Graduate Certificate in Professional Accounting

This one-year post-grad program is designed for university and college graduates looking for a career in professional accounting. Courses will be enriched with hands-on integrated technology applications and case studies based on real-world scenarios. Further real-world industry exposure will be maximized with guest speakers and hands-on projects. The program is designed to integrate all of the course topics and to develop students' critical thinking skills, research skills, and decision-making skills.

Your Learning Experience

Professional Accounting is a one-year Ontario College Graduate Certificate program. You’ll learn from skilled faculty that will teach you best practices in accounting and business while offering the real-world exposure you’ll need to succeed in your accounting career.

Not only will you develop specialized skills and knowledge of core accounting principles, but you will also make extensive use of Microsoft Excel and other industry-standard accounting software. You’ll graduate ready to prepare financial information to support management decision-making, calculate performance measures, prepare budgets and forecasts, monitor accounting procedures, and more.

Laptop requirements

Please note, a laptop is recommended for this program. It is recommended that students use a PC laptop vs. a Mac laptop, as Windows is required to be able to load program-specific software.

Courses

Level 1

Take all of the following Mandatory Courses:

• ACCT-6001 ---- Financial Accounting-Intro
• COMM-6019 ---- Advanced Professional Communication
• ECON-6004 ---- Economics
• MATH-6002 ---- Math for Business
• LAWS-6038 ---- Business Law
• ACCT-6002 ---- Accounting Software

Level 2

Take all of the following Mandatory Courses:

• ACCT-6010 ---- Financial Reporting 1-Inter
• ACCT-6011 ---- Financial Reporting 2-Inter
• ACCT-6008 ---- Management Accounting-Intro
• FINA-6019 ---- Finance-Intro
• FINA-6020 ---- Personal Taxation
• INFO-6071 ---- Information Technology

Level 3

Take all of the following Mandatory Courses:

• ACCT-6013 ---- Financial Reporting-Adv
• ACCT-6014 ---- Auditing Fundamentals
• ACCT-6012 ---- Management Accounting-Inter
• FINA-6021 ---- Applied Finance
• FINA-6022 ---- Corporate Taxation

Program Residency

Students Must Complete a Minimum of 16 credits in this program at Fanshawe College to meet the Program Residency requirement and graduate from this program

The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

1. Integrate ethical decision-making processes into all aspects of the accounting profession.
2. Apply recognized accounting principles to the systematic recording of transactions relating to assets, liabilities, owners' equity, revenue, and expenses.
3. Prepare appropriate transactions relating to partnership and corporate business structures.
4. Prepare accurate and relevant financial statements.
5. Analyze financial and managerial accounting information to assist in decision-making.
6. Formulate accurate and timely financial information using accounting software.
7. Integrate accounting information necessary for effective management decisions.
8. Compare, contrast, and select, from among various methods of product and service costing, those appropriate to a financial situation.
9. Prepare effective operating budgets.
10. Utilize statistical techniques effectively in the analysis of financial information.
11. Integrate computer technologies into various business situations.
12. Calculate measures appropriate to a variety of financial management situations.
13. Recommend appropriate information systems structures, planning, and usage in business.
14. Recognize potential legal implications within a business situation.
15. Produce effective written managerial communications.
16. Evaluate the economic concepts to be applied to a business situation.

Graduates of Fanshawe’s Professional Accounting program will have employment opportunities in many organizations, including public accounting firms, government offices, not-for-profit organizations, public and private corporations, small businesses, and financial institutions. A self-employment is also an option.

Graduates will be able to:

• prepare financial information to support management decision-making;
• prepare financial statements and related disclosures;
• calculate and report on financial and non-financial performance measures;
• support the development and maintenance of the organization’s management control and risk management systems;
• monitor and recommend improvements to account procedures, accounting information systems, and internal controls;
• monitor cash flow and cash flow requirements;
• prepare budgets and forecasts;
• prepare information for external auditors;
• support the auditor in planning and executing the audit; and
• help prepare tax filings and comply with remittance requirements.

Here are some examples of career opportunities for graduates of Fanshawe’s Professional Accounting program:

Accounting Clerk

Responsible for matching invoices to purchase orders, performing data entry, and reconciling bank statements with the general ledger.

Accounts Payable Clerk

Responsible for processing invoices and cheque requisitions for payment.

Bookkeeper

Assist with payroll, contractors, accounts receivable, accounts payable, internal manufacturing projects, fiscal year-end, HST/GST return preparation, and subsidy applications using commercial software.