RE: Is it time for AAT to ditch sage at level 2?

Is it time for AAT to ditch sage at level 2 and use a cloud accounting system such as Xero?
And get students used to using mobile phone apps which is also going to be part of MTD too.
Desktop software is unlikely to be compliant with and approved for MTD.
And consequently most clients are leaving desktop sage behind and taking to the cloud.
And get students used to using mobile phone apps which is also going to be part of MTD too.
Desktop software is unlikely to be compliant with and approved for MTD.
And consequently most clients are leaving desktop sage behind and taking to the cloud.
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Comments
Saying that once you have trained on Sage you can probably use every other product as everything else looks a lot easier and a lot more intuitive
Not sure if the syllabus has changed but in my days very little was taught about cyber security, cloud storage and cloud accounting etc...which is now a very important part of our job.
The problem is that there seems to be 100s of accountancy applications now that when you go from training into a job, you will probably end up using something else and don't get me started on bigger companies 'bespoke' accounting systems.
The level 4 accounting systems and controls does touch on cyber crime, etc but I think it will need developing as technology does.
AAT Level 2&3 - 2016
AAT Level 4 - 2017
Personal Tax, Business Tax and External Auditing
ACA/CTA -
Certificate Level - Jan 2019
I think however it would be a good idea to not only train on the principles of software accounting but also show how diverse it is and how the different applications interact with the software.
AAT Level 2&3 - 2016
AAT Level 4 - 2017
Personal Tax, Business Tax and External Auditing
ACA/CTA -
Certificate Level - Jan 2019
Shame all the app developers are linking into Xero rather than Free Agent.
Also a shame VT aren't going to keep developing its product.
I have no idea who is better out of QBO or Xero because I don't use QBO. I do know Intuit/QuickBooks is huge in North America.
AAT Level 2&3 - 2016
AAT Level 4 - 2017
Personal Tax, Business Tax and External Auditing
ACA/CTA -
Certificate Level - Jan 2019
For landlords and cash based sole traders it is ideal.
Don't scrap it - but remove it from level, make it an optional extra; AAT Level 2 Award in Bookkeeping Software, or something?
VT is really good (I do most draft accounts in it), but as it's not likely to continue getting updated, would make more sense to teach about online accounts software packages. Maybe choose which one you want to learn, or contain a taster of some of the most commonly-used ones:
QuickBooks,
Kashflow,
Xero,
Freeagent, Brightbooks, ClearBooks, etc...
QBO & Xero certified advisor
AAT
Level 2 Certificate in Accounting - 17 Jun 2015
Level 3 Diploma in Accounting - 22 Jan 2016
Level 4 Diploma in Accounting - 19 Dec 2017
MAAT - 27 Mar 2018
ACCA
Advanced Diploma in Accounting and Business...
F4 Corporate and Business Law - 4 Jun 2019
F5 Performance Management - 15 July 2019
F6 Taxation (United Kingdom) - 3 Dec 2019
F8 Audit and Assurance - 2 Mar 2020
QuickBooks,
Kashflow,
Xero,
Freeagent, Brightbooks, ClearBooks, "
This is the perfect/ideal situation.
Although I'm sure the AAT wouldn't do it. They would say it would cost too much to do or be too complicated.
I would also include Sage One to that list
> I can't see it being a viable solution. Already most software companies offer their own training/ certification paths. It's not that difficult to self-study with YouTube etc...
When is the point that it stops becoming learning about how to use computerised accounting software and start become just a sales pitch.
Also you usually don’t get much time to study the subject. (I had about 5 lessons at college)
AAT Level 2&3 - 2016
AAT Level 4 - 2017
Personal Tax, Business Tax and External Auditing
ACA/CTA -
Certificate Level - Jan 2019