Discover the CAB qualification for individuals
Boost your business capabilities and impress employers with the Certificate in Accountancy and Business (CAB).
The CAB is a professional certification that will develop your knowledge and practical expertise in key areas of accountancy, business and finance.
Through six courses we explain the fundamentals of how businesses work and help you understand what drives their success.
Whether you’re starting out in your career or looking to take the next step up the ladder, the CAB will boost your capabilities and help unlock your ambitions.
You’ll gain the confidence and credibility to talk specialist topics like business management, tax and assurance with employers, colleagues and clients.
You’ll be empowered to add greater value to your organisation and unlock more effective collaboration with colleagues across teams.
And with the CAB and the internationally respected ICAS brand on your CV, you'll impress employers and open doors to a world of new business and finance opportunities.
Skills for the future of business
The CAB features the same six courses found at the Knowledge level of our prestigious Chartered Accountant (CA) qualification: Assurance, Business Management and Finance, Business Law, Ethics Fundamentals, Reporting and Performance, and Taxation.
And throughout the syllabus we’ve surfaced three themes that are vital to the future of all organisations: ethical leadership, sustainability and the impact of technology.
Understanding the challenges and opportunities they present will ensure you stand out in a competitive job market and add valuable longevity to your career.
Learning that's engaging, optimised and flexible
By following the ICAS approach to learning you’ll benefit from engaging digital courses delivered through our Advantage platform.
They'll keep you engaged, embed your understanding as you progress and optimise your assessment success.
You'll be further supported by a range of interactive tutor touchpoints including course discussions and optional in-person or online workshops.
We also offer online and blended options to suit your budget and preference, providing the flexibility to fit study around your all-important work and personal schedules.
How the CAB will boost your business capabilities
- Develop key business, accountancy and finance capabilities.
- Gain the confidence and credibility to talk business with employers, colleagues and clients.
- Be empowered to add greater value to your organisation.
- Unlock improved cross-team collaboration and cooperation.
- Leverage a future-proof syllabus underpinned by ethics, sustainability and technology.
- No prior business or accountancy knowledge required.
- Use the CAB as a standalone certification or as a step towards our full Chartered Accountant (CA) qualification.
The CAB syllabus
An introduction to the essential foundations of accounting, business and finance, the CAB builds core knowledge over six courses.
Course descriptions and syllabus learning outcomes:
Ethics Fundamentals
Duration (nominal hours): 3.
Assessment type: Formative, objective test questions.
Assessment pass mark: 75%.
Course description:
This course is at the very start of the CAB syllabus to stress the importance of ethics at the core of business.
The course considers:
- A range of ethical theories
- How people make ethical decisions, both personally and within organisations.
- Various scenarios to allow you to apply a consistent and professional approach to ethical decision making.
Syllabus learning outcomes:
- Explain the nature of ethics and its significance in the business environment.
- Demonstrate an understanding of a range of ethical theories when making decisions.
- Summarise the ICAS Code of Ethics and relevant legislation when undertaking professional work.
- Summarise the ethical consequences arising from a range of environmental, social and governance issues in business scenarios.
- Apply a consistent and professional approach to ethical decision making.
Assurance
CQF Level: 9
Credit points: 10
Duration (nominal hours): 100
Assessment type: Summative, Objective Test Questions
Assessment pass mark: 50%
Course description:
Get an introduction to the assurance process, professional scepticism, and the fundamental ethical principles that are relevant for assurance engagements.
The course concentrates on:
- Risk.
- Internal-control frameworks and business processes.
- The UK regulatory framework for accounting and auditing.
- The key stages in the external audit process.
- Assurance of sustainability audit engagements.
Syllabus learning outcomes:
- Define business risk and explain a range of strategies, including internal controls to manage financial and non-financial risk.
- Explain the role and responsibilities of the external auditor within the UK regulatory framework.
- Apply guidance, including the International Standards on Auditing (UK), to the external audit process.
- Apply ethical guidance, including the Financial Reporting Council Ethical Standard, to assurance engagements.
Business Management and Finance
SCQF Level: 9
Credit points: 15
Duration (nominal hours): 150
Assessment type: Summative, Objective Test Questions
Assessment pass mark: 50%
Course description:
Get an introduction to how businesses operate, the financial and non-financial information required for the management of a business, and how the finance function helps businesses achieve their objectives.
The course concentrates on:
- The general objectives of businesses.
