How do you manage the finances of a business? Whether you are an entrepreneur, running a family business, or just looking to advance your career and add to your skill set, this Bookkeeping Certificate will provide you with the knowledge needed to measure, and manage, the financial health of your business. This program focuses on cash basis accounting.

No one will care more about the financial health of your business than you! It’s imperative that you understand how the process works and are able to complete the accounting cycle accurately and in a timely fashion. Even if you plan to outsource your bookkeeping needs, you should still understand how the process works. No one should be clueless when it comes to the finances of their business.

Individual Courses

Understanding Debits and Credits
In this course, you will learn about the accounting equation and the five categories involved in every business (Assets, Liabilities, Owner’s Equity, Revenue, and Expenses).  Every single financial transaction falls into one or more of these categories.  Learn how to create a chart of accounts that meet the needs of your business.  You will learn how double entry bookkeeping works and the process of recording debits and credits.  This course will show you how to identify, analyze and record transactions using journal entries under the cash basis accounting method.

One month course; Sharon deFonteny, instructor

General Ledger and Month End Procedures
In this course, you will learn how to post journal entries to the correct general ledger accounts impacted by each transaction.  This course will show you how to make sure your general ledger balances at the end of each month by preparing an unadjusted trial balance.  You will learn how to look for errors when you don’t balance, and how to determine to correct entries.   After posting correcting entries and/or adjusting entries, you will verify debits and credits equal with an adjusted trial balance.  This course also goes through the steps of performing monthly bank reconciliations.

One month course; Sharon deFonteny, instructor

Closing Procedures and Financial Statements
This course shows you how to create a worksheet used to adjust the account balances and prepare the financial statements.  Use your financial statements to measure performance, make improvements and set goals.  The final step covered in this course is closing your books and preparing them for the next accounting period; this is done by journalizing and posting closing entries.

One month course; Sharon deFonteny, instructor

Question MarkAbout online learning

Online learning is a fun, enjoyable and very productive way to learn. Millions of people are learning online each year. You will engage with the instructor and other participants. You will get to know your instructor and other participants. You may make friends.  It’s easy. It’s fun. 

GearsHow the Course Works

It is easy to participate in your online course. After you register, you will be given a web address to go to get into your online classroom.  You will have a password and use your email address and password to gain access.

Once inside the online classroom, here’s what you can expect.

CalendarParticipate when you want

You can participate any time of day or evening. The online classroom is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
There are no live real-time requirements or meetings. You decide when you participate.
For the best learning, participants should log into the course on 2-3 different days of the week.

ChecklistWhat you will do

For each Unit, you will:

  • Access the online readings
  • Listen to the audio presentation for the Unit and view the slides
  • Take a self-quiz to see how much you have learned
  • Engage in written online discussion with your instructor and other participants

For best learning, you should make one or more comments at 2-3 different times each day.

The content (readings, audio lectures, slides) and self quizzes are accessible for the entire course, so you can work ahead, or go back and review again, at your convenience.

DiscussionDiscussion

The Discussion for each Unit lasts one week. All comments are made in writing and can be made at any time of the day or night.

Your instructor will log into the Discussion area at least once a day and answer questions, make comments, and respond to comments by you and the other participants.

We encourage you to make 2-3 comments each day to maximize your learning and enjoyment of the course.

It’s easy. It’s fun.

 

Next offering(s):

Closing Procedures and Financial Statements
April 7 - May 2, 2025
June 2 - 27, 2025
August 4 - 29, 2025
November 3 - 28, 2025

General Ledger and Month End Procedures
March 3 - 28, 2025
May 5 - 30, 2025
July 7 - August 1, 2025
October 6 - 31, 2025

Understanding Debits and Credits
February 3 - 28, 2025
April 7 - May 2, 2025
June 2 - 27, 2025
September 2 - 26, 2025

$495.0000 USD
$495 USD

Avg. hours 48, 4.8 CEUs/ILUs

About Your Instructor

 
Sharon deFonteny has a degree in Business Education with a concentration in Accounting and spent many years in Corporate America working in Accounting and Finance. For the past 5 years, she has created and taught online Business courses for Bucks County Community College. Her experience in business, as well as experience in teaching, has allowed her to help people understand the Accounting and Finance process.  


Directional ArrowsCertificate Objectives
 
·         Students will gain an understanding of the accounting equation and each of the five categories involved in every business.
·         Students will learn the difference between cash basis accounting and accrual basis accounting.
·         Students will learn how to complete each phase of the accounting cycle, from analyzing a financial transaction to preparing financial statements and closing the books.

Puzzle PiecesCertificate Outcomes
 
Upon completion of the Certificate program, students will be able to:
 
·         Create a chart of accounts based on the needs of their business
·         Analyze and record financial transactions accurately and in a timely fashion using double entry bookkeeping
·         Maintain and balance a general ledger monthly
·         Perform monthly bank reconciliations
·         Prepare a worksheet for completing year-end trial balances and gathering information for financial statements.
·         Prepare financial statements
·         Post closing entries and prepare the books for the new year
Completion Requirements