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Short Term Training

Computerized Accounting and Office Certificate

Prepare for careers in accounting, bookkeeping, and payroll administration through comprehensive training in financial reporting, payroll compliance, and computerized accounting systems. Students also gain workplace experience through a practicum placement before graduation.

Next Start Date: September 7th, 2026
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Program Snapshot

CredentialCertificate

Duration34 Weeks

Practicum4-week Practicum (150 hours)

Schedule20 hours/week, Monday – Friday, daytime and evening classes

DeliveryIn-Class, Online (Synchronous)*, or Combined

Employment Opportunities

Accounting Clerk / Payroll Clerk
Bookkeeper
Accounts Payable & Receivable Clerk
View more below →

Why Brighton?

Guaranteed Practicum Placement
PCP Pathway Through the National Payroll Institute (NPI)
Hands-On Training in Sage 50 & QuickBooks
Develop Accounting, Payroll & Financial Reporting Skills
Prepare for Careers in Financial Office Environments

Skills You’ll Gain

Bookkeeping & Accounting FundamentalsPayroll Compliance Legislation, Fundamentals I & IISage 50 & QuickBooks ProJob Search Skills

I decided to attend Brighton College because of the short and helpful program options. The classes are small, so I had more chances to discuss with the instructors and classmates. People are very friendly and fun here. I am glad to say my decision to study here was right.

– Hoai Chau Nguyen, Computerized Accounting and Office
Program Video

Watch the Program Video

Learn about the Computerized Accounting and Office Certificate, its payroll pathway, computerized accounting training, and practicum experience.

Computerized Accounting and Office Certificate program preview

Program Description

The Computerized Accounting and Office Certificate prepares students for careers that support the financial operations of modern organizations. Combining accounting, payroll, software, and workplace training, the program helps students develop the practical skills needed to maintain financial records, process payroll, generate reports, and support day-to-day accounting functions in Canadian workplaces.

Students build a strong foundation in accounting principles and financial reporting while learning how businesses record, organize, and interpret financial information. Through Brighton College's partnership with the National Payroll Institute (NPI), students also gain specialized knowledge in payroll legislation, payroll processing, remittances, year-end reporting, and compliance requirements that support accurate payroll administration throughout the Canadian payroll cycle.

A key feature of the program is its emphasis on computerized accounting systems. Students gain hands-on experience using Sage 50 and QuickBooks, two of the most widely used accounting software platforms in Canada. Through practical exercises and applied learning, students develop the confidence to manage financial records, process transactions, and generate reports using industry-standard accounting tools.

Unlike programs focused primarily on payroll administration, this certificate provides broader training across accounting operations, financial reporting, payroll processes, and computerized accounting systems. Students graduate with a well-rounded understanding of the financial functions that support organizations across a variety of industries.

The program concludes with a practicum placement, providing students with the opportunity to apply their classroom learning in a professional environment while gaining valuable workplace experience before graduation.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this program, the successful student will have the ability to:

  • Demonstrate strong communication skills in written and oral presentations.
  • Use Microsoft Word to create professional documents.
  • Use Microsoft Excel to create spreadsheets and apply calculation functions.
  • Understand financial reports, record financial information, and create basic financial statements.
  • Interpret financial information and financial statements.
  • Understand the rules and regulations required in a Canadian payroll office.
  • Perform day-to-day payroll-department duties.
  • Prepare payroll remittances, monthly reports, and year-end payroll reports.
  • Enter financial data and prepare statements and reports using Sage 50 and QuickBooks.
  • Apply learned skills in a practical workplace setting.
  • Establish clear and actionable career objectives.

Courses

BUS100 | Business Communications

Students will practice business writing skills, applying the mechanics of style, developing proofreading and editing skills and using words effectively. They will apply verbal and non-verbal styles to a variety of business communications. The students will also practice career and interpersonal skills necessary for success in the workplace, such as conflict resolution and business etiquette. They will work in teams to examine administrative, ergonomic and efficiency functions of a business office. Students will also learn about using PowerPoint to deliver demonstrations, training, and presentations in a professional manner.

Duration: 60 hours, 3 weeks.
Prerequisite: none.

COM200 | Microsoft Word

This course explores the fundamental use of Microsoft Office’s word processing software: Microsoft Word. Students will learn how to use Word to create, save, edit, format, and manipulate documents in a professional manner.

Duration: 20 hours, 1 week.
Prerequisite: none.

COM210 | Microsoft Excel

This course explores the fundamental use of Microsoft Office’s spreadsheet creation software: Microsoft Excel. Students will learn how to use Excel to create spreadsheets, perform calculations, generate charts from data tables, and print results.

Duration: 60 hours, 3 weeks.
Prerequisite: none.

BAF140 | Introduction to Accounting

This course introduces the students to the construction and interpretation of financial systems, records, reports and statements, including how vital accurate and complete financial data is for a business to ensure its ongoing success. This course is the first in a series of courses to build a solid base in accounting from both a practical and a theoretical perspective.

Duration: 60 hours, 3 weeks.
Prerequisite: none.

