ModernEdu
CoursesCareer GuidesTestimonials
Sign in
Business & Entrepreneurship · Advanced Certificate

Build a Career in Bookkeeping
For Australian Businesses

This course gives you the practical skills to manage the books for an Australian small business. You'll learn to handle GST, lodge a BAS, run payroll, and use software like Xero and MYOB. It's designed for starting a bookkeeping career or taking control of your own business finances.

See what you’ll learn
Free first lesson
Or enrol on the spot
Rated 5 by our students
From $25
Per Week
ICOES + CPD
Endorsed Certificate
14-Day
Money-Back Guarantee
100%
Online, Self-Paced
24/7
AI Tutor
Career outcomes

Upskill. Side Hustle. New Career.

Whatever you are here for, this certificate leads straight to real roles:

Bookkeeper
Accounts Clerk
Payroll Officer
Accounts Payable Officer
Assistant Accountant
Bookkeeping Business Owner
Curriculum

What You’ll Learn.

10 modules · 100 lessons · Study at your own pace

01Welcome & IntroductionFree
02What Bookkeeping Is and Why It Matters
03The Accounting Equation Explained Simply
04How Double-Entry Bookkeeping Works
05The Chart of Accounts: What It Is and How to Read One
06Types of Business Structures in Australia and Their Bookkeeping Needs
07Source Documents: What to Keep and Why
08Cash Versus Accrual Accounting: Choosing the Right Basis
09Setting Up a Basic Filing System for Business Records
10Reading a Basic Set of Financial Statements
11A Day in the Life of a Bookkeeper in an Australian Small Business
Included with your course

Your 24/7 AI Tutor.

It knows where you are

Your tutor sees the lesson you are on and what you have covered, so every answer fits your progress.

Explains Until You Get It

Confused by a concept? Ask for a simpler take, a real-world example, or a quick quiz to test yourself.

There at 11pm

Study when it suits you. Your tutor is available around the clock, every day of your enrolment.

Inside this course · Your tutor
I'm still a bit confused about cash vs accrual accounting. Which one should I use when I prepare my first BAS?
That's a great question. The main difference is timing. With the cash basis, you report GST when money changes hands. With the accrual basis, you report it when you send or receive an invoice. Most small businesses with a turnover under $10 million can choose the cash basis, which is often simpler to manage. Would you like me to walk through an example of reporting a sale on both a cash and accrual basis for the BAS?
ModernEdu
This certifies that
Charlotte Reeve
has successfully completed the
Advanced Certificate in Bookkeeping & Accounting
Issued by Modern Education Australia
Certificate No. ME-2026-04871
Verify at modernedu.com.au/verify
Your certificate

Proof of What You Know.

Endorsed

Endorsed by ICOES, the International Council for Online Educational Standards, and CPD-eligible.

Verifiable online

Every certificate carries a unique number an employer or client can verify on our site in seconds.

Made to share

A printed hard copy is included with upfront enrolment, and a digital version for LinkedIn and your CV.

Student reviews

What People Are Saying.

5 average rating

Set up a plant styling business, and maintain it too

The content was clear and practical — including the set-up of a plant styling business, and ongoing maintenance too.

Emily P. · Verified student

The financial part of the business

Learning about the financial part of the business.

Kristine S. · Verified student

The first weeks are the foundation, not a warm-up

The first weeks in the home are not a warm-up phase, they are the foundation. The guidance we give owners during this window can prevent months of remedial work later, making early intervention one of the most powerful tools we have as trainers.

Gaylene D. · Verified student
What you get

Everything Included.

In this course

100 lessons across 10 modules, read, listen, or watch every one
Your 24/7 AI tutor, built into every lesson
Assessments and your ICOES-endorsed, CPD-eligible certificate
12 months access, with extensions available on request

As a Modern Edu student

Student discount on any additional course
Printed hard-copy edition of your course
More student extras on the way
How it works

Four Steps to Your Certificate.

01

Try It Free

Start lesson 1 right now, free. See the course and meet your tutor before paying anything.

02

Enrol Easily

Pick the option that suits you. Every option is covered by the 14-day guarantee.

03

Make Real Progress

Read, listen, or watch each lesson. Go at your own pace with your tutor beside you.

04

Get Your Certificate

Pass your assessments and receive your endorsed, verifiable certificate.

Enrolment

Easy Ways to Get Started.

Try the first lesson free. When you are ready, split it into four with Afterpay or Klarna, save $200 upfront, or take the simple weekly plan.

