Accounting Assistant

One Year Technical Diploma

Program number: 311011

Overview

Overview

The Accounting Assistant technical diploma program at Madison College provides you with the skills and confidence necessary to perform entry-level bookkeeping and accounting work for local employers.

As an accounting assistant, you can work in a small business and be responsible for all aspects of bookkeeping or work in a larger firm under the supervision of an accountant and specialize in a certain area.

Program Details

Students in the Accounting Assistant program can attend full or part time.

Accounting Assistant classes may be offered at these Madison College campuses: 

  • Madison - Truax
  • Fort Atkinson 
  • Portage 
  • Reedsburg
  • Watertown

Explore financial aid eligibility for this program.

All courses for this program are offered online and many in person.
Admission

Admission

To Apply

After Acceptance

Once you are admitted into your program, review the Start of Semester Checklist to prepare for your first day of classes at MATC. 

Questions?

Contact Enrollment Services at EnrollmentServices@madisoncollege.edu or (608) 246-6210.

Curriculum

Curriculum

Prospective program students, the information below reflects the basic requirements for students admitted for the 2019-2020 academic year. To learn more about Madison College, visit us.

Current program students (including newly admitted), go directly to your Degree Progress Report (also referred to as an Advising Report or Academic Requirements) to view:

  • Progress toward your specific requirements
  • Alternative (in lieu of) courses to meet specific requirements

If you have questions after reviewing your report, please see Advising Services.

Outcomes

Outcomes

After completing the Accounting Assistant program at Madison Area Technical College, you will be able to:

  1. Understand types of business organizations and their internal control structures.
  2. Analyze and record financial transactions in a manual and computerized general ledger system.
  3. Prepare financial statements according to generally accepted accounting principles.
  4. Utilize current income tax resources to prepare personal income tax returns.
  5. Process payroll transactions in accordance with current payroll reporting requirements.
  6. Complete accounting cycle tasks using general ledger accounting software.
Careers

Careers

Earning your Accounting Assistant diploma at Madison College prepares you for valuable work as: 

  • Accounts Payable/Receivable Clerk
  • Billing Clerk
  • Bookkeeper/Payroll Clerk
  • Inventory Control Clerk
  • Office Assistant


With additional education and/or work experience, graduates may find employment as:

  • Accountant
  • Bookkeeping Supervisor
  • Office Manager

Find open jobs in this industry on Wisconsin TechConnecttm

Wisconsin TechConnect Connecting Skills with Jobs

  • Estimated Program Cost
    # of Credits for Completion
    31
    Tuition
    $4231.50
    Materials/Supplemental Costs
    $535.94
    Other Costs
    $0.00
    Total Estimated Program Costs:
    (book costs not included)
    $4767.44
  • Graduate Summary
    Graduate Report Summary Overview

    		 2016 2017 2018
    Number of Program Graduates 14 20 42
    Number of Surveys Sent 14 20 42
    Number of Surveys Returned 11 18 33
    Percent of Surveys Returned 78.60% 90.00% 78.60%
    Available for Employment 9 15 24
    Percent Available for Employment 100.00% 93.80% 92.30%
    Not in Labor Market 2 3 9
    Percent Not in Labor Market 22.20% 18.80% 34.60%
    Available for Employment

    		 2016 2017 2018
    Graduates Employed 9 14 21
    Percent of Graduates Employed 100.00% 93.30% 87.50%
    Employed in Related Occupation 5 9 17
    Percent Employed in Related Occupation 55.60% 64.30% 81.00%
    Employed in Unrelated Occupation 4 5 4
    Percent Employed in Unrelated Occupation 44.40% 35.70% 19.00%
    Employed - No Response 0 0 0
    Percent Employed - No Response 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
    Seeking Employment 0 1 3
    Percent Seeking Employment 0.00% 6.70% 12.50%
    Reaction To Training at Madison College

