Program Description
practices that analyze, verify and post details of financial transactions for small companies or as
part of an accounting department in larger companies. Program coverage includes instruction on
the accounting equation, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, purchasing, inventory,
budgets, and the controls and records management required to maintain accurate and compliant
company accounts.
Program Objectives
1. Understand the role and duties of a bookkeeper within the framework of required
accounting activities in a business setting.
2. Explain and apply the concepts of cash and accrual accounting, double entry
bookkeeping and debits and credits.
3. Prepare payroll transactions ranging from paying wages to depositing and reporting
taxes.
4. Make appropriate and accurate accounting entries for a variety of financial records.
5. Define fixed assets, depreciation and amortization, including different methods of
calculating depreciation for book and tax purposes.
6. Assist in using basic internal controls to prevent theft, embezzlement, or check and
credit card fraud by employees, vendors, or customers.
7. Prepare required documents for Budgeting, Internal Controls and Record Retention.
Lesson 1: Orientation:
Evaluating your business idea;
Setting yourself apart from the competition;
Market testing;
Investment funding and donation funding;
Qualities of an entrepreneur;
Crowd funding and angel investors.
Lesson 2: The Basics of General Bookkeeping
Defines the skills and knowledge required of bookkeepers and
The role of the bookkeeper within the structure of an accounting department.
Introduces associates to the basic terminology and equations of the accounting
process as they specifically apply to bookkeeping.
Charts of Accounts and Ledgers
Introduces associates to the charts of accounts and the possible interpretations and
setups possible for the charts of accounts in different business structures.
Associates will also learn the process of making general ledger and subledger
journal entries to record sales, purchases, payments and cash receipts.
Lesson 3: The Activities of Bookkeeping
Associates will learn the steps and controls used in the payroll process for salaried
and hourly employees.
This lesson also provides instruction on the administration of deductions for
benefits, taxes, social security, and unemployment compensation.
Purchasing, Billing Activities and Cash Management
This lesson provides instruction on the steps and controls used to record
purchasing activities for both cash and credit purchases, including applicable
taxes, as well as management of petty cash, billing and collections.
Inventory, Assets and Debt
An introduction to accounting records required for the accurate management of
inventory and other business assets.
Instruction is provided on understanding cost-of-goods-sold, inventory
obsolescence, depreciation, and the concept of FIFO, LIFO inventory systems.
Students are introduced to the bookkeeping entries associated with short-term and
long-term debt and interest.
Lesson 4: Statements, Controls, and Records
Associates will learn the process for the preparation of common financial
statements, including the trial balance, balance sheet and income statements and
the techniques required to analyze these statements for accuracy, compliance, and
general business condition.
Budgeting and Controls
This lesson introduces the budget development process and provides instruction
on the structure of subsidiary budgets and how they support the creation of the
overall revenue budget.
Associates will also learn the various options that are available to provide control
multiple business operations.
Records Management and Cost Reduction
Provides instruction on the filing systems and record retention systems and
policies required for most common bookkeeping activities.
This lesson also describes the tasks required of bookkeepers when executing cost
reduction activities.