Business Administration

BOOKKEEPING
CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT - PENDING STATE APPROVAL

What Should I Expect from the Bookkeeping Program?

Chabot offers three programs in Accounting: certificate in Bookkeeping, certificate in Accounting Technician, and AS degree in Accounting.  Bookkeeping certificate targets individuals that want to quickly enter the workforce.   You will be employed in entry-level positions as bookkeepers, payroll clerks, income tax clerks working for small businesses, including small accounting/taxation firms.  Students learn the theory of double-entry bookkeeping, the practice of journals and ledgers, preparing payroll documents, tax forms, using Excel and QuickBooks for accounting applications, and reconciling banking statements.

Nature of Work (from Occupation Outlook Handbook)

Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks are financial recordkeepers. They update and maintain accounting records, including those which calculate expenditures, receipts, accounts payable and receivable, and profit and loss. These workers have a wide range of skills from full-charge bookkeepers who can maintain an entire company's books to accounting clerks who handle specific tasks. All of these clerks make numerous computations each day and increasingly must be comfortable using computers to calculate and record data.

In small businesses, bookkeepers and bookkeeping clerks often have responsibility for some or all of the accounts, known as the general ledger. They record all transactions and post debits (costs) and credits (income). They also produce financial statements and prepare reports and summaries for supervisors and managers. Bookkeepers also prepare bank deposits by compiling data from cashiers, verifying and balancing receipts, and sending cash, checks, or other forms of payment to the bank. They also may handle payroll, make purchases, prepare invoices, and keep track of overdue accounts.

As organizations continue to computerize their financial records, many bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks use specialized accounting software, spreadsheets, and databases. Most clerks now enter information from receipts or bills into computers, and the information is then stored either electronically or as computer printouts, or both. The widespread use of computers also has enabled bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks to take on additional responsibilities, such as payroll, procurement, and billing. Many of these functions require these clerks to write letters and make phone calls to customers or clients.

Job Growth Projections and Salary Level (from California Employment Development Department)

In California, the number of jobs for bookkeepers and accounting clerks is expected to grow by 8 percent between 2004 and 2014 and 2016, with over 6,000 new jobs open each year.  The salary ranges between $28,858 and $43,851 with annual mean earnings of $36,795.  One of the fastest growing categories within this profession are Payroll and Timekeeping clerks.  This category is expected to grow over 21% in the same period of time, with the mean annual earnings of $38,754 (range, $31,114-45,943).

CORE COURSES -  UNITS

The above listing is a suggested sequence only.  Some courses may have prerequisites.  Students may take courses in any sequence except where a prerequisite applies.