PathwaysPathway 02
PATHWAY 02

Bookkeeping & Financial Systems Pathway

The Bookkeeping & Financial Systems Pathway takes you from understanding basic accounting concepts to operating a professional bookkeeping practice that serves real businesses. You will learn the tools, workflows, and client-management skills that make bookkeepers the backbone of every successful small business.

Pathway Overview
Modules6 modules
Lessons30 lessons
Total Duration20 hours
LevelBeginner → Advanced
CertificateYes — upon completion
Instructor-led

Who This Pathway Is For

  • Aspiring bookkeepers and accounting support professionals
  • Business owners who want full control of their own finances
  • Tax preparers building a year-round, recurring income stream
  • Entrepreneurs who want to offer financial services to clients

What You'll Be Able To Do

  • Manage daily bookkeeping operations with professional confidence
  • Use modern cloud bookkeeping tools (QuickBooks Online, Xero)
  • Handle accounts payable, receivable, payroll, sales tax, and inventory
  • Perform monthly reviews, cleanups, and catch-up bookkeeping
  • Launch, price, and scale a professional bookkeeping business

What You'll Learn

01

Accounting Foundations for Bookkeepers

Beginner

Build the conceptual foundation — debits, credits, the chart of accounts, and double-entry bookkeeping. This is the language of business finance and you will speak it fluently.

3.5 hrs
The accounting equation and why it always balances
Debits and credits — the DEAD CLIC framework
Building a chart of accounts from scratch
Journal entries: recording every transaction correctly
Cash vs accrual — choosing the right method
02

QuickBooks Online & Xero Essentials

Beginner

Get hands-on with the two most widely used cloud bookkeeping platforms. Learn setup, navigation, categorization, and how to generate the reports clients and accountants need.

4 hrs
Setting up a company file from scratch
Connecting bank accounts and credit cards
Categorizing transactions and creating rules
Invoicing clients and recording payments received
Generating the P&L, Balance Sheet, and cash flow reports
03

Accounts Payable, Receivable & Cash Flow

Intermediate

Master the two sides of business cash flow — money owed to you and money you owe. Learn best practices for collections, aging reports, and vendor management.

3 hrs
The AR cycle — invoicing to collection
Aging reports and collections best practices
The AP cycle — bills, approvals, and payment runs
Cash flow management vs profit management
Reconciling AR and AP to the general ledger
04

Payroll, Sales Tax & Inventory

Intermediate

Handle three of the most complex areas of small business bookkeeping — payroll entry, sales tax compliance, and inventory tracking — with accuracy and confidence.

3.5 hrs
Recording payroll from a payroll service (ADP, Gusto, etc.)
Payroll journal entries and liability accounts
Sales tax — when to collect, how to record, when to file
Inventory methods: FIFO, LIFO, and weighted average
Reconciling inventory to physical counts
05

Month-End Close & Financial Review

Intermediate

Learn the professional month-end close process — the set of steps every bookkeeper runs each month to ensure the books are accurate, complete, and ready for reporting.

3 hrs
The month-end close checklist
Bank and credit card reconciliation
Reviewing the P&L for anomalies and errors
Adjusting entries: prepaid, accruals, and depreciation
Preparing a monthly financial summary for clients
06

Launch Your Bookkeeping Business

Intermediate

Package your skills into a professional service business. Learn how to find clients, price monthly services, use engagement agreements, and build a practice that generates recurring revenue.

3 hrs
Business setup: LLC, EIN, business bank account
Pricing models: hourly vs monthly retainer vs package
Client intake, onboarding, and the engagement letter
Finding your first 5 clients — referral and digital strategies
Scaling to $3,000–$8,000/month in recurring bookkeeping revenue

Where This Takes You

Career Outcome

Employed as a full-charge bookkeeper or accounting associate at a firm or business

Income Outcome

Earning $3,000–$8,000/month in recurring monthly bookkeeping retainers

Business Outcome

Operating an independent bookkeeping firm with 5–15 small business clients

This pathway trains you to become indispensable to business owners.

— Sherline Gamboa, Campus Director

Ready to Start Pathway 02?

Enroll now and begin building a skill that creates real income and lasting legacy.