Foundations in Accountancy (FIA) 

Take your first steps with FIA

The FIA comprises four awards:

• Introductory Certificate
• Intermediate Certificate
• Diploma
• Certified Accounting Technician

Platinum Approved Learning Provider

By choosing BPP, you’ll have a significant advantage over other students. BPP is the only provider with ACCA Platinum Approval for both student tuition (face-to-face and online) and content (study materials).

For our students, this endorsement guarantees the highest levels of tuition and top-quality learning materials. It also demonstrates that BPP exceeds the rigorous Platinum performance targets set by ACCA.

Flexibility, support and success

The BPP FIA offering is flexible. with a range of study options available. This means you can tailor your mode of study to suit your personal needs and circumstances.

You'll also be provided with ongoing support and guidance. Our expert tutors will be on hand to give you advice when you need it by email, on the phone or in the classroom.

It's all part of our student-centric approach to professional study – an approach that gives you the best chance of success in your FIA exams.

Dates and prices

Select a location to download date and price details:

• Birmingham
• Birmingham Full Time
• Bristol
• Cambridge
• Leeds
• Leeds Full Time
• Liverpool
• London and Croydon
• London Full Time
• Maidstone
• Manchester
• Milton Keynes
• Newcastle
• Nottingham
• Reading
• Southampton

• Distance Learning - Live, Online Classroom and Basics

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Certificates

Introductory Certificate in Financial and Management Accounting

Equivalent to GCSE level, this Certificate is suitable for those already working or aspiring to work in accounting administration, bookkeeping or as a junior accounts clerk.

The Diploma is awarded on completion of three exams and a free ACCA online module ‘Foundations in Professionalism’ which only needs to be completed once during your FIA studies.

FA1 – Recording Financial Transactions

To introduce the basic accounting systems and documentation that will be encountered in the workplace. To develop knowledge and understanding of the operational aspects of maintaining accounting records and procedures and to learn how to record these transactions in the books of prime entry, including introduction to the principles of double entry and understanding how a computerised and a manual accounting system work.

MA1 – Management Information

To introduce the student to the knowledge of basic cost information required for management accounting. To develop the knowledge and ability to recognise, collect and record basic cost and revenue information for planning and control including the use of spreadsheets in management accounting.

You can study for these exams with a BPP Basics distance learning package.

Intermediate Certificate in Financial and Management Accounting

Equivalent to ‘A’ Levels, this Certificate is suitable for those already working or aspiring to work in accounting administration, bookkeeping or as a cost clerk within SMEs, larger organisations or financial shared service centres.

The Certificate is awarded on completion of two exams and an FIA online module ‘Foundations in Professionalism’ which only needs to be completed once during your studies.

FA2 – Maintaining Financial Records

To introduce the fundamental principles of accounting and to develop the knowledge and understanding of the techniques used to maintain accounting records.

To produce accounting records including ledger accounts, sales tax records (where applicable), control accounts, reconciliations, and extract and correct an initial trial balance also making the adjustments necessary to produce an extended trial balance. The syllabus also covers accounting for the business transactions of sole traders and partnerships.

MA2 – Managing Costs and Finances

To develop the knowledge and understanding of the principles and techniques used in recording, analysing and reporting costs and revenues for internal management purposes. To demonstrate and develop applicable cost concepts in making short term decisions and the application of spreadsheets in management accounting.

You can study for these exams with a BPP Basics distance learning package.

Diploma in Accounting and Business

Equivalent to an HND or first year degree level, this Diploma is suitable for those already working or aspiring to work in accounting administration, bookkeeping or as an accounts clerk in practice, commercial organisations or the public sector.

The Diploma is awarded on completion of three exams and a free ACCA online module ‘Foundations in Professionalism’ which only needs to be completed once during your FIA studies.

The three exams are:

• FAB – Accountant in Business
• FMA – Management Accounting
• FFA – Financial Accounting

You can study with a face-to-face or online classroom course or with a BPP Basics distance learning package.