BAF150 | Financial Accounting

This course is a continuation of the work stated in Introduction to Accounting. This course provides students’ introductory knowledge about the construction and interpretation of financial systems, records, reports, and statements. It also shows how vital accurate and complete financial data is for a business to ensure its ongoing success.

Duration: 40 hours, 2 weeks.
Prerequisite: BAF140.

CPA050 | Payroll Compliance Legislation - National Payroll Institute

Upon completion of Payroll Compliance Legislation, the student will have a thorough understanding of the compliance requirements. The student will be able to:

Duration: 80 hours, 4 weeks.
Prerequisite: none.

CPA100 | Payroll Fundamentals I - National Payroll Institute

Upon completion of Payroll Fundamentals 1, the student will be able to:

Duration: 80 hours, 4 weeks.
Prerequisite: BAF140.

CPA200 | Payroll Fundamentals II - National Payroll Institute

Upon completion of Payroll Fundamentals 2, the student will be able to:

Duration: 80 hours, 4 weeks.
Prerequisite: BAF140, CPA100.

CAC100 | Sage 50 (Simply Accounting)

Sage 50 (Simply Accounting) is one of most well-recognized accounting program. Students will learn how to use various modules and their features to prepare a set of financial records. The program is designed to give the student maximum hands on practice under instructor supervision.

Duration: 60 hours, 3 weeks.
Prerequisite: BAF140.

CAC400 | QuickBooks

This accounting program is designed for the small to mid-sized business. Students will learn how to use various modules and their features to prepare a set of financial records. The program is designed to give the student maximum hands on practice under instructor supervision.

Duration: 40 hours, 2 weeks.
Prerequisite: BAF140.

BUS500 | Employment Readiness/Job Search

This course helps students prepare the required job search skills and knowledge they need to become employed. Students will learn the best known job search techniques to find viable opportunities, strategies to differentiate themselves from the competition and how they will add value to prospective employers in today’s competitive global economy.

Duration: 20 hours, 1 week.
Prerequisite: none.

WEP150 | Practicum

The student will have the opportunity to integrate theory and skills learnt during the program with practical situation from the real world of business. The purpose is to obtain relevant field experience prior to graduation and identify strengths prior to embarking on a new, exciting career.

Duration: 150 hours, 4 weeks.

Admission Requirements

  • High school diploma or mature student status*
  • Legal eligibility to study in Canada
  • English proficiency requirement from one of following options:
    1. Completion of 3 years of full-time secondary education (Grades 8-12), or 2 years of if Grade are 10, 11, or 12, have been successfully completed in the program’s language of instruction in a country where the language of instruction is one of the principal languages, or
    2. Completion of 2 years of full-time post-secondary education in the program’s language of instruction in a country where the language of instruction is one of the principal languages (includes international education credentials recognized through WES, ICES, and IQAS), or
    3. Evidence of achievement in a recognized standardized language assessment at an overall level equivalent to IELTS 5.5 (academic) or higher: IELTS academic 5.5; TOEFL IBT 46; CAEL 40; CELPIP (Listening 6, Speaking 6, Reading 5, Writing 5); DET 95, PTE 43; FCE 160 or “C”; Cambridge Linguaskill B2; LANGUAGECERT Academic B2; MET B2; iTEP Academic 3.5; EIKEN Grade Pre-1. Test results must be dated no more than two years before the start date of the program, or
    4. Evidence of graduation from language program with a minimum grade/level from a Languages Canada accredited institution with an established pathway/articulation agreement allowing direct entry (no further testing required) to a diploma or degree program at a public institution in Canada. The pathway/articulation agreement must be current at the date of enrolment, or
    5. Accuplacer - This option may only apply when:
      • English is the program’s language of instruction, and
      • the applicant is a mature domestic student facing barriers, and
      • the applicant cannot access their educational records or cannot provide sufficient evidence of secondary or post-secondary education as outlined in this policy
      • Applicant is 19 years or older at the start of the program and is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, and
      • Applicant provides attestation that they have completed at least three years of full-time instruction in English* in a country where the English is one of the principal languages, and
      • Applicant completes an Accuplacer English Assessment (Next Generation: Reading, Writing and WritePlacer) and achieves the following minimum scores:
        • Reading: 230, and Writing: 230, and WritePlacer: 4

Refer to Language Proficiency Policy for details.

*Mature Student is defined as an individual who is 19 years of age or older at the start of the program.

*Under no circumstances can these Admission Requirements be waived.

Employment Opportunities

Start Your Career As

  • Bookkeeper
  • Accounting Clerk/Payroll Clerk
  • Administrative Assistant
  • Junior Accountant
  • Accounts Payable Clerk
  • Accounts Receivable Clerk

Grow Your Career Into

  • Intermediate/Senior Accountant
  • Credit Supervisor
  • Payroll Administrator

Labour Market Snapshot

  • NOC: 12200
  • Annual Earnings *Average: $40,967
  • Job Openings (2025–2035): 10,850
  • Wages (BC): High $47.45/hr
    Median $28.00/hr
    Low $19.44/hr

Data sourced from WorkBC. Occupation information aligned with the National Occupational Classification (NOC).

Career-path occupations generally require additional industry experience, employer training, certification, professional registration or further education. Completion of this program does not by itself confer a professional licence or protected occupational designation.