Certificate in Accounting Program (In-Class and Online)

  • Format:

    Online

  • Duration:

    31 weeks
    (Including breaks)

  • Application Fee:

    $40 (Domestic)

    $140 (International)

  • Tuition Fee:

    $3,450 (Domestic)

    $4,485 (International)

    + textbook fee

    ~$650

Apply Now

Start Date

Online

Part-Time: May 8, 2023 – December 8, 2023

Part-Time Schedule: Live streaming sessions will be held Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm PST

Students who are unable to attend the live streaming sessions, can watch the recordings of these sessions which are available for seven days after the date of each session.

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Testimonials

John the instructor was very helpful and insightful. Instructors like this are able to convey the material in a manner that is concise and easy for everyone to understand. This is the second class I have taken with this instructor. Highly Recommend.

James MacDonlad – Certificate in Accounting Alumni, 2022

I really enjoyed this class. The class was very detailed and organized. Thanks, Emad!

Jamal Kessab – Certificate in Accounting Alumni, 2022

So far my experience with Ashton college has been great. I hope my experience will be good in future. I am learning a lot from this college. The way of teaching is very excellent and understandable.

Ravinder Kumar Jakhu – Certificate in Accounting Alumni, 2022

Certificate in Accounting Program: Overview


Our Certificate in Accounting Program prepares graduates for entry-level bookkeeping and various accounting positions in the Canadian workforce. This program is designed to provide students with a solid grasp of accounting techniques and procedures, as well as how to apply them in both manual and computerized environments. The emphasis is on the teaching of practical hands-on training methods. Individuals who have no prior knowledge of accounting or those who are currently working in an accounting position can take this accounting program.

The demand for accountants in Canada is high and an accounting career is an excellent choice for professionals seeking job stability and competitive wages. In every industry, there are opportunities for accountants and clear paths for professional growth. Whether you want to work in the public or private sector, there is a role for you. Financial managers play a vital role in ensuring that organizations are run efficiently and effectively.

Goals of the Certificate in Accounting Program

  • To help students understand accounting, we will teach them how to use critical thinking and develop problem-solving skills
  • Students will learn about the accounting cycle for managing a personal/service-type business and a merchandising business
  • To introduce students to widely used accounting software: Sage 50 and QuickBooks

CBA Accreditation

This accounting program is accredited by the Canadian Bookkeepers Association (CBA) and Ashton College is proud to be listed as an affiliate member of the organization. Graduates of this program can apply for a CBA membership to become Registered Professional Bookkeepers with the association. The CBA is a national non-profit association established in 2003. The CBA advances bookkeeping professionals in Canada and furthers the bookkeeping industry.

Accounting program accredited by CBA

CPB Accreditation

This program is accredited by the Certified Professional Bookkeepers of Canada (CPB). By enrolling in the program, you will be aligned with Canada’s largest and fastest-growing certifying body of bookkeepers. Graduates will have the opportunity to fast track towards the nationally recognized Certified Professional Bookkeeper (CPB) designation. Students will also have access to a preferred student membership rate, full of member benefits that will provide access to continuing education and networking opportunities with bookkeeping professionals across Canada.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:

  • Apply the basic and advanced accounting equations to all supporting journals, ledgers, worksheets, and financial statements
  • Understand business analytics, the accounting cycle, and how it structures this profession
  • Apply the knowledge and skills necessary to perform accounting duties competently
  • Evaluate cases, use critical thinking, and make sound decisions to solve problems and issues related to accounting
  • Set up QuickBooks, enter data accurately, and manage the accounting function for a small business
  • Set up the accounting software Sage 50, understand data management, and fulfil the accounting function
  • Students will learn how to keep track of cash flows of a small business. They will learn about the different types of businesses, and how to manage money for each type

Career Options

Job openings in the accounting field are predicted to significantly increase in the Canadian market over the next few years. Some possible career opportunities include:

  • Bookkeeper
  • Accounting Assistant
  • Accounting Clerk
  • Insurance Clerk
  • Accounting Technician
  • Accounting Specialist
  • Accounting Officer
  • Real Estate Clerk
  • Accounts Payable Clerk
  • Accounts Receivable Clerk
  • Customer Service Representative (Banking)
  • Collection Clerk
  • Finance Clerk
  • Tax Preparer

Course Descriptions

CA 01: Financial Accounting – Basics (30 hours)

This course provides an overview of the financial reporting process. It concentrates on the recording process and the production of financial statements. Perfect for non-accounting majors, accounting topics are presented in small, manageable segments, using clear language and plentiful visuals. The course introduces simple tools to allow students to analyze financial information and explain the information contained in the financial statements in their future roles as managers, investors, or other users of financial accounting information.

