Accounting Qualification for IT Developer

Accounting Qualification for IT Developer

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As a reseller of accounting software and also a development house, we are increasingly being asked to build new functionality and integrate existing applications to all areas of the accounts package.

Whilst the developers are great at developing they are not necessarily accounting minded and therefore need regular calrification on 'the best way do deal with transactions that will hit the ledgers.

The suggestion was made that as part of their personal development plan they undertake a course on accounting, maybe even part qualficiation.

Can anyone suggest a good course that will help them to understand the basics of accounting, VAT etc and concepts like accruals/WIP which could be put to practical use in a development environment?
Ben Cooper

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By warwick5763
11th Sep 2008 13:31

Accounting qualification in accounting software
Would recommend the AAT course. I have done it myself and it gives a good coverage of the basics. Reasonably intelligent programmer capable of an MCTS would eat it up. Although not the be all and end all it does the basics very well and you can can then research on further. I also did the payroll options and they were excellent. I did the course not to be an accountant but to do my job better which is support and consultancy for Pegasus, Exchequer and Microsoft Axapta. Its only an NVQ but it much better than nothing at all and you can be effective with it very quickly.

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By beaker141
05th Sep 2008 11:59

CIMA Foundation
I worked in IT for 5 years before coming over to Accountancy and found the CIMA foundation "Financial Accounting Fundamentals" course from BPP extremely useful.

I do agree thought that without day to day use of an accounting system it would be of limited benefit, but it is a 5 day course costing a £1k or something so is good value for money.

Why not send your best developer on it and get feedback then make a call.

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By Richard Willis
05th Sep 2008 09:11

I'm with Alastair
Hi Ben

I agree with Alastair; you would be far better off employing an accounts trained person with an interest in software development. If I lived nearer London or Chi. I would volunteer!

However long you train somebody in accountancy they will NEVER get a true insight unless they have actually USED product and seen the pitfalls and benefits. Unfortunately it would appear that most software packages have been developed your way and poor wretches like Alastair and myself have suffered the consequences for years.

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By listerramjet
04th Sep 2008 15:31

what you really want
is an accountant to act as a business analyst. think of all that lost productive time in training then and they still won't get it!

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