Content of Course

The Introduction to Practical Accounting course provides students with a hands‑on foundation in accounting. Participants learn how to prepare a full set of financial statements starting from source documents and working through the nominal ledger to the trial balance. Most of the week is dedicated to completing a detailed Excel‑based case study, reflecting the practical issues trainees typically encounter during the first few months of their careers.

Delivered through a combination of lectures and case studies, the course covers:

• The principles of double‑entry bookkeeping
• Books of prime entry
• The nominal ledger and control accounts
• Preparing and balancing a trial balance
• Effective use of Excel to analyse and manage basic accounting data
• An introduction to VAT and other business‑related taxes that affect financial statements
• The basic format and structure of financial statements
• Interpretation and analysis of financial statements
• How to document an accounts preparation assignment
• Working with incomplete records

There is no prior knowledge required for this course, making it ideal for new trainees or individuals beginning their career in accounting.