About ACCA

Kaplan Publishing aim to provide ACCA study materials to give you the best possible chance of achieving membership of the ACCA.

To become a member of ACCA you must:

• Pass up to 14 exams  (subject to entry requirements and exemptions)
• Demonstrate your ethics through the online ethics module
• Have relevant work experience

Kaplan Publishing is an Official Publisher of the ACCA and support students in taking the 14 exams by providing ACCA study text, ACCA exam kits and ACCA pocket notes.

ACCA consists of two levels: Fundamental and Professional. Each level is sub-divided into two modules. There are 16 exams in the entire syllabus but you only have to pass 14. Exams take place in June and December each year.

The qualification is open to everyone, although your starting point may differ depending on previous qualifications.

ACCA is divided into two levels which are sub-divided into two modules:

Professional Level (5 papers)
Options Module (2 papers only)
P7	Advanced Audit and Assurance
P6	Advanced Taxation
P5	Advanced Performance Management
P4	Advanced Financial Management
Essentials Module (all 3 papers)
P3	Business Analysis
P2	Corporate Reporting
P1	Professional Accountant
Fundamental Level (9 Papers)
Skills Module
F9	Financial Management
F8	Audit and Assurance
F7	Financial Reporting
F6	Taxation
F5	Performance management
F4	Corporate and business law
Knowledge Module
F3	Financial accounting
F2	Management accounting
F1	Accountant in business

Students begin with the Knowledge Module and work their way through the Skills, Essentials and Options Modules.

• Within a module papers can be taken in any order
• You may overlap two modules as long as you are completing the lower module
• You can sit up to 4 exams in any single exam sitting.

Kaplan Publishing publishes ACCA study materials for each paper on an annual basis.  You can therefore be sure that your ACCA books are always up to date whatever order you sit your papers in.

Complete Text, Exam Kit, and Pocket Notes are available from Kaplan Publishing for all ACCA papers.

The papers

Kaplan Publishing has dedicated authors to write the diverse range of ACCA study materials. Each Kaplan Publishing author is a specialist in their field and writes each ACCA book to provide you with a targeted and relevant ACCA study text for the paper you are studying.
 
ACCA F1 - Accountant in business

The aim of the F1 paper is to introduce knowledge and understanding of the business and its environment, and the influence this has on how organisations are structured, and on the role of the accounting and other key business functions in contributing to an efficient, effective and ethical management and development of an organisation and its people and systems.
 
Topics covered by the syllabus include:

• Business organisation structure, governance and management
• Key environmental influences and constraints on business and accounting
• History and role of accounting in business
• Specific functions of accounting and internal financial control
• Leading and managing individuals and teams
• Recruiting and developing effective employees.

ACCA F2 - Management accounting

The aim of the syllabus is to develop knowledge and understanding of how to prepare and process basic cost and quantitative information to support management in planning and decision-making in a variety of business contexts.

No prior knowledge is required before commencing study for Paper F2.  Some understanding of the accounting principles and practices from Paper F3 Financial Accounting and a basic competence in numeracy are assumed.
 
Core areas of the syllabus

• The nature and purpose of cost and management accounting
• Cost classification, behaviour and purpose
• Business mathematics and computer spreadsheets
• Cost accounting techniques
• Budgeting and standard costing
• Short-term decision making techniques.

ACCA F3 INT - Financial accounting

The aim of this paper is to develop knowledge and understanding of the underlying principles, concepts and regulations relating to financial accounting and technical proficiency in the use of double-entry accounting techniques, including the preparation of basic financial statements.

The syllabus comprises of the following areas:

• The context and purpose of financial reporting
• The qualitative characteristics of financial information and the fundamental bases of accounting
• The use of double entry and accounting systems
• Recording transactions and events
• Preparing a trial balance
• Preparing basic financial statements.

ACCA F4 - Corporate and business law

The aim of the paper is to develop knowledge and understanding of the general legal framework within which an accountant operates; to develop an awareness of and ability to understand both common law and statute in relation to specific legal areas of central importance to business.

Law is the basis of financial accounting, auditing, taxation and the various business vehicles (i.e. the sole trader, the partnership, the company).  Not only is knowledge of the law central to your work, it constantly impinges on your personal life too.  Not surprisingly, ACCA wants to ensure that you have a basic understanding of the law.  A professional person must have an understanding of the legal framework within which he or she works.

Topics covered by the syllabus

• Essential elements of the legal system
• The law of obligations (contract and tort)
• Employment law
• The formation and constitution of business organisations
• Capital and the financing of companies
• Management, administration and regulation of companies
• Legal implications relating to companies in difficulty or in crisis
• Governance and ethical issues relation to business.

ACCA F5 - Performance management

F5 seeks to examine candidates’ understanding of how to manage the performance of a business. This paper builds on the knowledge acquired in Paper F2, developing knowledge and skills in the application of management accounting techniques to quantitative and qualitative information, for planning, decision making, performance evaluation and control.

Topics covered by the syllabus

The core areas in the syllabus are:

• Specialist cost and management accounting techniques
• Decision-making techniques
• Budgeting
• Standard costing and variances analysis
• Performance measurement and control.

ACCA F6 - Taxation

The aim of the paper is to develop knowledge and understanding in the core areas of tax related to business and their employees.
 
Candidates will be expected to have a basic knowledge of financial accounting and an appreciation that a profit and loss account is prepared by business entities for accounting purposes using various accounting concepts and rules.
 
