Learn the Ins and Outs of Being an Accounting Clerk at Centennial College

The maintaining of financial records, bookkeeping, money management and accounting are at the base of every successful company. The people behind these jobs are accounting clerks and accounts payable clerks. Although these two very important career paths are similar, there are slight differences. However, training obtained through Centennial College’s Accounting Clerk program prepares you for both.

Not only is a college certificate important in the accounting clerk field, it is essential. Obtained in just one year (2 semesters), the certificate demonstrates your knowledge of complex topics such as: financial accounting and management, capital cost, structure and budgeting, investment valuation, dividend policy, mergers and acquisitions, consolidation, planning and control, working capital management, long-term sources of funds as well as short term and intermediate financing. Along with these varied topics, Accounting Clerk training offers a special focus on computerized accounting. In today’s workforce the use of computer programs to perform accounting tasks is commonplace. The program helps to meet the high demand for people with a solid background in accounting and microcomputer skills.

In addition, Centennial College’s accounting clerk program is known for its leading edge information technology infrastructure. Many classes are taught in a lab environment, which is fully equipped with an integrated network of computer systems. This real-life simulation gives students the experiences they need to be confident upon graduation. However, there is more to being an accounting clerk or accounts payable clerk than crunching numbers on a computer. These professionals also require effective business communication skills, which are taught at Centennial. The best part is that transferring into other accounting programs at Centennial is easy!

So what’s needed to attend this intensive program? Centennial College expects students applying for admission to present at minimum an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent or be 19 years of age or older. However, possession of minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission to the program. Academically, students should also possess the following: compulsory English 12C or U or skills assessment, or equivalent and math 11C, M or U or 12C or U or skills assessment, or equivalent.

Upon graduation, the scope and responsibilities of an accounting clerk depend on the size of the company at which he or she is employed. Typically, an accounting clerk calculates, posts and verifies financial data for use in maintaining accounting records. This is achieved by compiling and sorting documents such as invoices and cheques or other business transactions. The accounting clerk also computes and records charges, refunds, and cost of lost or damaged goods, freight charges, rentals or similar items. Many may also reconcile bank statements. Meanwhile, an accounts payable clerk has a job that is threefold. First, he or she performs the day-to-day processing of accounts payable transactions to ensure that finances are maintained in an effective, up to date and accurate manner. Secondly, he or she completes payroll functions so that staff members are paid in an accurate and timely manner. Lastly, the accounts payable clerk provides administrative support to ensure efficient office operations.

Although the jobs of the accounting clerk and the accounts payable clerk differ, there are overlapping responsibilities. Therefore, attending Centennial College’s Accounting Clerk program provides sufficient education to perform both jobs. This gives you the advantage in the competitive financial market.