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Get the Skills for a Professional Career as an Accounting Assistant

CanScribe College's Accounting Assistant Course sets you up for a long, successful career building up businesses.

22 Week Hands-On Accounting Assistant Course

If you’re thinking about training for some kind of new career, now is a great time to consider getting the skills to be an Accounting Assistant. This Accounting Assistant course is designed to help you find a career you can grow in! And CanScribe College is a designated college you want for a quality program. This program will help you create a new future!

One of the greatest advantages of working as an Accounting Assistant is that you can work in any industry! At the end of the day, you can working with the accounts, financial, and clients.

CanScribe College and You!

✓ Our Accounting Assistant course is 100% online, which means you never have to leave home to attend classes!

✓ The program sets you up for entry into mid-level accounting positions immediately after graduation.

✓ You can find a career working not just as an accounting assistant! You can work as an accounting or billing clerk, bookkeeping assistant, or accounts payable/receivable clerk.

✓ The Accounting Assistant course has fast-tracked graduation. Which means you can complete the program in as little as 3-months!

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Why Take an Accounting Assistant Course?

What an Accounting Assistant Course Covers

The CanScribe Accounting Assistant Course covers the accounting fundamentals, bookkeeping skills, and office software tools that employers test for when hiring for entry-level accounting positions. Students who complete the 22-week program graduate with training in Microsoft Excel for accounting, QuickBooks Online, and financial record-keeping — the three areas that appear most consistently in job postings for accounting assistants. CanScribe delivers the program as a 100% online accounting program with self-paced online learning, so students advance through each module on their own schedule and are not tied to a fixed class time.

Core Subject Areas in the Program

The Accounting Assistant Course builds skills across four connected subject areas: accounting and bookkeeping, Microsoft Office applications, office administration, and professional communication. Bookkeeping skills training covers both manual methods and QuickBooks Online, giving graduates experience with the software most small and mid-size employers use. Microsoft Excel for accounting is taught as a practical tool for calculations and financial record-keeping rather than as a standalone spreadsheet course.

How Self-Paced Learning Affects Completion Time

Students who already hold foundational knowledge in a subject area can attempt the assessment for that module and advance without completing all lesson materials. This structure lets motivated students finish the Accounting Assistant Course in as little as three months. The standard program length is 22 weeks. The course runs entirely online, which means students in any province can enroll without relocating or commuting. See accounting assistant career opportunities after graduation to understand what roles are available once students complete the program.

Software Skills Employers Expect from Accounting Assistants

Accounting assistants who enter the workforce without software training face a longer path to employment. Most employers posting entry-level accounting positions specify QuickBooks Online, Microsoft Excel, and computerized accounting software as minimum requirements — not preferred qualifications. Candidates who demonstrate those skills in an accounting assistant certificate program start job applications from a stronger position than candidates who list only general office experience.

QuickBooks Online and Computerized Accounting

QuickBooks Online handles accounts payable and accounts receivable tracking, payroll processing, bank reconciliation, and financial statement generation for millions of Canadian and North American businesses. Accounting assistants who know QuickBooks can perform these tasks without additional on-the-job training, which reduces the onboarding time employers need to factor into a new hire. The CanScribe Accounting Assistant Course teaches QuickBooks Online at both basic and intermediate levels, covering manual bookkeeping in parallel so graduates understand the underlying accounting logic rather than only the software interface. Students who want to review the entry requirements for the program can find details on the accounting assistant program admissions FAQ.

Microsoft Excel for Accounting Tasks

Microsoft Excel remains the most widely used tool for financial record-keeping, budget tracking, and data verification in accounting roles. Accounting assistants use Excel to reconcile figures between systems, flag discrepancies in bank reconciliation reports, and prepare supporting schedules for senior accounting staff. The CanScribe Accounting Assistant Course includes Excel training within the broader Microsoft Office component of the curriculum, alongside Word and Outlook, which are standard in administrative accounting environments.

