Certified Professional Bookkeeper Course

What does the bookkeeper role involve?

Bookkeepers serve on the front lines of a person, company or organization's financial health. Strong bookkeepers set up, deploy and manage systems that record the flow of funds into and out of an entity's coffers. Using reporting tools and systems, bookkeepers help individuals and operational managers stay aware of and improve an entity's financial status and performance.

Hasn’t technology replaced bookkeepers?

Technology has had a huge impact on the bookkeeping field. However, the bookkeeper's underlying organizational skills and precise attention to detail are as valuable as ever to their employers and clients. Programs like QuickBooks® or Microsoft Excel® have widely replaced the manual entry functions of traditional bookkeeping. However, the organization, reporting, and use of financial data still rely heavily on human input and processing.

Is certification important for bookkeepers?

Certification in any profession signals to employers, colleagues, and clients that a professional is committed to the highest standards of excellence and accountability. Certified bookkeepers meet the AIPB’s highest standards for financial accounting, business practices and ethical conduct.

How do I become a certified bookkeeper?

To earn your AIPB Certified Bookkeeper designation, you must pass the AIPB certification exam and be able to submit proof of at least two years of full-time or 3,000 hours of part-time experience.

Is bookkeeping a good option for remote work?

Because bookkeeping relies heavily on technology and can be done almost entirely using digital tools, it is considered an excellent prospect for remote, contract, and work-at-home career opportunities.

What’s the job outlook for bookkeepers?

• According to PayScale.com, bookkeepers earn on average $17.37 per hour. Top bookkeepers’ earnings exceed $56,900.
• CareerBuilder.com cites bookkeeping skills as highly transferable to financial supervisory, analysis, or managerial roles. The site calls bookkeeper an "ideal choice" for those who are motivated to keep organizations on track with regard to their finances.
• Technology is highly relevant to the bookkeeper's role. Mastery of bookkeeping software applications is the key to matching bookkeeping skills with expanding requirements for analysis, visual data presentation, and reporting that provides value-added to the traditional bookkeeper's duties.

During this course, you will learn

• Prepare to take and pass the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers (AIPB) certification exam
• Understand eligibility requirements, code of ethics, and maintenance requirements for bookkeeper certification
• Apply the concepts of accrual accounting to transactions that span fiscal periods and trace the effect of accrual and deferral transactions
• Record book and tax depreciation, using various methods of calculating depreciation
• Perform basic payroll duties, including paying wages, handling payroll deposits, and reporting taxes
• Know how to value inventory, record costs, make entries and report inventory on financial statements
• Use basic internal controls to prevent theft, embezzlement, or check and credit card fraud by employees, customers, or vendors

Module 1. Certified Bookkeeper Program

• Eligibility Requirements
• Testing Program
• Code of Ethics
• Maintenance of Certification

Module 2. Accruals, Deferrals, and the Adjusted Trial Balance

• Why Accruals, Deferrals, and Other Adjustments are Made
• Accruing Revenues and Expenses
• Recognizing Revenues Collected in Advance
• Recognizing Expenses After a Prepayment
• Other Adjusted Entries
• Un-adjusting Trial Balance through the Adjusted Trial Balance

Module 3. Correction of Accounting Errors and the Bank Reconciliation

• When and Where Accounting Errors Occur and How They Are Discovered
• Performing the Bank Reconciliation
• Finding and Correcting Errors on the Unadjusted Trial Balance
• Correcting Current-Period Accrual and Deferral Errors

Module 4. Payroll

• How to Pay Different Types of Employees
• Federal and State Wage-Hour Law
• Paying Employees Under Federal Law
• Employment Records and Payroll Recordkeeping
• Form W-4 and Comparable State Forms
• Withholding and Depositing Federal Taxes
• Federal Employment Reporting Forms and Due Dates
• When Wages Become Taxable
• Other Reporting Rules
• Payroll Register and Journal Entries

Module 5. Depreciation

• The Difference between Book and Tax Depreciation
• Depreciation under GAAP
• Computing and Allocation Depreciation
• Depreciation under Federal Tax Depreciation Rules
• Tax Depreciation of Vehicles

Module 6. Inventory

• General Concepts of Accounting for Inventory
• The Perpetual Method
• The Periodic Method
• Weighted-Average and Moving-Average Methods
• First-In, First-Out (FIFO) Method
• Last-In, First-Out (LIFO) Method
• Lower of Cost or Market LCM Rule

Module 7. Internal Controls and Fraud Depreciation

• How to Prevent or Spot Theft of Inventory and Other Non-cash Assets by Employees
• Preventing Employee Theft, Embezzlement, or Fraud by Hiring the Right Personnel
• Insuring the Company Against Theft
• How to Prevent or Spot Customer Check Fraud
• Signs that May Indicate Payroll Fraud
• How to Prevent or Spot Customer Credit Card Fraud
• Recommended Rules for Company Credit Cards
• Preventing Vendors from Cheating the Company

Download Course Outline (PDF)

The Certified Bookkeeper course is designed for experienced bookkeepers with at least two years of work experience in bookkeeping.

We encourage you to review requirements for the AIPB Certification exam prior to enrolling in this course.

The following textbooks will be shipped to you approximately 7-10 business days after enrollment.

• AIPB Six Workbooks

A voucher to take the AIPB exam is included with this course. Once you have successfully completed the course, information will be provided to you regarding exam registration. Find out more about the AIPB exam.

Students are supported by both an assigned instructor and assigned advisor throughout the duration of the course. Students receive contact information for both upon enrollment and all communication is handled via email. Students should allow up to two business days for responses.

Hardware Requirements

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.
• Webcams are strongly recommended.

Software Requirements

• PC: Windows XP or later
• Mac: OS X Snow Leopard 10.6 or later
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader. Download the Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.