Program Overview

Accountant Assistant Certificate Program

Introduction

The Accountant Assistant Certificate Program at Santa Rosa Junior College prepares students to work in the accounting profession or continue their studies in accounting. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the future of accounting is bright, with a 16 percent increase in job openings anticipated in the next several years.

Program Description

The program instruction is designed around lectures, case studies, group projects, and current business practices. Courses offered include:

• Financial Accounting
• Managerial Accounting
• Cost Accounting
• Intermediate Accounting
• Computerized Accounting
• Tax Accounting Many courses are also transferable to four-year universities and colleges. Financial and Managerial Accounting fulfill the lower-division accounting transfer requirement for a Business Administration major at most universities.

Career Opportunities

Careers in Accounting include:

• Tax accounting
• Governmental or nonprofit accounting
• Cost accounting
• Management accounting Accountant Assistants are responsible for recording and analyzing the financial information of the organizations and businesses where they are employed, as well as working on budgeting, performance evaluations, cost management, tax preparation, and asset management.

Quality Instruction

For convenience, classes are taught in the day, evening, weekends, and online by instructors with practical business experience and expertise. Class discussions and assignments revolve around current accounting practices and procedures. Students will learn:

• Accounting procedures for service, merchandising, and manufacturing companies
• The basics of Cost, Tax, Financial, Management Accounting
• Preparation and analysis of the Income Statement, Statement of Owner's Equity, Balance Sheet, and Statement of Cash Flows
• Through collaborative projects, case studies, homework assignments, and oral and written presentations, students in the Accountant Assistant Program learn the skills that are greatly valued in the workplace, including:
  • Analytical skills
  • Computer skills
  • Decision-making skills
  • Time management skills
  • Communication skills

Program Outcomes

Once they complete the Accounting Assistant Program, students will be equipped for a variety of employment opportunities to assist Financial Accountants, Full-Charge Bookkeepers, Cost Analysts, Budget Analysts, Management, and Tax Accountants.