Advanced Diploma of Business Administration – Accounting

Sheridan’s Business Administration – Accounting program prepares you for an exciting career in business, accounting or finance.

Industry connections

Sheridan's accounting professors are heavily involved in the financial industry, presenting at conferences and contributing to publications of accounting textbooks. Many have written books on financial topics, and many hold the Chartered Professional Accountants (CPA) designation. Our professors maintain strong relationships to local industry that often lead to co-op opportunities for our students.

What you'll gain

• A solid background in standard accounting practices.

• Expertise in spreadsheets, databases, and accounting and personal income-tax software programs such as Sage 50, MS Access and Profile.

• Training in essential communication skills for advising business owners and managers.

• Hands-on experience in applying accounting concepts.

Learning Outcomes

The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

• Record financial transactions in compliance with Canadian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles for sole proprietorships, partnerships, private enterprises, publicly accountable enterprises and non-profit organizations.

• Prepare and present financial statements, reports and other documents in compliance with Canadian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles for sole proprietorships, partnerships and private enterprises.

• Contribute to strategic decision-making by applying advanced management accounting concepts.

• Prepare individuals' and Canadian-controlled private corporations' income tax returns and individuals' basic tax planning in compliance with relevant legislation and regulation.

• Analyze and evaluate organizational structures and the interdependence of functional areas, and contribute to the development of strategies which positively impact financial performance.

• Analyze and evaluate, within a Canadian context, the impact of economic variables, legislation, ethics, technological advances and the environment on a organization's operations.

• Analyze and evaluate an organization's internal control system, taking risk management into account.

• Contribute to strategic decision-making by applying advanced financial management concepts.

• Co-ordinate the planning, implementation, management and evaluation of team projects by applying project management principles.

Online Business Simulation Game

The popular online Business Simulation Game (BSG) is a unique way to test your accounting and business skills running a fictitious company against collegiate teams from around the world. Sheridan's three-year accounting program is one of the few in the area to offer this collaborative, hands-on simulation.

Additional information

Following a first year of common curriculum shared by all business administration students, you’ll begin an in-depth immersion in accounting principles and practices that prepares you for a career in accounting. The co-op program option provides an opportunity for three practical on-the-job placements.

As a student in the three-year program, you’ll also master skills essential for employment in the field’s more demanding positions:

• Tax, audit and advanced accounting principles.

• Budgeting, business analysis and financial statement preparation.

Students enrolled in the three-year program will have the option, if they qualify for the program, to gain practical work experience through a co-op placement. You’ll earn pay while getting valuable experience working for three semesters (360 hours per semester) performing the kinds of tasks you may do later in your career.

CPA recognition

Because of the strength of our program, our Accounting classes qualify for partial transfer to the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada's Advanced Certificate in Accounting and Finance (ACAF).

Please note that in order to obtain CPA ACAF certification, you must meet CPA's entrance requirements and complete their program. CPA ACAF certification is solely conferred by CPA.

University transfer

Graduates of Sheridan's Accounting diploma program are eligible for a block transfer into Sheridan's Bachelor of Business Administration programs if they meet the admission requirements (currently a graduating GPA of 3.0).

Graduates of Sheridan's Accounting diploma program may also be eligible to enter an accelerated three-year or four-year degree program at Lakehead University, Northwood University, University of Windsor or Ryerson University, if they meet the university's entrance requirements.

Campus location notice (Ontario College Advanced Diploma)

As of September 2016, all Year 3 courses in our Advanced Diploma business programs are held at Sheridan's Hazel McCallion Campus (HMC) in Mississauga. Students in Years 1–2 continue to take their courses at our Davis Campus, and move to HMC at the start of Year 3.

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