Term Effective: Fall 1981

The requirements for this program of study are effective beginning the semester shown above. If you began working on this program before the effective semester, you may not be affected by the changes. Consult with the program contact person or the department chair to determine your eligibility to complete the program under previous requirements.

Description:

The Bookkeeper Assistant Certificate of Achievement prepares the student to become an assistant in recording financial data in various phases of accounting operations, with emphasis on the use of various computer software programs. The curriculum includes beginning and intermediate bookkeeping and accounting concepts, and advanced spreadsheet skills.

Students desiring more advanced skills may wish to pursue the Bookkeeper Certificate of Achievement. Completion of the Bookkeeper Assistant Certificate fulfills a portion of the Bookkeeper Certificate.

Bookkeeping is the day-to-day recording of business activity which involves financial changes in the organization. The occupation involves such tasks as recording daily transactions in journals, posting figures into ledgers, preparing spreadsheets, handling payments and receipts, and computing payrolls. Bookkeeping requires skill in the operation of 10-key calculators, computers, and other office equipment, together with an understanding of office routine and techniques.

Possible job titles are Assistant Bookkeeper, Account Clerk, and Auditing Clerk.

Employers generally report that it is moderately difficult to find inexperienced but qualified applicants and very difficult to find qualified applicants with prior experience. This indicates a good outlook for job seekers without prior experience and a very good outlook for those who are fully experienced.

More information about the Business Administration programs can be found at the Business Administration Department website.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this certificate, the student will be able to:

1. Analyze, categorize, calculate, record and report a variety of financial information and commonly used financial statements and related reports, using generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP);
2. analyze, categorize, calculate, record and report basic payroll information including payment of wages along with associated payroll taxes and other liabilities;
3. calculate, analyze, and interpret a variety of mathematical business problems, ratios, comparisons, elementary statistics, and trends;
4. demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills to report financial information and job seeking skills;
5. use a computer to tabulate, calculate, record, organize and report financial information; and
6. Effectively use computer keyboard, 10-Key, and other modern devices to calculate, tabulate, and assist in reporting and recording of financial information.

Students interested in a suggested order for taking classes in this program can view the recommended course sequence

Course Prerequisites and Advisories:

Courses in a program of study may have prerequisites or advisories; that is, courses that must or should be completed before taking that course. Please check for prerequisites or advisories by clicking on the course numbers in the Program Requirements section.

It is important that students who are completing an Associate Degree and desire to transfer to a four-year institution meet with a counselor to plan their lower division coursework. While many majors at SRJC are intended to align with lower division major preparation required by California public universities, specific lower-division major requirements vary among individual campuses. See a counselor, visit the Transfer Center, and check Guides For Transfer in Specific Majors, and ASSIST to review transfer preparation guides for specific schools and majors.

Notes:

Recommended preparation: BGN 101 (Computer Keyboarding) or equivalent.