CA 02: Financial Accounting – Advanced (42 hours)

Building on CA 01 Financial Accounting- Basics, this course presents students with more advanced topics in Financial Accounting. Advanced topics provide students with in-depth knowledge of assets and depreciation, and examining intangible assets and leases. Students will explore and learn about current liabilities and contingencies. They will examine stockholders equity and earnings, as well as accounting changes and error corrections.

CA 03: Computerized Accounting 1 – Sage 50 Accounting (40 hours)

This course is designed to introduce students to Sage 50 Accounting. Highlights include an overview of the interface followed by a detailed look at creating a company, defining company settings and entering historical data. Coverage of the core modules in Sage 50 Accounting as well as the most common transactions, periodic processing and reporting are also discussed. Students will have an overview of the setup and use of payroll and inventory, followed by a detailed look at how to use projects, time slips and time and billing, budgets, multicurrency and departmental accounting. This is followed by a look at advanced reporting, database management, year-end, customizing forms, and concludes with the topic on users and security.

CA 04: Computerized Accounting 2 – Quickbooks (32 hours)

This course is an introduction to QuickBooks. It provides hands-on instruction regarding how to set up QuickBooks for use as a system for small businesses. This course will teach students how to use many of the features available in QuickBooks. Participants will learn about the types of information they need to track in their business and will become familiar with the most common tasks required, as well as the more advanced functions of the software.

CA 05: Cost Accounting (32 hours)

This course is intended to provide students with an in-depth knowledge of fundamental cost accounting techniques for use in a manufacturing and service environment. Emphasis is placed on product/service cost determination using Job Order Systems, Process Costing systems and Standard Cost practices. Budget topics are also addressed.

CA 06: Taxation and Payroll (36 hours)

This course provides students with a basic understanding of the Income Tax Act and regulations to determine the Income Tax Liability as it applies mainly to individuals and businesses. The course allows students to learn how to prepare a simple tax return for an individual resident of Canada and to use the knowledge gained from this course to solve problems relating to the taxation of individuals resident and non-resident of Canada. Students will also study GST and HST. The course is a comprehensive and practical approach to federal and provincial legislation relating to the payroll function. This course provides an overview of the requirements for processing payroll calculations and administrating the payments to employees, government agencies and other parties in compliance with laws, regulations and contractual arrangements. Students will learn how to prepare hourly, salaried and commission payroll. They will also learn payroll law, record maintenance, pay cheque and statement preparation, T4 preparation, and how current source deduction rules affect payroll preparation. WCA, Revenue Canada Taxation, Records of Employment and Stats Canada reporting are covered, as well as Employment Standards.

CA 07: Audit (28 hours)

The course is a comprehensive and practical approach to federal and provincial legislation relating to audit reports on financial statements. It will overview audit reports on the effectiveness of internal controls, various ways auditors gather evidence, and the role of professional skepticism in evaluating audit evidence. Prioritizing risks, auditor independence rules, audit of sales and receipts purchases, disbursements, and payroll cycle will all be covered as well.

Faculty

Subject to change without notice

Saeed Ahmed

During his 15 years as a professional accountant, Saeed Ahmed has collected valuable experiences in Canada. He has been a financial manager in the private sector, a public service officer with the Federal government, a business owner and recently a business teacher. He is inspired to pass along the best that he has learned. Saeed appreciates good, healthy discussions that result in productive action. His teaching style is to learn from stories, anecdotes, common sense and critical thinking to discover the reasoning behind ideas and put everything into practice.

 

Obada Al-DimashkiObada Al-Dimashki

Obada Al-Dimashki is an engaging and interpersonal business professor with extensive experience teaching at various post-secondary institutions across Canada. His teaching has covered several business topics including international business, finance, supply chain and management. Along with his teaching, His industry experience includes international supply chain management at a major industrial group and he has served as a reserve Combat Logistics Officer with the Canadian Armed Forces.

 

Effren Atienza

Effren Atienzais an Internationally Trained Certified Public Accountant (ITA-CPA); has a Master’s in Business Administration (by Correspondence); and obtained the Certified Payroll Manager (CPM) designation from the National Payroll Institute.

He is also a Professional Bookkeeper and has multiple QuickBooks certifications from American and Canadian associations. He has more than 30 years of work experience in the field of accounting, payroll, and human resources working as an Accountant, Payroll Specialist, Accounting Manager, and Financial Controller. Presently, he is working on his own accounting & consulting firm as Chief Financial Officer & Administrator.

