Business Finance (8990)

Last Updated: 11 Nov 2016
A good understanding of finances is essential for most clerical, administrative and managerial roles. This internationally recognised qualification provides you with the financial skills and knowledge you will need on a day-to-day basis in your chosen career. It may also be used as a basis for further education in accounting, management accounting and management.
Available at three levels, this award has been designed for those wishing to begin or further a career as an accounts assistant, accounting technician, clerical assistant, office administrator or managers in a non-finance role.
Available to deliver in the following:
  • England
  • Wales
  • Scotland
  • Northern Ireland
  • International

Interested in delivering this qualification?

Find out more about how to become an approved City & Guilds centre or fill out our online customer application form. 

General Information

What Is Involved In Studying This Course?

These qualifications provide knowledge related to the City & Guilds Level 2 Certificate and Level 3 Diploma in Accounting (7437).

Depending on the level you choose, you'll boost your knowledge and skills in key areas such as:

  • Applying numeracy skills to financial activities
  • Budgeting 
  • Credit control 
  • Management accounting.

You can learn on the job in the work environment or in the classroom.

While during a course a number of methods will be used to check progress, including practical tasks, the final assessment is by a City & Guilds set exam in timed conditions.

Which level is right for me?

Level 1
Ideal for those seeking to obtain a qualification and a foundation on which to develop their skills in an office environment, as part of their trade or craft and in many other types of business.

Level 2
Designed for those with a basic qualification who are looking to develop the business finance skills needed to be a supervisor, team leader or first-line manager.  

Level 3
The ideal level for those who wish to develop their analytic abilities to assist and advise management in monitoring and control, decision-making and problem-solving, or to specialise in cost and management accounting. 

 

What Careers Can This Lead To?

These qualifications can help you to progress in a wide range of roles, including:

  • Accounts assistant 
  • Accounting technician 
  • Office administrator 
  • Clerical assistant 
  • Manager (non-financial roles) 
  • Team leader.

Alternatively, candidates may progress to the following City & Guilds qualifications:

  • City & Guilds Level 1-3 Award in Computerised Accounts (8989)
  • City & Guilds Level 1-3 Award Book-keeping and Accounts (8991)
  • City & Guilds Level 2 Certificate and Level 3 Diploma in Accounting 
  • Intermediate Apprenticeship/Advanced Apprenticeship in Accounting.

What Is Involved With Delivering This Course?

To deliver these qualifications you will need suitably qualified staff to carry out training and assessment, with appropriate facilities to carry out the required training to enable learners to achieve industry standards.

To find all the resource requirements, download the qualification handbook from the centre documents section.

Level 1

This level is ideal for those seeking to obtain a foundation in business finance skills.  It will provide learners with skills suitable for the completion of business tasks within an office environment or as part of trade, craft and other types of business.

To earn this qualification, you must complete a range of units, including:

Apply Numerical Skills to Business Transactions
Prepare and Interpret Business Information
Apply Numerical Skills to Financial Activities

For a full list of units, download the qualification handbook from the centre documents section.

What Careers Can This Lead To?

These qualifications can help you to progress in a wide range of roles, including:

  • Accounts assistant 
  • Accounting technician 
  • Office administrator 
  • Clerical assistant 
  • Manager (non-financial roles) 
  • Team leader.

Alternatively, candidates may progress to the following City & Guilds qualifications:

  • City & Guilds Level 1-3 Award in Computerised Accounts (8989)
  • City & Guilds Level 1-3 Award Book-keeping and Accounts (8991)
  • City & Guilds Level 2 Certificate and Level 3 Diploma in Accounting 
  • Intermediate Apprenticeship/Advanced Apprenticeship in Accounting.

Level 1 Award in Business Finance (8990-01)

Last Registration Date: 31 Oct 2017

Level 1 Award in Business Finance

  • Accreditation No: 500/4376/6 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: Credit based qualification This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: 3 Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: 30 - 30 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: Data unavailable The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/12/2018 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued

Level 2

This level is ideal for those with a basic qualification in numeracy who wish to advance to supervisory level in a wide range of organisations.  This qualification may also be used as a basis for further education in accounting and management.

To earn this qualification, you must complete a range of mandatory and optional units, including:
  • Know How to Prepare Business Budgets
  • Understand Budget Deviations and Variances
  • Know How a Business May Maintain Liquidity.
For a full list of units, download the qualification handbook from the centre documents section.

What Careers Can This Lead To?

These qualifications can help you to progress in a wide range of roles, including:

  • Accounts assistant 
  • Accounting technician 
  • Office administrator 
  • Clerical assistant 
  • Manager (non-financial roles) 
  • Team leader.

Alternatively, candidates may progress to the following City & Guilds qualifications:

  • City & Guilds Level 1-3 Award in Computerised Accounts (8989)
  • City & Guilds Level 1-3 Award Book-keeping and Accounts (8991)
  • City & Guilds Level 2 Certificate and Level 3 Diploma in Accounting 
  • Intermediate Apprenticeship/Advanced Apprenticeship in Accounting.

Level 2 Award in Business Finance (8990-02)

Last Registration Date: 31 Oct 2017

Level 2 Award in Business Finance

  • Accreditation No: 500/4377/8 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: Credit based qualification This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: 4 Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: 30 - 30 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: Data unavailable The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/10/2019 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued

Level 3

This level is ideal for learners with an understanding of basic costing, budgeting and performance measurement who wish to develop their analytic abilities, perhaps to gain a more senior role.

To earn this qualification, you must complete a range of mandatory and optional units, including:
  • Know how to Allocate, Apportion and Absorb Overhead Costs in a Business
  • Analyse Variances in Standard Costing
  • Learn how to Prepare and use Management Accounting Information for Short-Term Decision Making.

For a full list of units, download the qualification handbook from the centre documents section.

What Careers Can This Lead To?

These qualifications can help you to progress in a wide range of roles, including:

  • Accounts assistant 
  • Accounting technician 
  • Office administrator 
  • Clerical assistant 
  • Manager (non-financial roles) 
  • Team leader.

Alternatively, candidates may progress to the following City & Guilds qualifications:

  • City & Guilds Level 1-3 Award in Computerised Accounts (8989)
  • City & Guilds Level 1-3 Award Book-keeping and Accounts (8991)
  • City & Guilds Level 2 Certificate and Level 3 Diploma in Accounting 
  • Intermediate Apprenticeship/Advanced Apprenticeship in Accounting.

Level 3 Award in Business Finance (8990-03)

Last Registration Date: 31 Oct 2017

Level 3 Award in Business Finance

  • Accreditation No: 500/4306/7 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: Credit based qualification This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: 8 Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: 60 - 60 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: Data unavailable The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/08/2020 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued

Here you can find all documents related to this suite of qualifications.

By clicking on the section headings below, you can access a variety of documents such as the qualification handbooks and assessment materials, Statements of Purpose, and recognition letters from industry and employers.

Some documents may be password protected. Passwords can be retrieved by logging in to WalledGarden.com and visiting the Administration section of the relevant qualification catalogue page.

Interested in delivering this qualification?

Find out more about how to become an approved City & Guilds centre or fill out our online customer application form. 

Explore our wider maths & english offer

Our maths & English qualifications underpin our apprenticeships and technical qualifications. They build learners’ confidence with the core skills required for employment, including the capacity to problem solve and use technology effectively. They are also key to triggering conditions of funding.

Find out more

For Learners

Related Qualifications

Browse some of our related qualifications:

> (8991) Book-Keeping and Accounting

> (8989) Computerised Accounts

> (8892) IVQ in Finance and Accounting

> (6774) Providing Financial Services