BOOKKEEPER TECHNICIAN UNIVERSITY^®

Your Part-Time Controller (YPTC) is proud to announce our Bookkeeper Technician University® in Philadelphia!

Bookkeeper Technician University (BTU®) is our school that teaches basic bookkeeping skills to non-accountants.  BTU students learn “best practices” leading to efficient accounting processes and strong internal controls.

YPTC believes that our mission is, in part, to help nonprofit organizations build their internal capacity.  Since we are accountants, we can best help our clients and other nonprofit organizations by teaching them accounting and bookkeeping. 

These new classes are offered FREE to employees and board members of current YPTC clients and of member agencies of the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance. 

The following FAQ’s explain the details of how the course is designed, the schedule, and how to register.

What is Bookkeeper Technician University?

Bookkeeper Technician University (BTU) is an eight-week training program created by Your Part-Time Controller to teach basic bookkeeping skills to people with little or no formal bookkeeping or accounting training.

BTU is unique in that it uses a real-world practical approach to teaching bookkeeping skills combining theory and practice in every class. It incorporates the teaching of “best practices” which includes strong internal controls and efficient policies and procedures. 

BTU is offered free of charge exclusively to employees and board members of current YPTC clients, and of selected Partner Organizations and their constituent organizations:

• The Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance (GPCA)
  

Why is YPTC doing this?

Your Part-Time Controller has considerable experience and expertise providing bookkeeping, accounting, controllership, and CFO services primarily to nonprofit organizations.

In the course of our work we see nonprofits of all types and sizes struggle with inadequate bookkeeping support. These organizations usually have the necessary computer equipment and accounting software. The problem, however, is that the people tasked with performing the bookkeeping functions lack the necessary skills.

YPTC believes that its Bookkeeper Technician University is part of the solution to this problem. With proper training, we can build stronger nonprofits, one accounting department at a time.

YPTC further believes the highest form of philanthropy is teaching others to do for themselves. By teaching best practice bookkeeping skills at BTU, we provide:

• The individual with increased technical skills.  This leads to increased productivity, higher quality output, greater self-confidence, and greater job satisfaction.
• The employer organization with greater internal capacity in its financial department, improved performance, and greater staff morale.
  

What is YPTC’s approach to teaching and what makes it superior?

A core component of our pedagogy is the teaching of “best practices” of nonprofit finances and accounting. Our students learn not only the mechanical aspects of bookkeeping, but they also learn why what they do is important.  They learn good ways versus commonly encountered bad ways of accomplishing their tasks. These best practice techniques are independent of any particular accounting software being used and they are applicable to almost all nonprofit organizations regardless of type or size.

We teach our students:

• How to properly discharge their bookkeeping responsibilities.
• How their bookkeeping duties fit within their organization’s accounting/financial department and within the larger programmatic and administrative needs of the organization.
• How to achieve efficient processes and procedures.
• How to implement appropriate internal controls.
• The importance of accuracy in their work.

A second component of our approach is drill and practice. Each class includes not just lectures but also extensive practice sessions where students are given actual accounting documents (e.g., invoices, expense reports, receipts, etc.) with which to practice.

What does the course teach?

Week 1:  Course Introduction and Bookkeeping Primer

Week 2:  Professional Excel Presentation Techniques 

Week 3:  A Quick Tour of One Particular Accounting Software Package

Week 4:  Accounts Payable/Cash Disbursements (Part I)

Week 5:  Accounts Payable/Cash Disbursements (Part II)

Week 6:  Billing/Accounts Receivable/Cash Receipts (Part I)

Week 7:  Billing/Accounts Receivable/Cash Receipts (Part II) 

Week 8:  Practice Wrap-Up, Instructor’s Review, Course Conclusion and Evaluation, and Awarding of Bookkeeper Technician – Level 1 Certificate!

Is there a Certificate of Completion?
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be awarded a “Bookkeeper Technician – Level 1” certificate. Bookkeeper Technician is a registered trademark of Your Part-Time Controller, LLC, and accordingly only YPTC may award this certificate of completion.

Registration for the Fall 2012 semester is now closed. Please watch this space for information about our next series of classes.

