ACCOUNTING ASSISTANT/BOOKKEEPER, LEVEL IV

The Accounting Assistant/Bookkeeper: Level IV Certificate of Achievement gives students the

foundation they need for entry-level employment in the accounting department of any business or

to become a CPA. It prepares students to pursue a career in finance or corporate management, to

work in government, or to become business owners. It also fulfills some of the major

requirements for the AS-T in Business Administration degree designed to transfer to accounting

programs at CSU campuses.

To earn this certificate, students must complete all of the following requirements:

1. Complete all Department Requirements for the Certificate of Achievement (25-29 units

in the major) with a C or better or “Pass” in each course.

2. A minimum of 6 units must be taken through SBCC.

The Accounting Assistant/Bookkeeper: Level IV Certificate of Achievement gives students the

foundation they need for entry-level employment in the accounting department of any business or

to become a CPA. It prepares students to pursue a career in finance or corporate management, to

work in government, or to become business owners. It also fulfills some of the major

requirements for the AS-T in Business Administration degree designed to transfer to accounting

programs at CSU campuses.

Accounting courses provide the essential foundation needed to succeed in these career areas:

● Management: general management, financial management, budget management,

assets management, controller, treasurer

● Private Accounting: general financial accounting, accounting information systems

design, cost accounting, budgeting, taxation, internal auditing, data processing

● Public Accounting—CPAs: auditing, tax compliance and tax planning services,

management advisory services, computerized accounting systems

● Government Accounting

● Accounting Education: teaching, research, consulting

The main competencies achieved in this program include:

Accounting Literacy

Technical Competency: Computer Systems Literacy

Income Tax Literacy

Payroll Competency

1. Use introductory managerial accounting concepts to make decisions within a business.

2. Apply generally accepted accounting principles to record common business transactions,

to prepare simple financial statements, and to analyze the results of operations, cash

flows and financial position as reported.

3. Calculate and explain the impact of alternate generally accepted accounting principles for

financial ratio analysis and economic analysis.

4. Recognize the elementary business laws and the consequences of ignoring or not

following legal business precepts and/or behaving unethically.

5. Use computer technology and applications to record, report and analyze business

transactions and their effects on operating, investing and financing activities.

6. Prepare financial reports and communiqués, using standard Business English.

7. Define elementary business management concepts.