In non-profit organizations and businesses alike, Bookkeepers and Accounting Clerks of several kinds serve a critical function tracking finances for a company moving towards its financial goals. Businesses are always in search of skilled accounting assistants that an Accounting Diploma can reliably train. 

Embarking on an educational journey is a pivotal moment in life, so you might wonder how to make this decision and what you need to know before making it. Let’s look at why an accounting diploma can unlock a better career, no matter what circumstances you’re facing— as a bookkeeper, accounting clerk, or accounting technician.

What Does An Accounting Clerk Do?

Accounting Clerks, also known as Accounting Technicians and Bookkeepers, are crucial for maintaining highly organized and precise financial records for a company. Their exceptional attention to detail guarantees that financial transactions are accurately recorded, and that individuals and businesses alike have accurate financial data by assisting Accountants in their duties. 

Their unwavering commitment and professionalism make an invaluable contribution to both the private and public sectors, and their efforts are highly regarded. Accounting Clerks, Accounting Technicians, or Bookkeepers also assist Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) in keeping records of accounts, maintaining sets of financial reports or books, using standardized procedures for recording financial transactions, and more. 

Some of the important job duties of Accounting Clerks, Technicians, or Bookkeepers include:  

• Maintaining accurate financial records
• Managing various accounts
• Using manual and computerized bookkeeping systems
• Posting journal entries
• Reconciling accounts 
• Preparing trial balances of a company’s books
• Maintaining general ledgers of a company
• Helping to prepare generally accepted accounting practices (GAAP) financial statements for timely financial reporting
• Calculating and prepare cheques for payroll, utilities, taxes, and other bills
• Completing and submitting tax remittance forms, workers’ compensation forms, pension contribution forms, and other government documents
• Providing personal services, such as preparing tax returns 
• Preparing various internal statistical, financial, and accounting departmental reports

The Value Of Accounting Skills

Accounting is more than just calculating expenses. It’s a vital function that ensures the accuracy, compliance, and efficiency of an organization’s financial statements and financial reporting processes. Accounting Technicians and Bookkeepers are often responsible for key financial reporting duties — under the supervision of an Accountant. 

To become job-ready for this career path, an Accounting diploma program remains the best preparation for this career path! A Diploma in this area of business depends on business courses that develop these skills in a streamlined diploma program — for use on the very first day of the job in entry-level accounting. Accountants in charge of an accounting department need these skilled workers to be knowledgeable and reliable in their training.

Transferable Skills For Accounting Work In Industry Or Audit

Through online or in-person accounting courses, you equip yourself with a toolset of accounting skills, culminating in Sundance College’s Commerce: Accounting, Tax, & Payroll Diploma. 

You emerge with competencies in critical thinking, payroll administration, tax preparation, and financial and managerial accounting. These courses are fundamental business administration skills, preparing you for job duties essential to any organization making transactions to operate — enhancing your marketability in the entry-level jobs you choose. 

Accounting courses teach you how to keep the finances of your organization in order for review by major stakeholders, especially investors and the organization’s management team. And business courses from diplomas in other areas of commerce broaden your understanding, to help you understand how your work helps an organization function. 

Understanding The Accounting Career Path

If you’ve found your career calling and you can answer why you’re going to pursue a rewarding career as a Accounting Technician or Bookkeeper, the next step is in gaining knowledge to perform your duties effectively. Enrolling in an Accounting Diploma program acts as a springboard, setting you up for success whether you’re: 

Venturing into higher education in the accounting and finance area of business

Climbing up the corporate ladder through work experience

A good accounting diploma stands as a cornerstone to your business career, facilitating further academic pursuits and career growth. Courses from this program equip you with the hard skills for career success as an Accounting Technician or Bookkeeper — from introductory bookkeeping to financial accounting and reporting, managerial accounting, and financial regulatory compliance.

The Importance Of An Accounting Diploma

By completing a Commerce: Accounting, Tax, & Payroll Diploma, students won’t just acquire the essential skills and knowledge needed to become Accounting Clerks or technicians and bookkeepers. 

An accounting diploma goes beyond bookkeeping or entry-level assistant accounting; it equips you with a range of skills that are applicable in various fields. During your studies you’ll:

grasp essential business principles

learn techniques for legally required financial reporting

develop skills that are transferrable to roles in payroll, tax prep, and more senior accounting positions

The versatility of this qualification means that it’s not just businesses in the finance sector that will value your expertise; it’s many industries.

