Higher Certificate in Business (Accounting & Administration)

Course details

The Higher Certificate in Business (Accounting and Administration) is a Level 6, 2 year higher certificate programme offering students the opportunity to develop a perse and invaluable range of skills that can be applied in the professional accounting and administration environment. The necessity for accountancy and administration skills permeates all organisations.

The focus of the programme is on developing core accounting skills with a complementary range of both back-office and front-office skills in administration and information technology. The first year of the programme focuses on developing student’s foundational accounting, tax and business skills and knowledge while the second year of the programme is dedicated to developing advanced skills and knowledge associated with accounting and administrative related roles. An emphasis on information technology for general business, accounting and payroll infiltrates both years of the programme.

In addition, the second year of the programme allows you to select various electives, which can allow you to progress onto the Bachelor of Business (Hons) in Accounting, BA in Administration and IT, Bachelor of Business in Management and Bachelor of Business in Marketing.

Minimum Entry Requirements

Applicants should have 5 Leaving Certificate Subjects Grade OD including Mathematics and Irish or English, or an equivalent qualification. In the absence of Mathematics, 6 Leaving Certificate Subjects Grade OD including Irish or English and (a) two commercial subjects or (b) one commercial subject and a continental language.

Proposed Modules

•  Learning & Communication Skills
•  Business Organisation & Management
•  Income Tax & VAT
•  Information Technology
•  Record Keeping (Accounts & Payroll)
•  Marketing & Customer Relationship Management
• Mathematics
•  Business Law
•  Business Information Systems  
•  Office Organisation & Management
•  Financial Accounts
•  Economics
•  Computerised Accounts & Payroll Systems
•  Text Processing
•  Management Accounting & Finance
•  Entrepreneurship & Innovation
•  Advanced IT Applications

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the Higher Certificate in Business (Accounting and Administration) the learner will be able to:

• Prepare financial statements for sole traders and companies (including statements of cash flow) even where records are incomplete and reconciliations between internal books and records and external sources, e.g. bank statements.
• Compute tax liabilities such as VAT and PAYE/PRSI/USC for a business and advise on their obligations in this regard including the procedures to be followed when dealing with the Revenue Commissioners.
• Prepare financial reports and other management information.
• Evaluate the financial position of an organisation through the examination of financial statements and non-financial data.
• Manage and use cost accounting systems for budgetary, inventory control and costing purposes.
• Use computers effectively in an accounts related environment.
• Recognise and evaluate areas of potential legal concern in the business environment and comprehend the relevance of Marketing and IT to businesses in general and also with specific reference to the accounting and finance function.
• Set up and manage a computer based payroll and accounting package.
• Communicate using appropriate transferable/professional skills with colleagues and customer using appropriate communication techniques.
• Apply problem solving and analytical skills consistently in a business context.
• Evaluate effective customer care strategies and manage customer service effectively within organisations.
• Recognise and evaluate the key management skills and professional/transferable competencies that are essential and relevant to supervisors and good office support staff.