Canadian Accounting Assistant Degree Program: A Golden Path to North America's Financial Elite
This course is perfect for beginners in accounting and bookkeeping, as well as those with some international experience who face challenges entering the local job market. As an entry-level course, this course is designed to help participants master the fundamentals and practical skills to lay a solid foundation for success, regardless of whether they have Canadian work experience.
In addition to learning practical accounting skills in this interactive program, you will also receive personalized job search strategies, including resume workshops, mock interviews, and job placement support. The 5-week work experience will provide real-life accounting experience and networking opportunities to help you easily find a job.
Course Description
The course is divided into a 48-week course and a 32-week course
48-week course
•Basic Computer Skills (Alberta Education)
•Basic English Skills
•Business Mathematics (Alberta Education)
•Accounting Basics (Alberta Education)
32-week course
•Basic Computer Skills (Alberta Education)
•Basic Accounting, I
•Basic Accounting, II
•Cloud Accounting
•Business Writing
•Desktop Accounting
•Introduction to Payroll
•Introduction to Canadian Taxation
•5 weeks of work experience (internship)
Entry Requirements
48-week program
• Language Entry Requirements – CLB 6
• Academic Entry Requirements – Grade 8 in English and Math
32-week program
• Language Entry Requirements – CLB 7
• Academic Entry Requirements – Grade 9 in English and Math
Prior to joining the program, all participants must be able to:
• Meet the required language entry requirements (if applicable)
• Achieve satisfactory scores on Columbia College’s Reading Comprehension, Writing and Math assessments
• Successfully complete the Columbia College Computer Skills Assessment (or equivalent) which will cover basic computer skills (including basic internet and email knowledge), entry-level Microsoft Word and Excel
• Successfully pass an entry interview with the Careers and Employment Coordinator to determine suitability
Additional Requirements:
• Be a resident of Alberta and currently reside full-time in the province (or an address in the City of Lloydminster)
• Be unemployed or marginally employed
• Be committed to employment
• Meet citizenship requirements (e.g. Canadian citizen, permanent resident or convention refugee) and have the legal right to work and train in Canada
• Please note that all students are required to apply for a Police Information Check in the last semester of the program and provide a copy of the results to the internship host employer.
Prepare for an Accounting Career
Gain the practical skills you need to succeed in an entry-level accounting position such as an accounting assistant, bookkeeper, or data entry clerk. This course focuses on hands-on training, including double-entry bookkeeping and financial reporting using industry-standard tools such as QuickBooks. With starting salaries up to $20 per hour, you’ll stand out in today’s competitive job market.
Learning course path
Columbia College: Accounting Assistant
Coursera: George Brown College Financial Accounting Fundamentals (English/French), approved by CPA Canada.
Udemy: QuickBooks Online ProAdvisor Training (with Canadian practical examples).
LinkedIn Learning: Canadian Income Tax Fundamentals (taught by CPA holders).
The core advantages of the Accounting Assistant Course
• The Accounting Assistant Course systematically teaches core skills such as basic financial knowledge, tax declaration, and account processing to help students quickly master the logic of corporate financial operations.
• Whether it is manufacturing, service or Internet companies, professional financial personnel are needed to handle capital flow and report preparation.
• Modern accounting emphasizes ERP system operation, financial data analysis and RPA (robotic process automation) tool application. The course introduces practical training of intelligent financial and tax software to enable students to master efficient tools such as pivot tables and VLOOKUP functions to adapt to the needs of corporate digital transformation.
• Financial positions are core functions of enterprises and have a long career life cycle. The average promotion period from accounting assistant to financial director is 3-5 years, and the salary increase is significant.
Employment direction of accounting assistant
1. Corporate finance department
• Basic accounting position: responsible for daily work such as original voucher review, detailed account registration, report preparation, etc., and requires proficiency in the use of financial software.
• Tax specialist: handle VAT declaration and corporate income tax settlement, and must be familiar with the operation of the electronic tax bureau and tax incentives.
2. Accounting firm
• Audit assistant: assist auditors in performing voucher spot checks and draft preparation, and require risk assessment and internal control analysis capabilities.
• Agent accounting: provide external account processing services for small and medium-sized enterprises, and need to master the differences in account processing in multiple industries.
3. Financial institutions
• Bank teller/risk control position: handle corporate loan account verification and interest calculation, and need to be familiar with balance sheet analysis skills.
• Insurance actuary assistant: participate in the construction of product pricing models, and need to learn probability statistics and financial forecasting methods.
Future trends in the accounting industry
Demand for management accounting surges
As the trend of business-finance integration strengthens, companies pay more attention to cost control and strategic decision-making support.
Internationalization and compliance challenges
The growth of cross-border business promotes the application of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), and companies need financial personnel who are familiar with the differences between the two standards.
Establishment of a lifelong learning mechanism
The Ministry of Finance plans to train 100,000 management accounting talents by 2025, and continuing education will become a professional norm.
Intensified differentiation of career tracks
The salary of basic accounting positions is stagnant, while the annual salary of strategic financial positions can reach 300,000+.