The bookkeeper’s role
Understand a bookkeeper’s duties, why timely and accurate information matters, the ethical principles to follow and money laundering obligations.
AAT Level 1 · BKFN
Bookkeeping Fundamentals
Start bookkeeping from scratch: the bookkeeper’s role, the dual effect of transactions and the everyday recording of sales, purchases, receipts and payments.
Unit overview
Understand the method, not just the answer.
BKFN is where AAT bookkeeping begins, and you don’t need any previous accounting knowledge. It covers the basics of manual, single-entry bookkeeping: what a bookkeeper does, how each transaction affects a business, and the everyday skills of preparing and recording invoices and credit notes and keeping a cash book.
Use this page as a starting point for your revision. Work through the topic areas, identify where confidence is lowest and combine independent practice with the linked downloads and free sessions.
Key topics
What to focus on in BKFN.
These topic summaries provide a revision map rather than a replacement for the current AAT specification and your training-provider materials.
The dual effect and the accounting equation
See how every transaction has two effects and how assets, liabilities and capital stay in balance.
Sales invoices and credit notes
Follow the buying and selling process and prepare accurate sales invoices and credit notes for customers.
Checking and recording documents
Check purchase invoices and credit notes from suppliers, then record sales and purchase documents in the books of prime entry.
Receipts, payments and the cash book
Enter receipts and payments, calculate closing amounts, check the cash in the bank and work out what customers and suppliers still owe.
Accounting software
Weigh up the features, benefits and drawbacks of different types of accounting software, and how to keep it secure.
How to revise this unit
- 1For every transaction, say what increases and what decreases before you record anything.
- 2Practise preparing invoices and credit notes from order details, and check every calculation.
- 3Write up a short cash book each week and compare your closing balance with the bank figure.
- 4Sit practice assessments to time: the real assessment lasts 1 hour 30 minutes.
Common pitfalls
- !Recording a document in the wrong book of prime entry, or treating a credit note as an invoice.
- !Forgetting that every transaction has two effects.
- !Accepting a closing cash book balance without checking it against the bank.
Free revision posters
Revision posters for BKFN.
Posters published for this unit appear here automatically. Open a poster to view it online or download the PDF for personal study.
Learn live
Upcoming sessions for BKFN.
Published events matching this unit appear automatically. When no direct match exists, the page may show another session at the same level.
ExamReady
BKFN practice questions and a timed mock, from 27 October.
Next step
Explore ITBKReady for Level 2? Start with Introduction to Bookkeeping.
This is independent revision support and is not produced, endorsed or approved by AAT. Always check the current AAT specification, assessment information and your training-provider guidance.