point for a career in book-keeping and accounts.

Areas covered at Level 1 include:

• the completion of financial documents such as invoices and credit notes
• the recording of cash and credit transactions in books of original entry
• preparing bank reconciliation
• understanding the petty cash imprest systems and trial balances.

Areas covered at Level 2 include:

• preparing ledger accounts and control accounts
• correcting errors in business accounts such as identifying errors in ledger accounts
• understanding capital and revenue expenditure
• depreciation
• end of year adjustments
• trial balance.

Areas covered at Level 3 include:

Prepare financial information for:

• sole traders
• partnerships
• limited liability companies
• not-for-profit organisations
• manufacturing accounts. 

The financial information will include balance sheets, profit and loss accounts and period end adjustments. 

Please note these qualifications replace the current Level 1 and 2 Certificates in Book-keeping and Accounts (8953) and are available for centres to run from 1 September 2008.