Job Titles Graduates of Accounting Assistant Programs Qualify For

Graduates who hold an accounting assistant certificate can apply for a wider range of job titles than the role name suggests. Accounts payable clerk, accounts receivable clerk, billing clerk, bookkeeping assistant, and accounting clerk all appear regularly in job postings that match the skills covered in the CanScribe Accounting Assistant Course. These entry-level accounting positions exist in every industry because every organization that handles money requires someone to record, track, and reconcile those transactions. Job-ready accounting skills transfer across sectors, so graduates are not limited to a single industry or employer type.

Roles That Match Program Curriculum

Billing clerk roles require the accounts payable and receivable knowledge, basic financial record-keeping, and software proficiency that the Accounting Assistant Course directly addresses. Bookkeeping assistant positions typically require QuickBooks Online experience alongside manual bookkeeping knowledge, both of which the CanScribe program covers. Accounting clerk roles at larger organizations often include payroll processing support and bank reconciliation, which appear in the intermediate bookkeeping section of the curriculum.

Common Job Titles for Accounting Assistant Graduates

  • Accounting assistant — general support role covering accounts payable, receivable, and data entry across industries.
  • Accounts payable clerk — focused on processing vendor invoices, verifying purchase orders, and issuing payments.
  • Accounts receivable clerk — responsible for tracking incoming payments, issuing invoices, and following up on outstanding balances.
  • Billing clerk — generates customer invoices, processes billing adjustments, and reconciles billing records against contract terms.
  • Bookkeeping assistant — maintains financial records, records daily transactions, and supports month-end closing procedures.

Students researching the financial side of enrolling can find scholarship options and student loan eligibility information on the financial assistance page for accounting students. The Accounting Assistant Course is approved by the Private Training Institutions Regulatory Unit (PTIRU) of the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training, which means Canadian students in approved programs may qualify for federal and provincial student loan funding.

Who Should Take an Accounting Assistant Course

The CanScribe Accounting Assistant Course suits adults with no prior accounting experience who want job-ready accounting skills without committing to a multi-year degree. Career changers coming from administrative, retail, customer service, or general office roles bring transferable skills in organization, data entry, and client communication that apply directly to accounting assistant work. The program requires no prior experience in accounting software training or financial record-keeping, and the self-paced structure lets working adults complete modules around existing job or family schedules.

The Accounting Assistant Course fits people at a specific career crossroads: they want to move into an office-based or remote accounting role, they need a credential that signals competency to employers, and they cannot commit to a two-year or four-year program. Adults re-entering the workforce after a break, individuals looking to increase their earning potential in administrative roles, and career changers seeking stability in a field with consistent employer demand across every industry are the students this online college accounting course serves best.

The Accounting Assistant course was designed and built because of demand from the industry. Employers need certified accounting assistants who have the tangible skills to perform the job.

This program was designed according to requirements from industry experts for training that will allow new graduates to successfully enter the workforce.

Having comprehensive training in Microsoft Office, Windows, Accounting, Bookkeeping, and Communication (among other things) can greatly improve your employability. Having these skills, and proof that you got them from a thorough training program, can put you at the top of the hiring list.

Can I graduate faster?

Absolutely! One of the best parts about our Accounting Assistant Course is that you can complete it at your pace. This means you can graduate in as little as three months. If you believe you have enough knowledge in a certain area, you can attempt the quiz, and move ahead; there is nothing holding you back from completing your Accounting Assistant Course faster.

Program Details

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN:

Students are able to take this program online, on-site or blended. Whatever works best for you, works for us!

Students in the Accounting Assistant program will learn the following:

  • demonstrate competency in Microsoft products: Word, Excel, Outlook
  • identify correct ergonomic factors in a workstation and office environment
  • perform a variety of office procedures
  • operate a variety of current office equipment
  • apply time management techniques to solve problems in a timely fashion
  • identify legal and ethical standards
  • identify a correct records management program
  • develop effective communication skills
  • recognize and plan all aspects for setting and holding meetings
  • identify the importance of Accounting Assistant roles within an organization
  • demonstrate accurate and thorough basic bookkeeping and accounting skills manually and with QuickBooks Online
  • list proper administrative terminology
  • apply grammatical skills to produce proper business and legal documents
  • analyze and solve mathematical calculations encountered in business
  • demonstrate accurate and thorough intermediate bookkeeping and accounting skills manually and with QuickBooks Online
  • create a professional resume and cover letter and identify effective interview techniques
  • develop strategies for job searching

This Accounting Assistant course has been approved by the Private Training Institutions Regulatory Unit (PTIRU) of the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training

Curriculum

Chapter 1: Introduction

In the Introduction course, the student will be exposed to the overall course objectives and expected learning outcomes of the program. The student will gain access to their electronic textbook that will be used throughout the program. Additionally, this course will provide the student with important knowledge regarding becoming an Accounting Assistant, career outlooks, and why people choose this career.

