Honours Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) BCA

Holland Code: C (Conventional)

What academic skills do I need to be successful in the program?

This is a bachelor degree program, meaning that applicants must have taken at least six grade 12 courses at the university (U) level. This list does not replace the admission requirements you must have for admission to the program. Please see website for details.

Arts & Literacy High school courses in English, Business Studies, Accounting or Business and Technological Communication would be beneficial preparation for this program.

Math & Science Prospective students should enjoy math and have a solid high school background in math. Grade 12 Advanced Functions (U) with a minimum final grade of 70% is required.

Technology Basic computer skills required (Microsoft Office, email, Internet).

Group WorkSignificant amount of course work is done in groups.

What personal qualities should someone interested in this career have?

• Work independently on routine tasks
• Take a methodical and logical approach to their work
• Work with numbers quickly and accurately
• Enjoy  data analysis and proofreading
• Willing and able to keep up to date with evolving technology
• Good oral and written communication skills
• Good negotiation skills and the ability to work with many different people
• Customer service skills
• The ability to adapt to a changing environment
• Concentrate for extended periods of time and pay close attention to detail but also switch back and forth between tasks
• Able to keep information confidential
• Able to work well under pressure and consistently meet deadlines 

Useful background experience for this program would be experience in a secondary school business club or Junior Achievement.

What kind of work could I do when I graduate?

Graduates of this program may go on to become

Accountant, certified general accountant (CGA), chief accountant, financial auditor, income tax expert, industrial accountant, or internal auditor. The program will satisfy the degree requirements for all accounting professional bodies and meets requirements for the 12 Certified Professional Accountants of Ontario (CPA) education credits.

Places you may find yourself employed include …industry, banks and other financial institutions, public accounting firms, federal, provincial, and municipal government offices or self-employment.

Typical working conditions for this kind of work:

• Usually work regular weekday hours in a comfortable office environment
• Overtime may be required around specific periods (for example, accounting period, tax filing deadlines)

Tasks a graduate may do in the workplace,

• Calculate, prepare and issue documents related to accounts such as bills, invoices, inventory reports, account statements and other financial statements using computerized and manual systems
• Code, total, batch, enter, verify and reconcile transactions such as accounts payable and receivable, payroll, purchase orders, cheques, invoices, cheque requisitions, and bank statements in a ledger or computer system
• Compile budget data and documents based on estimated revenues and expenses and previous budgets
• Prepare period or cost statements or reports
• Calculate costs of materials, overhead and other expenses based on estimates, quotations, and price lists
• Respond to customer inquiries, maintain good customer relations and solve problems
• Keep financial records and establish, maintain and balance various accounts using manual and computerized bookkeeping system
• Post journal entries and reconcile accounts, prepare trial balance of books, maintain general ledgers and prepare financial statements
• Calculate and prepare cheques for payrolls and for utility, tax and other bills
• Complete and submit tax remittance forms, workers' compensation forms, pension contribution forms and other government documents
• Prepare tax returns and perform other personal bookkeeping services
• Prepare other statistical, financial and accounting reports 

Helpful links for further research into this Fanshawe College program and career opportunity

• Certified Professional Accountants of Ontario (CPA)
• Fanshawe’s library has prepared a subject guide for current students in this program. You may find the links and information provided very useful in learning more about this career.

Opportunities for further development or education

• Graduates may apply for Graduate Studies at universities.
• Graduates may apply to one of the following Fanshawe graduate certificate programs
  • International Business Management<
  • Marketing Management 
  • Human Resources Management
  • Professional Financial Services
  • Project Management 
  • Logistics and Supply Chain Management
  • Insurance and Risk Management

Last Modified: January 11, 2024