The cost of an education today is often seen as proportional to the kind of salary one can expect upon graduating and entering the chosen field or industry. This is why so many people are considering enrolling in two- or three-year programs in many business-related fields, especially accounting.

Whether you've just graduated high school and are gearing up to enter post-secondary education for the first time, or are a mature student looking to go back and get a fresh start in a new career in accountancy, everyone needs to consider the cost of their time in training. It isn't just tuition that can add up; there are books and other academic expenses, as well as the cost of living of being a student and not being able to work full time. Sure, there are plenty of part-time jobs one can get on the side, but often they can be tiring and boring and contribute nothing to your academic and career aspirations as an accountant.

Some schools, however, offer the accounting students the opportunity to work while studying in an accounting-related job. With this comes dual benefits of making money whilst gaining experience at the same time. Here are some of the jobs offered to students who enroll in accounting courses with an 'earn while you learn' program.

- accounts receivable: handling the debt or money owed to a business by its clients

- accounts payable: handling the credit owed by a business to its suppliers

- bank reconciliation: detailing the difference between the data of a bank's statement and that of a business

- job costing: calculating the costs in preparation for a job

- process costing: tracing direct costs and allocating indirect costs involved in a job

- perpetual inventory: updating of available inventory for a job

- personal tax preparation: preparing tax returns such as income tax for individuals

- financial statement analysis: preparing formal records of a financial activities of a business or individual

- budget preparation: planning all financial expenses and revenues for a business   

- variance analysis: analyzing the difference between planned budgets and actual revenues and expenditures

- payroll: preparing the sum of all salaries, wages and bonuses for a company's employees

among others

Another advantage to an accounting school which offers this kind of work program is that it can help the student get a taste of many different aspects of the accounting industry. As there will come a time in their studies, and especially after graduation, when one will have to choose a specialization and pick a career, this experience can help students make that choice more confidently.

If you're studying to become an accountant, why prepare coffees to help pay for your education when you can prepare tax statements? Why budget your living expenses when you can prepare financial budgets?

Visit Mohawk College to find out about accounting trainingand other business programs.




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