Pre-university studies in the historic city of Cambridge
Nationality:
British
Course:
Lewis joined us to study GCSEs in a variety of subjects
Achievements:
World Famous F1 Racing Driver!
Ambitions
Win the F1 World Championship
What does he say about us?
Find out on our dedicated Lewis Hamilton web page.
Subject focus: Accounting
Record, report and analyse the financial aspects of a business
The purpose of Accounts is to keep a check on the financial matters of a business. In the current climate this is an area of particularly high scrutiny both by government and within the media, as sensible accounting practice becomes ever more vital to a business's survival.
On the A-level or University Foundation Accounting course you will learn how to record, report and analyse financial transactions of a business. There are three types of accountants:
- Financial accountants: their job is to record financial transactions and summarise them at the end of each financial year. Every business – whether sole traders, partnerships or companies – must keep records of their finances, not only for themselves but also to satisfy government regulations.
- Auditors: their job is to make sure that the accounts kept by a business are true and proper, and produced in accordance with rules and regulations.
- Management accountants: their job is to report on the costs involved in running the business, and advise on how these costs can be optimal.
Accounts can be learnt on a two-year A-level programme or on the one-year University Foundation programme.
The A-level syllabus is covered in four modules. The first two units are taught in year 1 and success in these units will qualify students at AS level. The following two units are taught in year 2 and completion of all 4 modules qualifies the student in the full Accounting A level.
Credit cards were predicted in a 19th century novel!
Although Emile Zola wrote a great novel about banking and the Parisian bourse in the 19th century he himself never had a bank account.
Tulips were the cause of the world's first stock exchange crisis.
Two novelists wrote thrillers about a devastating terrorist attack on Wall Street, many years before the destruction of the World Trade Center.
Books for study:
Introducing Accounting for AS, Second Edition by Ian Harrison
AQA Accounting by Austin & Hailstone
Books for entertainment:
Black Market, James Patterson
The Banker, Leslie Waller
Trixie Trader, Helen Dunne
Cosmopolis, Don DeLillo
Good Faith, Jane Smiley
The Informer, Akimitsu Takagi
These websites provide useful information about becoming an accountant:
Inside Careers
CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants)
ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants)
ICAEW (Institue of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales)
Want to know more? Contact us for careers advice.
John Grisham
Bob Newhart
Ian Fleming
J.P. Morgan
Wedgewood
In no particular order:
1. Strathclyde
2. London School of Economics
3. Warwick
4. Edinburgh
5. Glasgow
6. Durham
7. Nottingham
8. Manchester
9. Loughborough
10. City University London