What Is An Accounting Diploma?

As an Accounting Technician, Accounting Clerk, or Bookkeeper, you will need to have a solid foundation in accounting principles and practices. Accounting has been called the language of business, and it helps you understand how resources, time, and effort have flowed into and out of the organization. 

Accounting also enables you to record, analyze, and report financial transactions, which are essential to the value it provides to all stakeholders, from investors and management to its customers. 

An accounting diploma program will provide you with accounting courses imparting the basics of bookkeeping, financial accounting, tax preparation, and payroll compliance. Together, all courses in an Accounting, Tax, & Payroll Diploma help you develop the skills and knowledge needed to handle various accounting positions you might find, including:

• Creating and maintaining ledgers, journals, and financial statements as a Bookkeeper or Accounting Clerk
• Preparing and filing tax returns as a Tax Preparer
• Ensuring compliance with payroll laws and regulations as a Payroll Administrator

Students in an accounting diploma’s courses learn accounting software and useful tools, especially QuickBooks and Microsoft Excel, to help Accountants with their many important tasks. 

By taking core accounting courses online or in-person, you will learn the fundamentals of accounting. You’ll also gain a valuable skillset that can better qualify you for work as an Accounting Clerk or Bookkeeper on future job applications.

Which Courses Are Best For Accounting Or Bookkeeping?

Sundance College’s Commerce: Accounting, Tax & Payroll Diploma prepares you for several career paths, allowing you to choose how you start out in finance-related careers. Whether you want to get your start as an Accounting Clerk, Accounting Technician, Bookkeeper, or other related accounting occupations — accounting courses are the first thing to learn. After you understand the fundamentals of business, you might wonder what accounting courses will best prepare you for work in an accounting department!

Computerized Bookkeeping (Quickbooks)

This course shows students how to transition from manual bookkeeping to computerized accounting. A practical, hands-on approach allows students to enter income and expense information for clients and suppliers, invoicing, and payments on industry software.

Bookkeeping & Financial Accounting I And Bookkeeping & Financial Accounting II

Students are provided an understanding of financial accounting principles and practices. Course topics include: 

• financial statement preparation 
• income statements 
• balance sheets 
• short and long-term assets and liabilities 
• shareholders’ equity

Bookkeeping & Financial Accounting II rounds out the knowledge you’ll gain in the first course! All financial accounting procedure leverages Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).

Job Demand For Accounting Clerks Or Bookkeepers in Canada

Accounting Technicians, Bookkeepers, or Accounting Clerks will be well demanded in most provinces for some time. Accounting tends to keep pace with economic growth, more and more organizations are looking for skilled accounting assistants who can help Accountants. 

Being an accounting diploma holder not only enhances your appeal to potential employers but also opens doors to higher remuneration packages. 

The nation-wide average wage for Accounting Clerks is $23.00, which works out to a salary of $47,840 per year — depending on factors such as experience, education, certification, location, and industry. The top 10% of these earn $33.70 per hour!

Career Options For Someone With An Accounting Skillset

An Accounting Diploma is more than just a credential; it’s a testament to your drive and commitment to furthering your education, which employers highly value. This Diploma:

• financial statement preparation 
• income statements 
• balance sheets 
• short and long-term assets and liabilities 
• shareholders’ equity

With an accounting diploma, you have a competitive edge, fostering a pathway to a successful career. Graduates that are job-ready  are a preferred choice for employers seeking reliable skills. They add specialized knowledge and hard skills to any organization, even their own! Through your job search, you might even find entry-level accounting clerk or bookkeeping jobs that are worked from home!

Enroll In Sundance College’s Commerce: Accounting, Tax, & Payroll Diploma Today

Sundance College takes great pride in its ability to provide accounting students and payroll jobseekers with comprehensive resources and guidance to enhance their employment prospects. This career path has shown signs of being recession-proof even in challenging economic times, offering our graduates a sense of job security upon obtaining their Diploma and securing a position in the field; our students frequently express their satisfaction with the enriching learning experience provided by Sundance College. 

One Accounting, Tax, & Payroll graduate, Zee, had this to say on her Google review: 

“Sundance College has been amazing, I am taking Commerce: Accounting, Tax & Payroll through this college and could not be happier. Everyone that works there is super helpful and kind. I would most definitely go here again, highly recommend this college.”

Contact us and apply online; Sundance College can get you started on the path to your management diploma today!