    		 2016 2017 2018
    Student satisfaction Mean (Out of 4) 3.1 3.2 3.6
    Number of Satisfaction Responses 9 16 26
    Very Satisfied 3 3 16
    Percent Very Satisfied 33.30% 18.80% 61.50%
    Satisfied 5 13 10
    Percent Satisfied 55.60% 81.30% 38.50%
    Unsatisfied 0 0 0
    Percent Unsatisfied 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
    Very Unsatisfied 1 0 0
    Percent Very Unsatisfied 11.10% 0.00% 0.00%
    Primary Reason for Attending Madison College

    		 2016 2017 2018
    Number of Primary Reason Responses 11 18 33
    Preparation for Getting a Job 2 9 10
    Percent Preparation for Getting a Job 18.20% 50.00% 30.30%
    Career Change 1 4 6
    Percent Career Change 9.10% 22.20% 18.20%
    Improvement of Existing Skills 4 1 4
    Percent Improvement of Existing Skills 36.40% 5.60% 12.10%
    Preparation for Further Education 2 2 10
    Percent Preparation for Further Education 18.20% 11.10% 30.30%
    Personal Interest 2 2 2
    Percent Personal Interest 18.20% 11.10% 6.10%
    Other 0 0 1
    Percent Other 0.00% 0.00% 3.00%
    When Employment was Obtained

    		 2016 2017 2018
    Number of When Employment Obtained Responses 9 14 20
    Before Enrollment 5 6 6
    Percent Before Enrollment 55.60% 42.90% 30.00%
    While Attending the College 2 5 10
    Percent While Attending the College 22.20% 35.70% 50.00%
    After Training at the College 2 3 4
    Percent After Training at the College 22.20% 21.40% 20.00%
    Location of Employment (related and unrelated)

    		 2016 2017 2018
    Number of Employment Location Responses 9 14 21
    In College District 7 13 20
    Percent In College District 77.80% 92.90% 95.20%
    In Wisconsin, Not in District 2 1 1
    Percent of In Wisconsin 22.20% 7.10% 4.80%
    Outside of Wisconsin 0 0 0
    Percent Outside Wisconsin 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
    Employer Location Unknown 0 0 0
    Percent Location Unknown 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
    Salary Trend
    Salary Trend 2016 2017 2018
    Full Time Employment (Related Job) Full Time Salary Count 4 8 14
    Average Monthly Wage $3,210 $3,060 $3,351
    Average Hourly Wage $18.66 $17.79 $19.48
    Average Work Hours per Week 41.3 40 41
    Part Time Employment (Related Job) Part Time Salary Count 1 1 2
    Average Hourly Wage $13.72 $8.45 $17.50
    Average Work Hours per Week 15 30 25
  • Graduate Employers
    Total Positions Open for academic year: 2018
    Wisconsin TechConnectTM Jobs* Madison Non-Madison
    Number of Full Time Positions Open 32 179
    Number of Part Time Positions Open 13 95
    Total Jobs 45 274
    Graduate Employers for academic year: 2018
    Employer(s) Job Title City** State*** Positions
    AJ Restaurant Accounting LLC Accounts Payable Specialist
    AJ Restaurant Accounting LLC Financial Accountant
    Baker Tilly Virchow Krause Accounts Payable Specialist
    City of Watertown Administrative Assistant Watertown
    CSM Companies Accounts Payable Specialist
    Environmental Management Consulting Accounting Assistant Lake Mills
    Fairway Independent Mortgage Accounting Assistant
    Fort Atkinson Area Chamber Of Commerce Executive Assistant/Office Manager Fort Atkinson
    Higher Education Aids Board Financial Specialist
    Ho-Chunk Nation Accountant
    Kollath CPA Accounting Generalist Middleton
    LocknCharge Accounts Receivable Specialist
    Mullen's Dairy Bar General Manager Watertown
    Small Business Accounting Solutions LLC Accounting Assistant Brookfield
    UW Medical Foundation Centennial Building Financial Specialist Senior
    UW System Administration Accountant

    * - Wisconsin TechConnectTM jobs are posted through a statewide consortium operated and funded by all 16 of the technical colleges in Wisconsin.

    ** - Only cities outside of Madison will display.

    *** - Only states outside of Wisconsin will display.

    **** - If you have a position to post, please contact Career and Employment Services at techconnect@madisoncollege.edu

Resources

Related Programs