 

Sanjay Bhatia

Sanjay Bhatia is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) with more than 15 years of international experience working in the fields of bookkeeping, accounting, and taxation in the United States, India and Canada. He is passionate about developing technical and professional skills of students demanded by employers in today’s highly competitive industry. He believes in sharing his wealth of experience and knowledge by imparting result-oriented education to future professionals.

 

Cynthia Ellacott

Cynthia Ellacott is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) who has worked to enhance both large and small businesses by reviewing processes and making recommendations for changes. She has worked in the accounting field since she was a teenager in her family business. She started doing ledger accounting when she was thirteen before the start of accounting programs and obtained her accounting designation in 2000.

 

Zahra Kawa

Zahra comes to Ashton with over 15 years of experience in accounting and finance. Having worked in different capacities in public practice, private, public and not-for-profit organizations, her experience spans diverse industries such as aviation, transportation, construction, and telecommunications. As an educator, she has experience in facilitating CPA modules, in-class workshops and teaching CPA candidates. Zahra holds an Honours Degree in Commerce and has a Certified Professional Accountant (CPA) designation for British Columbia.

 

Tenaj Patterson

Tenaj Patterson is a graduate of an M.Ed in Business, an Honours Degree in Business Administration and has 10+ years in the accounting sector. As an educator, she has focused her career on preparing the future professionals of tomorrow. She has taught a plethora of courses within the business sector at various Universities and Colleges in Canada for the past 7 years.

 

PrabhuDilip Prabhu

Dilip is a Chartered Accountant from India. He also has a Bachelors of Science in Economics/Mathematics from the University of Alberta. Dilip has passed the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Level 1 exam and has worked as a financial controller in Canada for more than seven years. Prior to moving to Canada, Dilip was a Regional Financial Controller managing a large team based in Dubai, UAE for almost eight years. Dilip was in charge of finance and administration, overseeing many countries in the Gulf. He has extensive experience in financial accounting, auditing, budgeting, management discussion and analysis, and preparing business plans.

 

Emad Tawadrous

Emad Tawadrous is a Certified Management Accountant (CMA) who was working as a taxation lecturer assistant for two years and as an accounting instructor for the past five years. He teaches accounting fundamentals, financial reporting, managerial accounting, cost accounting, payroll, computerized accounting with Sage and QuickBooks, management information systems, business math, and corporate and personal taxation.

 

 

Timothy Troy

Timothy holds an MBA from the Smith School of Business at Queens University, where he also completed the Centre for Social Impact’s graduate program in socially responsible leadership. He also attended the Schulich School of Business at York University, where he completed an undergraduate degree in Economics & Business. Timothy is a professional member of the Institute of Corporate Directors, Institute of Internal Auditors, Chartered Professionals in Human Resources and the Society for Human Resources Management and continues to serve on a variety of non-profit and independent corporate boards. Timothy has also completed Osgoode Hall Law School’s program in Indigenous Peoples and Canadian Law and is an avid runner, cyclist and conservationist who truly enjoys teaching, supporting and mentoring others.

 

Fred Zhuang

Fred Zhuang is a CPA. He is engaged in the automotive industry. As the controller, he oversees accounting, payroll, tax and year-end. He is specialized in financial reporting, management accounting, finance and performance management. He also serves on non-profit boards as the treasurer and helps Canadians with personal tax during tax season. He is looking to share his experience with students and ensure their success in the accounting profession.

 

Admission Requirements

General Admission Requirements for Domestic Students

Domestic students need ONE of the following:

  • Canadian Passport
  • Certificate of Canadian Citizenship
  • Confirmation of Permanent Residence
  • Legal documentation from IRCC

And you must prove the following:

  • You have successfully completed a B.C. Secondary School diploma or the equivalent of one
  • You are at least 19 years old before the first day of your program

English Language Proficiency Requirements for Domestic Students

Are you a domestic student?

You must show your language proficiency in ONE of the following ways:

  • Completion of BC English Studies 12, English First Peoples 12 or Literary Studies 12 with a minimum grade of C+ (or equivalents); or
  • Completion of three or more consecutive years of secondary education or two or more consecutive years of post-secondary education at a recognized institution where the language of instruction is English; or
  • Achieve the competency standard of a Test of English Language Proficiency as set out in Section 5.4 below. Scores for standardized English language tests are only valid for a 24-month period from the date of testing.

