Press release: First to pass Foundation Qualification completes it in just five weeks
The Association of Taxation Technicians (ATT) is pleased to announce the first person to pass one of its Foundation Qualifications.
In October 2017, in partnership with Tolley Exam Training, the ATT launched two standalone Foundation Qualifications in Personal Taxation and Business Taxation to sit alongside the Foundation in VAT Compliance (previously known as the ATT VAT Compliance Diploma). Each of the three Foundation Qualifications is split into four modules of learning. Each module is tested online before you move to the next. Once all have been passed you complete a final Certificate exam.
ATT President Graham Batty said:
“I am delighted to sign my first ATT Foundation Qualification certificate so soon after the qualifications were launched.
“The Foundation Qualifications are ideal for people looking to study the fundamentals of the UK tax system, especially those new to accountancy and tax. I expect the Foundation Qualifications will act as a springboard for many students to go ahead and study for the full ATT qualification.”
The ever increasing size of the tax code and the heightened debate among the public about taxation in recent years makes a good understanding of the principles of tax as set out in the Foundation Qualifications very useful to people working in financial services.
Andrew Millington, 18, of Wigan, completed the ATT Foundation in Personal Taxation in just five weeks by studying the course two days a week full-time. Andrew was told about the Foundation Qualifications by his employer RSM, where he is undertaking his ATT Apprenticeship (Level 4 Professional Taxation Technician). He will now go ahead and study the Foundation in Business Taxation because he considers the Foundation papers a good precursor for the ATT qualification.
Andrew said:
“As someone who has not done any accounting or tax before, the Foundation course was a great introduction. It was interesting, manageable, and gave me a real insight into tax which is a great springboard into a career in tax.”
Andrew joined RSM in August 2017 and was given study days by RSM to enable him to pass the Foundation Qualification in such a short space of time.
Jim Meakin, Head of Tax at RSM, said:
“As part of our school leaver programme, we are encouraging all tax trainees to sign up to the Foundation course, as it offers a great opportunity for new starters to kick-start their learning before starting the ATT exam programme.
“As a firm we work closely with the ATT, as we see the real value that the qualifications bring to young people, and in turn our firm and the clients we act for. And it’s great to see Andrew seizing the opportunity and taking a proactive, and speedy, approach to his career development.”
Notes for editors
More information about the Foundation Qualifications can be found here. The exams are to be taken online. Re-takes are allowed of the modular exams and final Certificate Examination, although the questions will vary in a re-take.