Start Here · No Card Needed
Free first lesson
Start lesson 1 right now and meet your AI tutor. See exactly how the course works before you decide anything.
No card. No commitment. Your progress carries over when you enrol.
When you are ready to enrol
Recommended · Split Into Four
$199.75 ×4
Afterpay or Klarna covers the $799 upfront price for you. You get every upfront bonus and the $200 saving, then repay in four fortnightly amounts. Nothing more after that.
A second course free, your choice
Printed edition of your course included
Save $200 compared with the weekly plan
Continue With Afterpay or Klarna
Four interest-free payments of $199.75 for approved applicants. Late fees may apply.
Upfront · Save $200
$799
One payment by card if you would rather settle it in one go. Same bonuses: second course free and the printed edition.
CardAfterpayKlarna
Enrol Upfront for $799
Afterpay and Klarna split $799 into 4 payments of $199.75.
Weekly Payment Plan
$25 /week
40 weekly payments · $1,000 total
Upfront bonuses not included.
Start the Weekly Plan
Visa · Mastercard · Amex · Afterpay · Klarna accepted.    14-day guarantee
Not sure yet?
Before you enrol

Is It Right for You?

This course is for you if

Aspiring bookkeepers looking for practical, job-ready skills in Australia.
Small business owners who want to confidently manage their own finances.
Career changers seeking a flexible role that can be done from anywhere.
Anyone who needs to learn Xero and MYOB for a real-world business.
Office administrators wanting to take on more financial responsibility.

It is probably not for you if

Anyone needing a nationally recognised qualification. For that, look at a Certificate IV from a TAFE or another RTO.
People who want to become a registered BAS Agent immediately. This course is a great start, but registration has specific requirements from the Tax Practitioners Board.
University students seeking credit towards a Bachelor of Commerce or Accounting degree.
Experienced accountants looking for advanced corporate finance training. This course is focused on small business bookkeeping.

14-Day Money-Back Guarantee.

Try the full course for two weeks. If it is not for you, we refund you in full. No questions asked, no conditions.

More from students

“I love that it has different ways to learn! I'll keep learning about each flower's conditioning needs — I feel I've learnt so much already.”

Tammie O. · Verified student

“Very informative, and I like the focus on clients. It's better to give advice in small segments — just as we do with our dogs. Small steps.”

John H. · Verified student

“Real world responses — wow. The laws, and what it means to run a facility, is an eye opener. Even the less-common-pets section was eye opening — rabbits are illegal to keep as pets here in Queensland!”

Lee P. · Verified student
Good to know

Common Questions.

Do I need any accounting experience to start this course?+
No prior experience is needed. The course starts from the basics, covering what bookkeeping is, how the accounting equation works, and how double-entry bookkeeping operates. From there, it builds steadily through GST, payroll, BAS, and financial reporting. If you already have some experience, you can move through the early lessons quickly and focus on the areas you want to strengthen.
What software does the course cover?+
The course covers both Xero and MYOB in detail. There are dedicated modules on each, walking through setup, invoicing, payroll, bank reconciliation, and BAS preparation in both platforms. You will also learn how to code transactions correctly and connect Xero to other business tools.
Will this course help me prepare and lodge a BAS?+
Yes. There is a full module on BAS, covering how to read every label on the form, reporting on both cash and accruals bases, PAYG withholding, PAYG instalments, and how to prepare the BAS inside Xero and MYOB. The course also covers deadlines, lodgement, and how to correct errors on a previously lodged BAS. Note that lodging a BAS for clients commercially requires BAS Agent registration with the Tax Practitioners Board, and the course covers what that involves.
I run my own small business. Is this course right for me?+
Yes, many people who take this course are small business owners who want to manage their own books with confidence. The course covers the practical day-to-day work: GST, payroll, invoicing, bank reconciliation, and month-end reporting. There is also a lesson specifically on reading financial statements as a business owner, so you can use your numbers to make better decisions.
How long will it take to finish the course?+
The course has 100 lessons across 10 modules, with an estimated 232 study hours at a standard pace. If you already have some background knowledge, a fast-track path of around 20 hours covers the core content. You have 12 months access, so you can study at whatever pace suits your schedule.
What certificate will I receive, and is it recognised?+
You will receive an Advanced Certificate in Bookkeeping & Accounting, issued by Modern Education Australia. The course is accredited by ICOES (International Council for Online Educational Standards) and is CPD-eligible. This is not a nationally recognised qualification under the Australian Qualifications Framework. It is a professional development course suitable for building practical skills, adding to your CV, and demonstrating ongoing learning to clients or employers.

Start With a Free Lesson.

Start with the free first lesson, or enrol on the spot from $25 a week.

ModernEdu
Online certificate courses with an AI tutor built in. Study from anywhere in Australia.
Courses
All coursesBusiness & EntrepreneurshipPopular courses
Company
About usTestimonialsContact
Support
FAQRefund policyVerify a certificate
© 2026 Modern Education AustraliaPrivacy · Terms · Refunds
Advanced Certificate in Bookkeeping & Accounting
First lesson free · $25/week · 14-day guarantee