Bookkeeper Technician®, Bookkeeper Technician University®, and BTU® are registered trademarks of Your Part-Time Controller, LLC. All rights reserved.

Registration is now closed for our Fall 2012 classes. Please watch this space for information about our next series of classes.

How much does the class cost?
Tuition, including classes, materials and computer laboratory use, is FREE.

YPTC is covering these costs as a philanthropic service to our clients.

For non-YPTC clients and non-GPCA members, tuition, including classes, materials and computer laboratory use, is $895.

Outside of class, students will need to use their own accounting and Excel software.

YPTC will not provide food or beverages. Students, however, may bring their own food and beverages into the training laboratory.

Who may attend BTU?
Students must be employed by, or be a board member of, a current YPTC client, a Partner Organization (GPCA), or a member organization of the Partner Organization. 

Students must demonstrate the commitment of their organization toward their BTU training by obtaining permission of their organization’s:

• Executive Director, or
• A board member.
  

More than one student per organization will be permitted to attend provided there is space available after all other students have registered.

What if my organization is not a current YPTC client?
YPTC is now offering BTU for a fee of $895 to non-YPTC clients.

Who teaches the classes?
All classes will be taught by specially trained YPTC staff members.

When are the classes held?
BTU endeavors to be as convenient as possible by offering multiple class time options. To accommodate busy schedules and increased demand, three options are available:

• Mornings: 9:00 a.m. to noon
• Afternoons: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
  
• Evenings: 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

When registering, students must select either the morning, afternoon or evening option. Students will only be able to attend the class for which they register.

What is the schedule of classes?



















Where are classes held?
Classes will be held in YPTC’s Training Laboratory at 1500 Walnut Street, Suite 1200, in Center City, Philadelphia. The facility is equipped with high-speed terminals connected to a training server, dedicated high-speed laser printers, and a state-of-the art electronic whiteboard.


What software do we use?
YPTC does not sell, market, or endorse any particular accounting software package. Accordingly, classroom teaching is not limited to any one particular accounting software, but will use those software packages most commonly used by the organizations represented by our students. Initially, classes will be taught using QuickBooks. If demand is sufficient, additional classes can be added for Peachtree or other popular accounting software packages.

Competency in Microsoft Excel is considered essential. We specifically teach our students how to use Excel to produce professional quality reports and analyses. Regardless of the software packages used, students will be able to apply the best practices learned in class to their organizations.

How are the classes organized?
Each class will include discussions of best practices related to processes and internal controls, and practice with actual accounting documents.

What are the classroom exercises?
YPTC has assembled a variety of actual accounting documents from some of our clients (with identifying, sensitive and confidential information redacted) for use by our students during the practice portion of each class. The goal is to simulate as close as possible a real-world environment. Unlike other training programs which try to cram as much information as possible into an insufficient period of time, we at BTU allow plenty of time for classroom practice and drill.

Is there homework?
We believe an essential part of the learning process is spending quality time at home or at the office perfecting skills taught in class. To provide structure to this individual learning, homework will be assigned after every class.

What is the attendance policy?
The semester is 8 weeks with class meeting once per week for three hours. YPTC believes that consistent attendance is necessary for a student to realize the maximum educational benefit. Furthermore, it is our experience that students who miss class waste the time of other students by asking questions about topics covered in the classes they missed.

Accordingly, we have adopted the strict policy that any student who misses two classes will be dropped from the course. Prospective students should consult the course calendar and carefully and seriously consider this policy before registering so that they can be sure that their personal and work schedules will not interfere with their attendance.

How are students graded?
YPTC believes that an essential component of a formal educational program, such as our BTU, includes a final assessment of the student’s performance in the form of a grade. The grades are based on the following scale:

• Pass
• No pass
• Incomplete

Grades will be based on class participation, attendance, homework completion, and performance on classroom practice exercises. Grades will be reported to the student and also to the executive director or board member who gave permission for the student to attend.

How do I register?
Registration for the Fall 2012 semester is now closed. Please watch this space for details about our next series of classes.

Questions?
If you have additional questions, feel free to e-mail Jill Neumann.