Advanced Diploma of Accounting

Admission requirements

You are eligible if:

* you have successfully completed the Australian Year 12 or equivalent in your country
* you have achieved a minimum of either:

* IELTS 5.5 academic (no band score less than 5.0);
* TOEFL computer based 197 (minimum TWE 3.5);
* TOEFL internet based 71 (minimum 17 in all sections);
* PTE academic 43 (no score lower than 36); or
* Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) 47.

Intake

February and July

Books and equipment (AUD)

Approximately $2,300

Study pathways

Kangan Institute has pathway agreements with some Australias leading universities, enabling a student with an Advanced Diploma of Accounting to complete a bachelor degree in a business stream (including accounting) in as little as 1.5 years.

On completion of the advanced diploma, graduates may continue their study in:

* Bachelor of Business at Victoria University
* Bachelor of Business (Accounting) at Charles Sturt University
* Bachelor of Business, Bachelor of Economics, Bachelor of Finance or a Bachelor of International Business at La Trobe University

Career pathways

On completion of the advanced diploma, graduates may seek employment as an accountant in one of many specialisations including:

* Financial accountant
* Cost/management accountant
* Tax agent
* Auditor
* Financial manager

Course structure

The advanced diploma helps students gain the necessary skills to launch a career as an accounting professional. Specialisations may include taxation, financial or management accounting, financial management and auditing.

The duration of the Advanced Diploma of Accounting is normally 6 months (full-time) however students commencing their accounting studies at the certificate III level would take 2 years to complete the certificate III, certificate IV, diploma and advanced diploma qualifications.

Students commencing their accounting studies at the certificate IV level would typically take 1.5 years to complete the certificate IV, diploma and advanced diploma qualifications.

The diploma consists of 8 units and students will attend classes four days per week with approximately 20 to 25 hours of class participation. Classes may bescheduled any time between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday.

The course consists of lectures, classroom-based teaching, practical demonstrations, self-paced learning, class discussions, and field trips. Assessment may include periodic tests, assignments, both group and individual, classroom presentations, group work and observation.

In some circumstances, units of competency may also be completed via Skills Recognition where credit is given for prior work/study experience relevant to the qualification, thereby reducing the total number of hours of scheduled classes to be undertaken.

Major study areas

* Taxation
* Auditing
* Banking and finance
* Budgeting
* Management accounting
* Business law
* Corporate accountability
* Corporate accounting
* Business statistics
* Economics
* Financial management
* Business mathematics

Membership of one or more professional associations is highly recommended for students aspiring to become accounting professionals. While each accountant will ultimately make their own choice of professional body, we strongly recommend that our students become members of the Institute of Public Accountants (IPA).

The IPA is fully supportive of accounting students, providing free student membership, excellent career advice, access to low-cost professional development and a range of resources to enable students to maintain updated industry knowledge. The IPA also provides an articulation pathway that enables a masters degree to be obtained in 2.5 years in addition to the time taken to complete the Advanced Diploma of Accounting.

Units

Prepare financial reports
Design and produce business documents
Participate in OHS processes
Process financial transactions and extract interim reports
Make decisions in a legal context
Prepare financial statements for non-reporting entities
Set up and operate a computerised accounting system
Provide financial and business performance information
Prepare income tax returns for individuals
Manage budgets and forecasts
Prepare financial reports for corporate entities
Implement and maintain internal control procedures
Provide management accounting information
Carry out business activity and instalment activity statement tasks
Apply principles of professional practice to work in the financial services industry
Monitor corporate governance activities
Apply economic principles to work in the financial services industry
Interpret and use financial statistics and tools
Prepare complex tax returns
Audit and report on financial systems and records
Implement tax plans and evaluate tax compliance
Evaluate organisation's financial performance
Prepare and analyse management accounting information