Q: Why should I do the Financial Accounting manually since not many companies prepare accounts manually?
A: It may be true that not many companies prepare accounts manually these days, however, in order to appreciate the functions that are performed by a computerised system, and be able to adapt it to different situations, one needs to know how the accounting information is put together. It is also very important to know the purpose of specific documents produced and used in the accounting system.
As an accountant one must be able to design a simple accounting system in the absence of a computer. Remember that accounting packages are tools to speed up accounts preparation. If you do not know how to prepare accounts practically, there is little help a computer can give you.

Q: Why do I need manual payroll when most companies use computerised payroll system?
A: Knowing how to prepare payroll manually is very important. In manual payroll, you learn how to use the payroll tables and how to complete Inland Revenue forms. You also learn the legislation behind the various functions in payroll. Secondly, if the computer should breakdown for any reason, the employees will still require payment on the due date.

Q: There are so many accounting softwares in use. Will my Sage 50 be of any
help to me?
A: We train in computerised accounting. Most of the accounting packages are similar in function. Once you know one package you can adapt to others with minimal training.
We use Sage 50 in our computerised accounting workshops because Sage is very popular with small and medium sized companies.

Q: Businesses will use spreadsheet for various purposes, but how differently do accountants use it?
A: Spreadsheet is completely different from a computerised accounting package. It can be used for a thousand and one functions, and there are several ways of doing the same thing in spreadsheet. The use of spreadsheet in accounting concentrates on the saving of time by performing tasks faster with the use of shortcuts, formulae, macros and the various wizards. Data from accounting software are transferred to a spreadsheet to prepare schedules and tables that a computerised accounting package may not be able to prepare.

Q: I am not yet a manager, will I benefit from the management accounting workshop?
A: Management accounting skills are useful not only to management staff but to any individual. They enhance one’s progression to the top.
They can change one’s career to a self-employed consultant, as the ability to prepare budgets, cash flows and business plans are required in any business environment.

Q: Auditing is learnt in practice firms, what will I do with my auditing skills outside a practice?
A: Learning to audit on the job takes many years to master. In a structured training environment, it can take a just few days to master. Employers, be it in practice or industry and commerce, like to employ people with skills. If you are in industry or commerce, you could save money for your employer by knowing how to prepare for the external audit. You should also be a ready-made material for the internal audit department.

Q: What is Practice Attachment?
A: Our full time training is made of two parts, workshops and Practice Attachment TM. Once the workshops are completed you move on to Practice Attachment TM under the supervision of Phillips, Kobbs & Co, a firm of Chartered Certified Accountants and Registered Auditors for a minimum of two days a week.