ACCA Advanced Diploma in Accounting and Business

The aim of the syllabus is to develop knowledge and skills in the application of management accounting techniques to quantitative and qualitative information for planning, decision-making, performance evaluation, and control.

The syllabus for Performance Management (PM), builds on the knowledge gained in Management Accounting (MA) and seeks to examine students’ understanding of how to manage the performance of a business. It also prepares students for more specialist capabilities which are covered in Advanced Performance Management (APM).

The syllabus begins by focusing on the uses and control of information, management information systems and data analytics required by organisations to manage and measure performance in the modern, competitive environment. It is vital for an accountant to understand how information systems and developments in technology influence the management accounting techniques employed and how vital information systems are in the mechanisms of managing and controlling an organisation.
The syllabus then introduces more specialised costing and management accounting topics. There is some knowledge assumed from Management Accounting (MA) – primarily overhead treatments. The objective here is to ensure students s have a broader background in management accounting techniques.

The syllabus then considers decision-making. Students s need to appreciate the problems surrounding scarce resources, pricing and make-or-buy decisions, and how this relates to the assessment of performance. Risk and uncertainty are a factor of real-life decisions and students need to understand risk and be able to apply some basic methods to help resolve the risks inherent in decision-making.
Budgeting is an important aspect of many accountants’ lives. The syllabus explores different budgeting techniques, including analytical techniques, and the problems inherent in them. The behavioural aspects of budgeting are important for accountants to understand, and the syllabus includes consideration of the way individuals react to a budget. The preparation of fixed, flexible and incremental budgets is assumed knowledge from Management Accounting (MA).

Standard costing and variances are then built on. All the variances examined in Management Accounting (MA) are assumed knowledge in Performance Management (PM). Mix and yield variances and planning and operational variances are explored here, and the link is made to performance management. It is important for accountants to be able to interpret the numbers that they calculate and discuss what they mean in the context of performance.

The syllabus concludes with performance measurement and control. This is a major area of the syllabus. Accountants should appreciate the importance of both financial and non-financial performance measures in management and should also appreciate the difficulties in assessing performance in divisionalised businesses and the problems caused by failing to consider external influences on performance. This section leads directly to Advanced Performance Management (APM).
All of the subject areas covered in this syllabus could be examined in either a private sector, public sector or not-for-profit context.

Section F of the syllabus contains outcomes relating to the demonstration of appropriate digital and employability skills in preparing for and taking the PM examination. This includes being able to interact with different question item types, manage information presented in digital format and being able to use the relevant functionality and technology to prepare and present response options in a professional manner. These skills are specifically developed by practicing and preparing for the PM examination, using the learning support content for computer-based examinations available via the practice platform and the ACCA website and will need to be demonstrated during the live examination.

The Audit and Assurance syllabus is essentially divided into six areas. The syllabus starts with the nature, purpose and scope of assurance engagements, including the statutory audit, its regulatory environment, and introduces governance and professional ethics relating to audit and assurance.
It then leads into planning the audit and performing risk assessment.

The syllabus then covers a range of areas relating to an audit of financial statements including the scope of internal control and the role and function of internal audit. These include, evaluating internal controls, audit evidence, and a review of the financial statements.

In addition to final review procedures, the syllabus concentrates on reporting, including the form and content of the independent auditor’s report.

Finally, the syllabus contains outcomes relating to the demonstration of appropriate digital and employability skills in preparing for and taking the AA examination. This includes being able to interact with different question item types, manage information presented in digital format and being able to use the relevant functionality and technology to prepare and present response options in a professional manner. These skills are specifically developed by practicing and preparing for the AA exam, using the learning support content for computer-based exams available via the practice

The aim of the syllabus is to develop knowledge and skills relating to the tax system as applicable to individuals, single companies, and groups of companies.
This syllabus introduces candidates to the subject of taxation and provides the core knowledge of the underlying principles and major technical areas of taxation, as they affect the activities of individuals and businesses.

In this syllabus, candidates are introduced to the rationale behind and the functions of the tax system. The syllabus then considers the separate taxes that an accountant would need to have a detailed knowledge of, such as income tax from self-employment, employment and investments; the corporation tax liability of individual companies and groups of companies; and the goods and services tax liability of businesses.

Having covered the core areas of the basic taxes, the candidate should be able to compute tax liabilities, explain the basis of their calculations, apply tax planning techniques for individuals and companies and identify the compliance issues for each major tax through a variety of business and personal scenarios and situations.

Section E of the syllabus contains outcomes relating to the demonstration of appropriate digital and employability skills in preparing for and taking the examination. This includes being able to interact with different question item types, manage information presented in digital format and being able to use the relevant functionality and technology to prepare and present response options in a professional manner. These skills are specifically developed by practicing and preparing for the exam, using the learning support content for computer-based exams available via the practice platform and the ACCA website and will need to be demonstrated during the live exam.

The aim of the syllabus is to develop the knowledge and skills expected of a finance manager, in relation to investment, financing, and dividend policy decisions.
The syllabus for Financial Management (FM) is designed to equip candidates with the skills that would be expected from a finance manager responsible for the finance function of a business. It prepares candidates for more advanced and specialist study in Advanced Financial Management (AFM).

The syllabus, therefore, starts by introducing the role and purpose of the financial management function within a business. Before looking at the three key financial management decisions of investing, financing, and dividend policy, the syllabus explores the economic environment in which such decisions are made.
The next section of the syllabus is the introduction of investing decisions. This is done in two stages - investment in (and the management of) working capital and the appraisal of long-term investments.

The next area introduced is financing decisions. This section of the syllabus starts by examining the various sources of business finance, including dividend policy and how much finance can be raised from within the business. It also looks at the cost of capital and other factors that influence the choice of the type of capital a business will raise. The principles underlying the valuation of business and financial assets, including the impact of cost of capital on the value of business, is covered next.
The syllabus then covers an introduction to, and examination of, risk and the main techniques employed in managing such risk.

Section H of the syllabus contains outcomes relating to the demonstration of appropriate digital and employability skills in preparing for and taking the FM examination. This includes being able to interact with different question item types, manage information presented in digital format and being able to use the relevant functionality and technology to prepare and present response options in a professional manner. These skills are specifically developed by practicing and preparing for the FM exam, using the learning support content for computer-based exams available via the practice