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Accounting Technician Diploma
The Accounting Technician Diploma is a two-year program designed to prepare graduates for positions as para-professionals that serve alongside professional accountants in industry, public practice, and government doing much of the support work. Graduates find employment with public accounting firms working on files and basic tax returns; as payroll, accounts receivable, accounts payable, or general accounting clerks in larger organizations; or as bookkeepers with smaller businesses.
Those who complete just the first year will be awarded a Business Foundations Certificate. This qualifies graduates for some entry-level positions, but they are encouraged to continue their education part-time or online if possible.
If you enjoy working with people and have good communication and problem solving skills, this program could be for you.
Learning objectives
Upon completion of this program, students are able to:
- Prepare effective business documents including memorandums and short reports.
- Solve business problems using complex quantitative techniques.
- Describe the environment that businesses operating in, the functions of management, and the role of different management disciplines.
- Maintain the financial records of a small- and intermediate-sized business using computerized accounting software.
- Utilize spreadsheet and other application software in day-to-day work activities.
- Explain how effective management information systems can contribute to an organization’s success.
- Discuss how human and interpersonal behaviour theory can be applied to maximize organizational efficiency.
- Collect and analyze complex information to assist management in making more effective operational decisions.
- Compute the income taxes payables for an individual or corporation applying effective tax planning strategies.
- Manage an organization’s operating and fixed assets effectively and fund those assets with an optimal mix of debt and equity financing.
- Apply the basic principles of contract, tort, employment and other areas of business law to decision making.
Admission requirements
- B.C. Grade 12 or mature student status.
- Foundations Math 12 or Pre-Calculus Math 12 with a minimum C+ or equivalent.
- English 12/English 12 First Peoples with a minimum of 73 per cent or equivalent.
Students may commence their studies while they upgrade their English and Mathematics.
Program requirements
First year
| MATH 1070 MATH 1100 |
Mathematics for Business and Economics (Recommended) or Finite Mathematics with Applications |
| ENGL 1100 | Introduction to University Writing |
| ECON 1220 ECON 1900 |
Introduction to Basic Economics or Principles of Microeconomics (Recommended) |
| MNGT 1710 | Introduction to Business |
| ACCT 2210 | Financial Accounting |
| CMNS 1290 | Introduction to Professional Writing |
| ECON 1900 ECON 1950 |
Principles of Microeconomics or Principles of Macroeconomics (Recommended) |
| ACCT 2280 | Accounting Software Systems |
| MIST 2610 | Management Information Systems |
| ORGB 2810 | Organizational Behaviour |
Second year
| ACCT 2250 | Management Accounting |
| ECON 2320 STAT 1200 |
Economics and Business Statistics 1 (Recommended) or Introduction to Statistics |
| MKTG 2430 HRMN 2820 |
Introduction to Marketing or Human Resource Management |
| ACCT 3200 | Intermediate Financial Accounting 1 |
| ACCT 3220 | Income Taxation 1 |
| FNCE 2120 | Financial Management |
| BLAW 2910 | Commercial Law |
| ACCT 3210 | Intermediate Financial Accounting 2 |
| ACCT 3230 | Income Taxation 2 |
| ACCT 3250 | Intermediate Management Accounting |
Students must achieve a grade of C- or better in all courses to graduate. Those who plan on pursuing the Bachelor of Business Administration are recommended to take MATH 1070, ECON 1900, ECON 1950, and ECON 2320.