Chapter 2: Computer Fundamentals

The student will become familiar with basic computer skills, including an introduction to keyboarding techniques, the use of hardware, software, peripherals, and wireless technology; use of the internet as a resource; and use of various methods for data storage and networking. Students will also accurately keyboard audio to text documents. Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to identify hardware/software and internet components and have a better understanding of the equipment and how to use it.

Chapter 3: Keyboarding

In this course, the student will demonstrate ergonomic keyboarding techniques, and increase their typing speed and accuracy. Additionally, the student will learn to use hotkeys and learn about text expander programs.

Chapter 4: Microsoft Word

The purpose of this course is to demonstrate the available features in Microsoft Word, such as copy and paste, find and replace, and how to format documents. Students will identify Word features to produce a professionally edited document. Upon completing this course, the student will be able to apply simple formatting to documents, create lists, change margins, paper size, and document orientation. The student will also be able to proofread and edit documents using the Spelling and Grammar check features. Students will practice word expander technology using AutoCorrect.

Chapter 5: Microsoft Excel

This course is an introduction to Microsoft Excel. The student will describe an electronic spreadsheet, the Excel program, what it can do, identify elements within the program, and explain basic terminology. Upon completing this course, the student will demonstrate skills using Microsoft Excel as an electronic spreadsheet.

Chapter 6: Microsoft Outlook

Chapter 6 in the Accounting Assistant course will teach students about QuickBooks online; giving them an understanding of all necessary concepts.

Chapter 7: Ergonomic Principles, Office Routines, and Time Management

In this course, the student will be able to define ergonomics, describe the benefits of an ergonomically designed workspace, recognize signs of physical discomfort due to improper setup of their workstation, and understand proper seating considerations. Students will also use an Office Ergonomic Checklist to aid in proper workspace set-up and organization. Further, the student will learn the importance of creating and developing an efficient work routine. Office conditions may vary as the company grows and technology expands, making potential office equipment change. The student will identify efficiencies in creating a proper workstation, ordering office supplies, and identify typical office equipment needed for everyday workings. Finally, this course will provide the student with an overview of the Canadian and American shipping and mailing services. The student will analyze incoming and outgoing mail procedures, postage concerns, and various courier services. A review of weights and measurements in both imperial and metric systems is also reviewed.

Chapter 8: Keeping Accurate Records

Students will develop an understanding of an efficient records management program. They will be able to differentiate between centralized and decentralized filing, identify various filing systems, describe electronic filing, and understand a records cycle. The student will learn the activities required to properly control the creation, distribution, use, maintenance, and disposition of recorded information maintained as evidence of business activities and transactions.

Chapter 9: Effective Communication & Meetings

In this chapter, students will learn how to communicate with others. This involves public speaking and listening skills. Your career as an Accounting Assistant may involve speaking to employees, company partners and clients, so gaining an understanding of effective communication can improve your employability.

Chapter 10: Understanding the Administrative and Accounting Field

The accounting profession is a multifaceted system that demands technical, well-trained multi-tasking personnel who provide a caring environment for the clients they serve. In the Accounting Assistant course, you will learn about the team surrounding the field. The accounting team consists of a multitude of professionals working together to provide services that meet the accounting needs of their clients. It is essential to recognize all accounting team members and the roles they play in delivering accounting services The student will be able to explain the Personal Information and Protection Act (PIPA), Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), and Code of Ethics. Students will be able to apply principles of management for personal growth. The student will learn the importance of creating and developing an efficient work routine. Office conditions may vary as the company grows, and technology expands, making potential office equipment change as well.

