Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales

The ACA qualification is made up of four elements which provide students with a combination of finance knowledge, accountancy skills and real-world business experience. They are:

• 450 days of practical work experience
• 15 exam modules
• Professional development
• Ethics and professional scepticism

Exam modules:

• ICAEW Certificate in Finance, Accounting and Business (ICAEW CFAB)
• ACA qualification

Your options will depend upon your starting point. Please review the ICAEW website to find a route appropriate for you.

Reed Business School is an approved ICAEW learning partner, which means you can expect to receive high quality tuition and excellent student support, in a comfortable environment conducive to studying. Reed Business School is required to meet ICAEW best practice benchmarks relating to the institution and course management, course delivery and student support. We publish all our student pass rates that regularly exceed national first time pass rates across all subjects.

Reed Business School offer hybrid training, with classroom-based tuition or remote live-online classes. These run in conjunction with each other allowing for greater flexibility in learning. This hybrid approach enables both classroom and remote live-online students to hear and interact with one another and verbally contribute to the whole class.

We provide a recommended study route for students commencing their studies with a September and January start date. Our study programme is made up of cohorts and most students will remain within the same group throughout their studies. Coupled with our consistent and caring tutor team and the options of staying at the Business School on a residential basis, encourages students to support one another whilst both at the Business School and when home studying.

Our study programme is only a suggested route and students who have exemptions or require different study route can contact us to discuss an alternative study path. We recommend the study programme and annual planner are viewed together for an overview of the whole qualification and detailed course dates for the coming year.

Reed Business School is listed on the Government Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers and approved to deliver apprenticeship training. Student can study ICAEW CFAB (Level 4) or the full ICAEW ACA qualification (Level 7) under an Apprenticeship programme. Find out more.

In this module you will learn about:

• maintaining financial records;
• making adjustments to accounting records and financial statements;
• preparing financial statements; and
• professional ethics.

In this module you will learn about:

• the concept, process and need for assurance;
• internal controls;
• gathering evidence on assurance engagement; and
• professional ethics.

In this module you will learn about:

• business objectives and functions;
• business and organisational structures;
• the role of finance and the accountancy profession;
• the external environment; and
• professional ethics.

In this module you will learn about:

• the impact of civil and criminal law on business and professional services;
• company and insolvency law;
• the impact of law in the professional context; and
• professional ethics.

In this module you will learn about:

• costing and pricing;
• budgeting and forecasting;
• performance management;
• management decision making; and
• professional ethics.

In this module you will learn about:

• the different objectives and types of tax;
• the ethics and administration of taxation;
• income tax and national insurance contributions;
• capital gains tax and chargeable gains for companies;
• corporate tax and VAT; and
• professional ethics.

This comprises six exams which build on the fundamentals and test students’ understanding and ability to use technical knowledge in real-life scenarios. The exams are computer based written exams and can be taken in March, June, September and December.

In this module you will learn about:

• legal and other professional regulations, ethics and current issues;
• accepting, planning and managing engagements;
• concluding and reporting on engagements; and
• professional ethics.

In this module you will learn about:

• strategic analysis;
• strategic choice;
• the implementation and monitoring of strategy; and
• professional ethics.

In this module you will learn about:

• financing options;
• managing financial risk;
• investment decisions and valuations; and
• professional ethics.

In this module you will learn about:

• accounting and reporting concepts and ethics;
• single entity financial statements;
• consolidated financial statements; and
• professional ethics.

In this module you will learn about:

• indirect taxes;
• capital taxes;
• corporation tax;
• income tax and national insurance contributions; and
• professional ethics and law.

In this option you will learn about:

• the taxation of corporate entities;
• taxation of owner-managed businesses;
• personal taxation; and
• professional ethics and law.

This module covers:

• applying technical and analytical techniques to resolve compliance and business issues that arise from providing auditing services and preparing and evaluating corporate reports;
• applying technical knowledge and professional judgement to determine alternative solutions to corporate reporting issues, considering client and stakeholder needs;
• considering commercial impact and ethical issues arising from recommendations on compliance and business issues; and
• professional ethics.

This module covers:

• demonstrating business and ethical awareness at strategic, operating and transactional levels;
• demonstrating quantitative and qualitative skills to solve business problems and make realistic recommendations;
• applying technical knowledge, including strategic analysis, risk management, corporate governance, financial management, corporate reporting and assurance;
• applying technical knowledge and professional judgement to identify and use appropriate models, analyse data from multiple sources and develop appropriate solutions; and
• professional ethics.

This module must be taken at the end of your studies and relates to how students will be expected to work. It tests professional skills in the context of a specific business issue and your understanding and application of professional ethics. It requires:

• the demonstration of knowledge, skills and practical application from multiple areas of the syllabus;
• the ability to analyse financial and non-financial information;
• the demonstration of professional and ethical judgement; and
• the development of conclusions and recommendations;