Full Course—Digital Bookkeeper & Payroll Administrator | Foundation Stage
The Digital Bookkeeper & Payroll Administrator Foundation Stage course is a 170-hour programme. It covers all the essential skills for bookkeeping and payroll administration. This course is for both students and professionals. It combines theory with hands-on practice to build your confidence in the role.
You will learn to handle financial transactions accurately. The course helps you understand basic accounting principles, like debits, credits, and double-entry bookkeeping. You will also gain proficiency in banking procedures.
The programme focuses on country-specific tax laws. It ensures you're familiar with tax regulations in regions such as the UK (HMRC), Ireland (Revenue Commissioners), UAE (FTA), Pakistan (FBR), USA (IRS), Canada (CRA), Australia (ATO), and New Zealand (IRD).
Entry requirements
There are no specific entry requirements. This course is open to anyone. You don't need previous accounting experience. We have designed this course to welcome people from all backgrounds.
Duration
The course takes 4-6 months to complete. The time frame depends on how fast you want to progress.
Exemptions
Suppose you have completed Level 2 qualifications such as A-levels in Accounting and Finance, Level 2 Accounting qualifications (e.g., AAT Level 2, IAB Level 2, OCR Level 2, ACCA Foundation Level, BTEC Level 2, or VTCT Level 2), or GCSEs in Accounting. In that case, you can join the ACDAP Digital Assistant Accountant course.
Delivery modes
You can choose how you want to study:
- Online: Learn at your own pace, wherever you are.
- Classroom: Attend in-person lessons with qualified instructors.
- Blended: You can choose both online learning and face-to-face classes for more flexibility.
Course curriculum
This curriculum provides the knowledge and hands-on experience to prepare a person for bookkeeping, VAT management, and payroll administration roles. At the end of the course, you will become well-prepared to join a successful career in digital accounting. The programme covers essential topics needed for a bookkeeping and payroll administration career. You will learn about:
- VAT
- Payroll
- Costing
- Bookkeeping
- Spreadsheets
- Accounting software
- Organisational structure
- VAT: Learn how VAT works and how to calculate it. You will understand how businesses charge VAT. You’ll learn how to manage VAT returns and reclaim VAT. This helps ensure businesses stay compliant with tax laws. You will also learn about different VAT rates and exemptions.
- Payroll: Learn how to pay employees accurately. You will understand how to calculate their salary and deductions. This includes income tax, National Insurance, and other benefits. You will also learn how to manage payslips and keep payroll records. Accuracy in payroll is essential for smooth business operations.
- Costing: Learn how to calculate both fixed and variable costs. You will understand direct and indirect costs. This helps businesses understand their expenses. Learn how to analyze costs to keep the business profitable. Effective costing is key to managing a healthy bottom line.
- Bookkeeping: Learn how to keep accurate records of financial transactions. You will practice balancing accounts and managing ledgers. Reconcile bank statements to ensure everything matches. This ensures financial reports are correct. You will also learn to prepare trial balances.
- Spreadsheets: Learn how to use spreadsheets like Excel to organize data. You will create formulas to perform calculations. You’ll make charts to visually represent financial data. You will also learn how to track expenses and revenues. Spreadsheets are essential for preparing financial reports.
- Accounting software: Learn how to use software like Xero, QuickBooks, Sage, BrightPay, IRIS, and AIYZA. You will use these tools for bookkeeping, payroll, and reporting. You’ll learn how to create invoices and process payments. Mastering these tools helps businesses save time and increase efficiency.
- Organisational Structure: Learn how businesses are structured. Understand how departments work together. This knowledge helps you understand how accounting fits into the business. You will see how roles affect financial decision-making. This helps you work more effectively with other teams.
- VAT: Get practical experience calculating VAT for different types of transactions. Practise managing VAT returns and ensuring that they are submitted. Learn how to manage VAT exemptions and apply the correct rates in real scenarios.
- Payroll: Develop the ability to process payroll for employees. You'll practice calculating salaries, deductions, and benefits. You will also learn how to generate payslips and maintain payroll records. Ensure compliance with tax regulations in your calculations.
- Costing: Learn how to calculate and manage business costs accurately. Practice analysing fixed and variable costs. You will determine pricing strategies and create cost reports to help businesses improve profitability.
- Bookkeeping: Practice maintaining accurate financial records using real-life examples. You will prepare trial balances, manage ledgers, and reconcile bank statements. Gain practical skills in organising financial data to produce accurate reports.
- Spreadsheets: Learn to organise financial data using spreadsheet software like Excel. Practice creating and using formulas for financial calculations. Develop skills to create charts and graphs to present data. You'll also learn to track and manage business finances in spreadsheets.
- Accounting software: Experience firsthand working with top-of-the-line accounting software like Xero, QuickBooks, Sage, BrightPay, IRIS, and AIYZA. Create your first invoice, process payments, and run your first report using accounting software to automate accounting tasks and save time.
- Organisational structure: Understand how different business departments interact with each other. You'll practise working within the organisational structure to ensure accounting tasks align with business goals. It will help you manage finances effectively and collaborate with other teams.
This ACDAP course offers hands-on experience with essential accounting software. Learners will become skilled in using these tools and receive certification upon completion.
- Xero: Students will be able to use Xero for finance management and account bookkeeping to track transactions. Xero's cloud-based platform enables learners to report from anywhere in the world, providing convenience and flexibility.
- QuickBooks: Learners will use QuickBooks to invoice, track expenses, and manage payroll. They will generate reports like profit & loss statements. QuickBooks also offers integration with other software, making it a versatile tool for businesses.
- Sage: Learners will use Sage for bookkeeping, payroll, and invoicing. They will track business finances and complete tax returns. Sage is known for its user-friendly interface and is widely used in small to medium-sized businesses.
- BrightPay: Learners will use BrightPay for payroll processing, deductions, and tax compliance. They will manage pensions and statutory payments. BrightPay simplifies payroll management and ensures compliance with the latest tax laws.
- IRIS: The students will prepare tax returns and management reports using IRIS. They will learn how to file their self-assessment and corporation tax returns. IRIS has been trusted by accountants and businesses for its accuracy in tax management.
- AIYZA: Learners will use AIYZA for accounting tasks like tracking transactions and generating invoices. They will learn to file taxes and manage records. AIYZA offers cloud-based solutions to make access to financial data seamless.
- Bookkeeper
- Accounts Payable
- Sales Ledger Clerk
- Payroll Administrator
- Accounts Receivable
- Purchase Ledger Clerk