Chapter 11: Business Math

In the accounting field, you'll be doing some math. The Accounting Assistant course is no different! Students will be able to describe the number line, place value, and rounding rules. Divide whole numbers and decimals, multiply 3 or more factors. The student will apply mixed operations to solve problems, create business fractions, change fractions to decimals to solve problems, change percent to decimal equivalents, change decimals to fractions and percents. Find rate, percentage, and base using word problems, determine amounts of increase or decrease, and find the net price using series discounts and complements.

Chapter 12: Accounting 1

This course in the accounting assistant course will cover the fundamentals of accounting. Using this information, the student will be able to apply accounting concepts, analyze transactions, apply debit and credit entries, journalize, post transactions to ledger accounts, adjust entries, process closing entries, prepare and analyze financial statements, and complete the accounting cycle.

Chapter 13: Business Writing and Legal Documents

Upon completing this course, the student will be able to apply English grammar rules and punctuation. The student will construct grammatically correct sentences using the rules provided. Upon completing this course, the student will produce a professional business letter and understand how to create and use memos, emails and generate meeting minutes. The student will also review the several types of basic legal documents and learn the necessary content in a legal document.

Chapter 15: Accounting 2

This course will cover an intermediate level of accounting. The student will be able to explain the merchandising operations of a business, recognize how sales affect inventory, cash and cost of goods sold, analyze the true cost of inventory purchases, define the rules of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and how they apply to posting transactions. Students will be able to describe inventory and how is it used to earn revenue for a business, compare how the inventory cycle changes the balances of some accounts, evaluate inventory cost, evaluating true cost and how to post the transaction. Explain the impact merchandising has on financial statements, identify the merchandising cycle of a business, and compare the difference between sales revenue and net sales. Students will decipher how to journalize and post sales and cash receipts in a manual accounting information system using special journals and subsidiary ledgers, journalize and post purchases, cash payments, and other transactions. Describe how transactions are recorded in a computerized accounting information system, explain what a special journal is in relation to an accounting information system, review each type of journal and how to post transactions within it, determine when to use the general journal over one of the special journals, relate the special journal to the subsidiary ledger to post transactions by category, and determine how to correct an error using ethical methods for transparency.

Chapter 16: QuickBooks Online

Students will reference QuickBooks online software. Students will create an account, create a new company within the program, and navigate through the software. Students will also identify and interpret accounts receivable, accounts payable, and payroll.

Chapter 17: Simulated Practical Training

This session is intended to help the Accounting Assistant course student transition from the educational world into the “real” world of a working Accounting Assistant. The student will report to a supervisor for the entire simulated practical training. the student will apply the skills acquired throughout this program, to a simulated position as an Accounting Assistant. Upon successful completion of this course, the student will have performed duties that are expected of them by an employer in an Accounting Assistant position.

Tuition

Click here to see all financing options and the tuition breakdown for the Accounting Assistant course. Unsure how you'd even fund your education? No problem check out our Scholarship and Funding Finder to see if you're eligible to save on your tuition. If you and a friend enroll at the same time you will both receice a 5% discount on tuition costs.

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Requirements

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

If you take the Accounting Assistant course on campus, everything is provided.

If you take the Accounting Assistant course via distance learning, it is recommended to complete the program on a Windows PC. Apple computers are compatible, however, Microsoft Office Training from the point of view of a Windows computer. You are required to have the Microsoft Office suite installed on your computer

You must have a computer with speakers and Microsoft Office software (Outlook, Word and Excel) on your computer. An internet speed of 15 mbps download, and 10 mbps upload is recommended.

We also recommend that you use the latest version of either Firefox or Chrome as your browser.

ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS

Students must have a minimum typing speed of 30 net-words-per-minute and pass an entry level grammar assessment. Students must also be a mature student, 19+, or have a high school diploma.

ENGLISH REQUIREMENTS

Prior to admission, applicants must meet at least one of the following English language proficiency requirements:

1. Education

A) Secondary Education

Evidence of three (3) years of full-time secondary education (Grades 8-12), or two (2) years if the grades are 10, 11, or 12, have been successfully completed where English is the principal language of instruction.

OR

B) Post-Secondary Education

Evidence of two (2) years of full-time post-secondary education have been successfully completed where English is the principal language of instruction.
OR

2. Assessment

By achieving a recognized standardized language test/assessment.

FAQ

How much can I earn as an Accounting Assistant?