- How businesses identify and calculate relevant data for use in management decision-making to help achieve their objectives.
- How the finance function supports business operations.
- How to identify sources and methods of financing for businesses.
Syllabus learning outcomes:
- Describe the environment within which businesses function.
- Prepare data used in financial analysis.
- Apply appropriate techniques to support investment decision making.
- Explain how non-financial information supports sustainable business decisions.
- Illustrate the use of ethics in business management and finance decisions.
Business Law
SCQF Level: 9
Credit points: 5
Duration (nominal hours): 50
Assessment type: Summative, Objective Test Questions
Assessment pass mark: 50%
Course description:
Get an introduction to the UK legal system and explanation of elements of criminal and civil law that are relevant to the work of finance professionals.
The course concentrates on:
- Contract law.
- The agency relationship and the consequences of negligence.
- Elements of company, insolvency, information and employment law.
Syllabus learning outcomes:
- Identify the key features of UK law as it applies to business.
- Identify the essential features of UK Company law.
- Describe the main elements of law which are relevant to finance professionals.
- Apply ethical guidance in the context of business law.
Reporting and Performance 1
SCQF Level: 9
Credit points: 15
Duration (nominal hours): 150
Assessment type: Summative, Objective Test Questions
Assessment pass mark: 50%
Course description:
Get an introduction to key areas of financial and non-financial reporting and performance.
The financial reporting element of the course covers:
- Double-entry bookkeeping.
- The use of journals to record transactions in accounting systems.
- Adjusting financial records.
- Preparing non-complex financial statements.
The non-financial reporting element of the course introduces:
- Sustainability, including the main elements of environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting.
- An exploration of the role of the accountant, including an outline of the evolving non-financial-reporting landscape.
- Linking the financial and non-financial elements of financial statements.
Syllabus learning outcomes:
- Explain the accounting requirements for financial statements.
- Prepare and present a set of financial statements in accordance with relevant accounting standards.
- Explain the requirements for non-financial reporting and performance in accordance with relevant standards.
- Explain ethical guidance in the context of reporting and performance.
Taxation
SCQF Level: 9
Credit points: 15
Duration (nominal hours): 150
Assessment type: Summative, Objective Test Questions
Assessment pass mark: 50%
Course description:
Gain an understanding of the UK tax system and the tax-compliance duties and roles of taxpayers, accountants and HMRC. The course is split into two equal parts covering personal tax and business tax.
The course will enable you to:
- Prepare tax computations for individuals and companies.
- Understand the tax implications of a course of action.
- Explain the potential tax treatments of several straightforward transactions.
Syllabus learning outcomes:
- Calculate a personal tax liability.
- Calculate a direct tax liability for a business.
- Calculate an indirect tax liability for a business.
- Explain the key principles and administration of UK tax.
- Describe best practice when dealing with clients, other professionals and HMRC.
CAB FAQs
Who’s it for?
- Anyone seeking to professionalise and develop their knowledge of business, accounting and finance.
- School leavers, college and university students and graduates seeking to boost their employability.
Where could it take me?
The CAB could:
- Help you stand out in a competitive job market.
- Enable a career change.
- Boost your career progression.
- Lead to our full Chartered Accountant (CA) qualification.
What are the entry requirements?
- No formal entry requirements.
- We recommend you have a good level of English and maths.
How long does it take?
- From three months to two years (flexible).
How/where is it studied?
- Interactive digital courses on our Advantage platform.
- Options to add tutor-supported online or in-centre workshops (at locations across the UK).
What level of qualification is it?
- Level 9 in Scotland / Level 6 in England.
- Equivalent to the (first) Knowledge level of our full Chartered Accountant (CA) qualification.
How difficult is it to study?
- The study level is equivalent to what you might expect in the final year of a degree.
How’s it assessed?
- Summative assessments using objective test questions with a 50% pass mark.
Where is the CAB qualification recognised?
- Recognised by employers in the UK and internationally.
- ICAS is an internationally respected awarding body.
Can it be studied from outside the UK?
- Yes, with our fully online option.
How much does it cost?
- The same as the Knowledge level of our CA qualification and dependent on your preferred study option.
When can it be started?
- We offer four terms per year, with start dates in either March, June, September or December.
How do I register my interest?
If you'd like to consider upskilling employees through our CAB and would like to find out more, please email firms@icas.com to register your interest and we'll be in touch.
