Introduction to Accounting

What will you learn during Introduction to Accounting?

Accounting is the process of recording financial transactions pertaining to a business. You’ll be introduced to some of the basic accounting terms and concepts and gain a general understanding of accounting and the fundamentals of accounting theory.

Introduction to Accounting is an excellent course that teaches accounting to anyone who is totally new to the subject. This Springboard course will develop your accounting techniques and skills necessary for further study and practical experience.

The short course module will:

• make you understand the basic accounting concepts
• introduce you to various uses of accounting information
• prepare you for ledger accounts, trial balance and financial statements
• enable you to define and calculate costing and budgeting methods

Who is this for?

If you come from a non-accounting academic background and wish to pursue a career in finance, this free accounting Springboard course is ideal for you.

You’ll get a clear understanding of how to prepare accounts and no background knowledge of finance or business is assumed. This module provides you with an opportunity to upskill and pursue a career in the finance arena. You’ll gain a foundation of accounting activities, including financial, cost and management accounting relevant for a business.

The module course is offered through the Springboard initiative, part of the Government’s response to the global pandemic and it’s designed to help people enhance their employability, upskill and re-skill in the current climate. This course is free for eligible jobseekers, returners, carers, employed applicants and those who are formerly self-employed via the Higher Education Authority Springboard+ initiative.

Read more about the Springboard scheme here.

Module Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module, you’ll be able to:

• Identify various uses of accounting information
• Prepare ledger accounts and a trial balance
• Explain the basic accounting concepts.
• Prepare a trial balance and financial statements.
• Define and calculate costing and budgeting methods

What to expect

The goal of this module is to introduce the fundamentals of accounting theory and practice in order to develop the accounting techniques and skills necessary to provide a foundation for further study and practical experience.

You’ll be exposed to a substantial amount of quantitative analysis as part of the learning process.  There will be short lecture presentations on the key concepts of accounting with in-class exercises. The course will be taught through a mix of relevant theory and using highly practical exercises and in-class assessments. This module is open to learners with no prior experience of accounting. 

Skills for the labour market

Ireland has experienced huge changes over the past months. The impact of COVID-19 has highlighted the importance of people having a wide range of skills in an era of economic uncertainty. Accounting and Finance are vital areas of employability in any sector. This module will provide you with a foundation of accounting activities, including financial, cost and management accounting relevant for business today.

Course Structure

The Introduction to Accounting module is part of our Bachelor of Business Level 7 degree.

This module is an 18-week part-time programme and it’s delivered part time in a flexible manner through blended or online learning to allow people to gain important skills without taking a considerable period away from the labour market and family life.

Part-time classes will typically run once per week and here is a breakdown of hours.

Entry requirements

Applicants under 23 need a Leaving Certificate with 5 passes or a QQI Level 5 equivalent. Applicants over the age of 23 can apply on the basis of age and experience. Galway Business School also has an active RPL policy.

You will be asked to provide the following documents at the application stage: 

• GBS Application Form
• Proof of age – Copy of Identification (Passport/Drivers Licence/Birth Certificate)
• Detailed CV – presenting a working history
• References Details of any training completed Certificates for qualifications, training courses etc. Professional licenses/registrations or membership of professional organisations 
• As part of the application process learners will be asked to attend an informal interview with GBS Academic Staff.

Applicants who wish to apply for the part-time programmes must contact Galway Business School directly at admissions@galwaybusinessschool.ie. 

Career progression

After completing this module, students can begin to pursue a possible career in the finance area. Learners who would like to further their academic career can choose to continue their studies through our Bachelor of Business degree programme which is a ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants )accredited programme. Students would be exempted from this module within the degree course. 

Why Galway Business School

Galway Business School is one of the leading private educational institutes in the west of Ireland and has a proven track record of delivering flexible part-time courses over the past 20 years. At Galway Business School, you'll experience a friendly and welcoming student-centred learning environment with a commitment to supporting you as you embark upon a lifelong learning journey. Our expert lecturers will mentor and guide you through the skills, knowledge and practical work experience to achieve your goals.