Canada
Indeed estimates that the Canadian national average in Canada for an Accounting Assistant is around $51,000 per year.

What kind of assistance do you offer graduates?
We are very proud to offer unlimited resume and cover letter assistance to our Accounting Assistant graduates. After graduation, you can come back to CanScribe and we will help you reassess your resume and cover letter to ensure you stand out in the interview process! Whether you come back to us 2, 5, 10, or 20 years after graduation, we will be here to help. Unlimited truly means for life!

What is the refund policy?

1. If the institution receives tuition from the student, or a person on behalf of the student, the institution will refund the student, or the person who paid on behalf of the student, the tuition that was paid in relation to the program in which the student is enrolled if:
(a) the institution receives a notice of withdrawal from the student no later than seven days after the effective contract date and before the contract start date;
(b) the student, or the student’s parent or legal guardian, signs the student enrolment contract seven days or less before the contract start date and the institution receives a notice of withdrawal from the student between the date the student, or the student’s parent or legal guardian, signed the student enrolment contract and the contract start date; or
(c) the student does not attend a work experience component and the institution does not provide all of the hours of instruction of the work experience component within 30 days of the contract end date.
2. The institution will refund the tuition for the program and all related fees paid by the student or a person on behalf of the student enrolled in the program if the student is enrolled in the program without having met the admission requirements and did not misrepresent his or her knowledge or skills when applying for admission.
3. If a student does not attend any of the first 30% of the hours of instruction to be provided during the contract term, the institution may retain up to 50% of the tuition paid under the student enrolment contract unless the program is provided solely through distance education.
4. Unless the program is provided solely through distance education, if the institution receives a notice of withdrawal from a student:
(a) more than seven days after the effective contract date and
i. at least 30 days before the contract start date, the institution may retain up to 10% of the tuition due under the student enrolment contract, to a maximum of $1,000.
ii. less than 30 days before the contract start date, the institution may retain up to 20% of the tuition due under the student enrolment contract, to a maximum of $1,300.
(b) after the contract start date
i. and up to and including 10% of the hours of instruction to be provided during the contract term have been provided, the institution may retain up to 30% of the tuition due under the student enrolment contract.
ii. and after more than 10% but before 30% of the hours of instruction to be provided during the contract term have been provided, the institution may retain up to 50% of the tuition due under the student enrolment contract.
5. Unless the program is provided solely through distance education, if the institution provides a notice of dismissal to a student and the date the institution delivers the notice to the student is:
(a) equal to or before 10% of the hours of instruction to be provided during the contract term have been provided, the institution may retain up to 30% of the tuition due under the student enrolment contract.
(b) after 10% but before 30% of the hours of instruction to be provided during the contract term have been provided, the institution may retain up to 50% of the tuition due under the student enrolment contract.
6. If the institution provides the program solely through distance education and the institution receives a student’s notice of withdrawal or the institution delivers a notice of dismissal to the student and:
(a) the student has completed and received an evaluation of his or her performance for up to 30% of the hours of instruction to be provided during the contract term, the institution may retain up to 30% of the tuition due under the student enrolment contract, or
(b) the student has completed and received an evaluation of his or her performance for more than 30% but less than 50% of the program, the institution may retain up to 50% of the tuition due under the student enrolment contract.
7. The institution will refund fees charged for course materials paid for but not received if the student provides a notice of withdrawal to the institution or the institution provides a notice of dismissal to the student.
8. Refunds required under this policy will be paid to the student, or a person who paid the tuition or fees on behalf of the student, within 30 days:
(a) of the date the institution receives a student’s notice of withdrawal,
(b) of the date the institution provides a notice of dismissal to the student,
(c) of the date that the registrar provides notice to the institution that the institution is not complying with section 1(c) or 2 of this policy, or
(d) after the first 30% of the hours of instruction if section 3 of this policy applies.
9. If an international student delivers a copy of a refusal of a study permit to the institution, sections 1(a), 1(b), 4, 7, and 8 of this policy apply as if the copy of the refusal were a notice of withdrawal, unless:
(a) the international student requests an additional letter of acceptance for the same program that was the subject of the refusal of a study permit, or
(b) the program is provided solely through distance education.

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