Accounting Undergraduate Certificate Outline

The fundamentals of double-entry bookkeeping and the debit/credit method of recording transactions. The bookkeeping cycle, from recording transactions to preparing financial statements, is included. Emphasis is placed on service concerns operating as sole proprietorships.

Accounting scenarios for a professional service business; using the combination journal; accounting methods for cash; payroll accounting methods; accounting methods for sales, cash receipts, purchases, and cash payments in a merchandising business; the voucher system; year-end accounting.

Accounts receivables; notes and interest; maintaining accurate merchandise inventory; long-term assets; business partnerships; corporate organization and capital stock; earnings and distributions; bonds; managing cash flow; analysis of financial statements; departmental and manufacturing accounting.

The rules of financial analysis; accrual accounting and income determination; structure, use, and analysis of the balance sheet and statement of cash flows; principles of valuation of assets; credit risk assessment; receivables; managing inventories; long-lived assets; depreciation.

Using spreadsheet software (Microsoft Excel) for recording a variety of business transactions, analyzing the financial data of a business and preparing its financial reports; entering and editing spreadsheet data; working with spreadsheet formulas, formats, and functions; model-building techniques; incorporating charts.

Financial instruments as liabilities; leasing considerations; income tax reporting; reporting for owners' equity, pensions, and retirement issues; inter-corporate equity investments; statement of cash flows; international standards for financial reporting; inflation accounting methods.

Financial management in different kinds of markets; interest rates; cash flow; financial forecasting, planning, and budgeting; the time value of money; stocks and bonds; gauging risk and return in an investment; the cost of capital; dividend policy; managing working capital; liquid assets; international finance.