An 8-week online course for bookkeepers in small not-for-profit organisations
Tuesday nights, 5.30 – 7
22 July – 16 September 2025
In a small organisation, bookkeeping is 90% of accounting. Get it right, and your end-of-year reports will be a breeze. Plus you will always know where you stand and how you are doing. Get it wrong, and watch your accounting bills grow higher than Mt Everest while flying blind all year long!
This online course is aimed at those with bookkeeping responsibilities in small not-for-profits, in a voluntary or paid role. You may have been doing this for a while and don’t really know what your are doing, or you just had your arm twisted recently. This course will give you a foundation and more understanding
Course topics:
- Aim and purpose of bookkeeping and accounting.
- How to record transactions, and what to record.
- Documenting transactions.
- Special situations: refunds, bonds, split transactions, petty cash and others.
- Bookkeeping using accounting software.
- GST.
- Generating a basic cash-based report.
There are eight presentation sessions (with opportunities to ask questions) up to 90 minutes long, and participants are given exercises to do in their own time. The exercises will be individually marked by the tutor, with feedback. Exercises are also reviewed during the sessions. Participants will need 3-5 hours per week to complete the course and achieve the learning outcomes.
Cost: $250 + GST ($287.50)
A $50 discount is available for
- Existing CCA clients
- Volunteers or staff in not-for-profits in our subsidised area, which comprises Christchurch, North Canterbury, Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough.
Written Quotes: We are happy to provide a written quote if you are seeking funding for the course cost, just tick the option in the registration form.
You will receive an invoice after registration with payment details.
Free cancellation until 8 July 2025
Course Requirements
You will need a computer or laptop that is video- and audio-capable to be able to follow the sessions.
We recommend that you use spreadsheet software to be able to complete some of the exercises. We will use CCA accounting spreadsheets which require either Microsoft Excel or a version of Open Office calc. Open Office is open source software and fully free to use. It is possible to complete the exercises without software on a paper-based system, or in a spreadsheet you create yourself, but you will require more time.
You may already be using accounting software such as MYOB, Xero or others. This course does not use any specific commercial accounting software, but the principles of bookkeeping, and the tasks a bookkeeper performs, are the same when using software as when using a spreadsheet or manual system. One of the sessions is set aside to apply the learned skills in a software environment.