English is presumed to be the language of instruction in the following countries:

American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Falkland Islands, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Gibraltar, Grenada, Guam, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malta, Mauritius, Montserrat, New Zealand, Nigeria, Seychelles, Sierre Leone, Singapore, South Africa, St Helena, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & The Grenadines, Tanzania, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States of America, US Virgin Islands, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Approved English Language Proficiency Tests and Scores

  • Cambridge English Advanced (CAE): minimum score of 58 or C
  • The Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL): minimum score of 55
  • Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP): General 6
  • Duolingo: minimum score of 110 (temporary due to COVID)
  • International English Language Testing (IELTS): academic level with a minimum overall score of 6.0
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) internet-based test: academic level with a minimum score of 79-80 and a minimum of 19-20 on each band
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) paper-based test: minimum score of 550 and a minimum of 23 each for reading, writing, and listening

General Admission Requirements for International Students

International students need:

  • A valid passport from their country of citizenship and a valid study permit

And you must prove the following:

  • You have successfully completed a B.C. Secondary School diploma or the equivalent of one
  • You are at least 19 years old before the first day of your program

English Language Proficiency Requirements for International Students

Are you an international student?

You must show your language proficiency in ONE of the following ways:

  • Completion of BC English Studies 12, English First Peoples 12 or Literary Studies 12 with a minimum grade of C+ (or equivalents); or
  • Completion of three or more consecutive years of secondary education or two or more consecutive years of post-secondary education at a recognized institution where the language of instruction is English; or
  • Achieve the competency standard of a Test of English Language Proficiency as set out in Section 5.4 below. Scores for standardized English language tests are only valid for a 24-month period from the date of testing.

English is presumed to be the language of instruction in the following countries:

American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Falkland Islands, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Gibraltar, Grenada, Guam, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malta, Mauritius, Montserrat, New Zealand, Nigeria, Seychelles, Sierre Leone, Singapore, South Africa, St Helena, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & The Grenadines, Tanzania, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States of America, US Virgin Islands, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Approved English Language Proficiency Tests and Scores

  • Cambridge English Advanced (CAE): minimum score of 58 or C
  • The Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL): minimum score of 55
  • Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP): General 6
  • Duolingo: minimum score of 110 (temporary due to COVID)
  • International English Language Testing (IELTS): academic level with a minimum overall score of 6.0
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) internet-based test: academic level with a minimum score of 79-80 and a minimum of 19-20 on each band
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) paper-based test: minimum score of 550 and a minimum of 23 each for reading, writing, and listening

General Admission Requirements for Mature Students

Do you identify as a mature student?

To qualify, you must meet the following requirements:

  • You are at least 19 years of age at the start of their program
  • You have not completed a B.C. Secondary School diploma or the equivalent of one

Application Requirements

Mature Students must submit ALL of the following:

  • At least one letter of reference from a person who is not related to you
  • A statement of intent clearly outlining your career goals and your reasons for believing you will succeed in the program
  • A personal profile of 250 words or less

Additional Requirements

You must meet all of the program-specific and non-academic requirements where listed. In some cases, you may need to complete a placement exam to determine academic readiness.

 

Dates

Online

Part-Time:

  • May 8, 2023 – December 8, 2023
    • Live streaming sessions will be held Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm PST
    • Students who are unable to attend the live streaming sessions, can watch the recordings of these sessions which are available for seven days after the date of each session.

Fees

Tuition fees for the program are payable in three instalments. The first instalment is due 2 weeks prior to the start date. Students with guaranteed funding arrangements will be exempt from this requirement provided they produce proof of funding before the cohort start date. International students are required to pay tuition fees in full at least two weeks prior to the start date.

All formats of the program are eligible for Canada Student Loans, other forms of government funding, and bank financing. However, students are responsible for making their own funding arrangements and are advised to contact the relevant funder well in advance of the start date to make an application.

Application and tuition fees for this program are as follows:

  • Application fee: $40 (Domestic Students) or $140 (International Students)
  • Tuition fee (Domestic): $3,450
  • Tuition fee (International): $4,485

Note: Tuition fees do not include the cost of the required textbooks. The textbook fee is approximately $650.

Technical Requirements

Online Students

Ashton College uses web conferencing tools to help instructors and students connect and collaborate online. For the online classes, students need to have a fully functional computer system with a webcam, speakers and microphone or headset and headphones, along with a reliable high-speed internet connection. Though the classes can be accessed using smartphones and tablets, we recommend using a laptop or desktop computer for a better learning experience.

This program was reviewed and approved by the Registrar of the Private Training Institutions Branch of the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training.

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