The Diploma qualification papers are equivalent to the main ACCA qualification Knowledge module (Papers F1-F3). Completion of the Diploma will provide you with exemptions and allow you to start the main ACCA qualification at F4.#

Syllabus overview

FAB - Accountant in Business

To understand business in the context of its environment, including economic, legal, and regulatory influences on such aspects as governance, employment, health and safety, data protection and security.

Additionally, to introduce certain aspects of the regulatory framework as they affect auditing and governance, examining the roles of internal and external auditors and introducing the importance of internal control. The syllabus also introduces key management and people issues such as individual and team behaviour, leadership, motivation, personal effectiveness and professional ethics in accounting and business.

FMA - Management Accounting (FMA)

To develop the knowledge and ability to apply appropriate management accounting concepts and foundations in accountancy techniques for decision making, planning and control including forecasting techniques, the preparation of budgets and standard costs and performance measurement.

FFA - Financial Accounting

To develop knowledge and understanding of the underlying principles and concepts relating to financial accounting and to demonstrate technical proficiency in the use of double entry techniques, including the preparation and interpretation of basic financial statements for sole traders, companies and simple groups of companies.

CAT Qualification

To gain the CAT Qualification you’ll need to:

• complete the two Certificate levels or have relevant work experience to exempt the those levels, plus complete the Diploma
• complete two of three optional exams below
• show evidence of 12 months’ practical accounting experience.

The optional exams are: 

• FTX – Foundations in Tax
• FFM – Foundations in Financial Management 
• FAU – Foundations in Audit 

You can study for these exams with a BPP Basics distance learning package.

Syllabus overview

FTX - Foundations in Taxation

To develop the core knowledge of the underlying principles and the major technical areas of taxation, as they affect the activities of individuals and businesses, at a level appropriate for someone working at technician level.

Having covered the core areas of the basic taxes, candidates should be able to compute tax liabilities, explain the basis of their calculations, complete the tax returns and identify the compliance issues for each major tax through a variety of business and personal scenarios and situations.

FFM - Foundations in Financial Management

To examine all aspects of cash and working capital management, and to develop an understanding of the sources of short and long-term finance. To develop the knowledge and understanding of the way organisations finance their operations and plan, allocate and control resources to optimise returns.

FAU - Foundations in Audit

To develop knowledge and understanding of external audit and the techniques used in the conduct of external audits. Additionally to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of internal control systems.

Apprenticeships

An apprenticeship is a fantastic opportunity to gain a professional qualifications whilst getting practical workplace experience at the same time.

For school or college leavers it’s a great way to kick-start a career and is a real alternative to University. For others it’s an opportunity to gain qualifications that complement workplace skills, knowledge and experience, or to re-train in a new career.

BPP has been awarded funding to provide apprenticeships for the FIA qualification. We deliver these courses through a combination of workplace and classroom-based learning, and you can choose from a range of flexible study options.

Key benefits:

• Develop practical communication and numeracy skills
• Gain official recognition that can help improve your salary and career prospects
• Government-funding means you could qualify with no student debt.

Learn more about BPP Apprenticeships.

Entry requirements

The Foundations in Accountancy (FIA) course is an entry-level series of awards and has no formal academic entry requirements. This means you can register to sit exams for any FIA award at any level.

If you're aiming to progress to the main ACCA qualification and already have the minimum entry requirements for ACCA already (two 'A' Levels and three GCSEs) you're advised to start with ACCA. However, if you haven't studied for some time you may opt to study for any or all of the FIA awards first.

Study locations

All awards are available to study via online and distance learning options.

You can study for your FIA Diploma award face-to-face at any one of the following ACCA Platinum Approved study centres. Each centre offers state-of-the-art facilities and comfortable, high-quality classroom environments.

FIA study centres are located in:

• BPP Birmingham
• BPP Bristol
• BPP Cambridge
• BPP Cardiff
• BPP Croydon
• BPP Glasgow
• BPP Leeds
• BPP Liverpool
• BPP London City (full-time only)
• BPP London – King's Cross
• BPP London - Liverpool Street
• BPP London - Shepherd's Bush
• BPP London - Waterloo
• BPP Maidstone
• BPP Manchester
• BPP Milton Keynes
• BPP Newcastle
• BPP Nottingham
• BPP Reading
• BPP Southampton