Candidates will also be expected to have an understanding of the formats of accounts used for sole traders, partnerships and companies. Knowledge from Paper F3 Financial Accounting is assumed.  There is no substantial integration with other papers in the Skills module.

Core topics covered by the syllabus include:

• The UK tax system
• Income tax liabilities
• Corporation tax liabilities
• Chargeable gains
• National insurance contributions
• VAT
• The obligation of the tax payer and/or their agents.

ACCA F7 INT - Financial Reporting

The aim of the paper is to develop knowledge and skills in understanding and applying accounting standards and the theoretical framework in the preparation of financial statements of entities, including groups, and how to analyse and interpret those financial statements.

Core topics covered by the syllabus include:

The syllabus comprises the following areas:

• A conceptual framework for financial reporting
• A regulatory framework for financial reporting
• Preparation and presentation of financial statements which conform with International Accounting Standards
• Accounting for business combinations in accordance with International Accounting Standards
• Analysis and interpretation of financial statements.

ACCA F8 INT - Audit and Assurance

The aim of the paper is to develop knowledge and understanding of the process of carrying out assurance engagement and its application in the context of the professional regulatory framework.

Topics covered by the syllabus include:

• Audit framework and regulation
• Internal audit
• Planning and risk assessment
• Internal control
• Audit evidence
• Review
• Reporting.

ACCA F9 - Financial Management

The aim of this paper is to develop the knowledge and skills expected of a financial manager responsible for the finance function of a business, relating to issues affecting investment, financing and dividend policy decisions.

Topics covered by the syllabus include:

• Financial management function
• Financial management environment
• Working capital management
• Investment appraisal
• Business finance
• Cost of capital
• Business valuations
• Risk management

ACCA P1 - Professional Accountant

To apply relevant knowledge, skills and exercise professional judgement in carrying out the role of the accountant relating to governance, internal control, compliance and the management of risk within an organisation, in the context of an overall ethical framework.

Topics covered by the syllabus include:

• Governance and responsibility
• Internal control and review
• Identifying and assessing risk
• Controlling risk
• Professional values and ethics

ACCA P2 INT - Corporate Reporting

The aim of this paper is to apply knowledge and skills and exercise professional judgement in the application and evaluation of financial reporting principles and practices in a range of business contexts and situations.

Topics covered by the syllabus include:

• The professional and ethical duty of the accountant
• The financial reporting framework
• Advising and reporting on the financial performance of entities
• Preparing financial statements of groups of entities in accordance with relevant accounting standards
• Explaining report issues relating to specialised entities
• Implications of changes in accounting regulation on financial reporting
• The appraisal of financial performance and position of entities
• Evaluating current developments

ACCA P3 - Business Analysis

The aim of this paper is to apply relevant knowledge, skills, and exercise professional judgement in assessing strategic position, determining strategic choice, and implementing strategic action through beneficial business process and structural change; coordinating knowledge systems and information technology and by effectively managing quality processes, projects, and people within financial and other resource constraints.

Topics covered by the syllabus include:

• The strategic position of an organisation
• The strategic choices available to an organisation
• Strategic action
• Modelling and redesigning business processes
• Information technology solutions
• Quality technology solutions
• Quality initiatives to implement and support the organisation’s strategy
• Project management

ACCA P4 - Advanced Financial Management

The aim of the syllabus is to enable the candidate to apply relevant knowledge, skills and exercise professional judgement as expected of a senior financial executive or advisor, in taking or recommending decisions relating to the financial management of an organisation.  In particular the ethical and managerial aspects of the role of the senior financial manager or advisor will regularly feature in examination papers.

Topics covered by the syllabus include:

• Role and responsibility towards stakeholders
• Advanced investment appraisal
• Acquisitions and mergers
• Corporate reconstruction and re-organisation
• Treasury and advanced risk management techniques
• Economic environment for multinationals
• Emerging issues in finance and financial management

ACCA P5 - Advanced Performance Management

The main aim of this paper is to apply the relevant knowledge, skills and exercise professional judgment in selecting and applying strategic management accounting techniques in different business contexts and to contribute to the evaluation of the performance of the organisation and its strategic development.

Topics covered by the syllabus include:

• Strategic planning and control
• Economic, fiscal and environmental factors
• Performance measurement systems and design
• Strategic performance management
• Performance evaluation and corporate failure
• Current development and emerging issues in performance management

ACCA P6 - Advanced Taxation

The main aim of this paper is to apply the relevant knowledge and skills and exercise professional judgement in providing relevant information and advice to individuals and businesses on the impact of the major taxes on financial decisions and situations.

Topics covered by the syllabus:

This is the final tax paper and builds on the knowledge acquired in paper F6 (or 2.3 under the old syllabus).  A thorough understanding of the paper F6 syllabus is therefore necessary.

As well as extending the coverage of all the major taxes, the P6 syllabus also introduces three new taxes: inheritance tax, stamp duty land tax and stamp duty.

ACCA P7 INT - Advanced Audit and Assurance

The aim of the syllabus is to ensure that students can analyse, evaluate and conclude on the assurance engagement and other audit and assurance issues in the context of best practice and current developments.

Topics covered by the syllabus include:

• Regulatory environment
• Professional and ethical considerations
• Practice management
• Assignments
• Reporting
• Current issues and developments

For further information about the ACCA qualification, entry requirements and exemptions please visit the Kaplan Financial website.