Masterpiece Consultants

INTRODUCTION

Are you:

Looking for work as a bookkeeper?
Wanting to send a staff member on a course which will improve their bookkeeping and MYOB skills?
Currently working as a bookkeeper and wanting a qualification to show prospective employers?

With Masterpiece Consultants, you (or your employee) can learn basic bookkeeping skills from qualified trainers who also work in the financial services industry. Upon completion of the course, you will receive a qualification you can show to prospective employers anywhere in Australia or use as a basis for further study. For those wanting a more in-depth qualification, we also offer a Certificate IV in Financial Services (Bookkeeping), which incorporates the Certificate III and adds other topics such as payroll, inventory, and cash/accrual BAS preparation.

Topics covered include:

BAS
Sales & purchases
GST
Petty cash
Reporting
Bank reconciliations
Asset registers
Depreciation
Journals
Legislation relevant to bookkeepers
Occupational health and safety for office workers

COURSE OVERVIEW

	Cost	Classroom based - $1,495.00 Correspondence - $1,495.00 RPL - $495.00 EARLYBIRD SPECIALS Enrol and pay in full for your course by 31st December 2008 to receive a 30% discount. If you take up this special offer, you will pay only $1,046.50 for your course - that's over $400 off the normal course fee! Enrol and pay in full for your course by 31st January 2009 to receive a 20% discount. If you take up this special offer, you will pay only $1,196.00 for your course - that's nearly $300 off the normal course fee! CHRISTMAS SPECIAL OFFER Be one of the first thirty students to enrol in December and receive a BONUS $50.00 Coles-Myer gift card. Offer ends 31st December 2008 and can be combined with other current special offers.
	Payment Options	We accept payments by cash, credit card, cheque, or direct deposit into our bank account. We also have a payment plan option available, where your course cost is direct debited from your nominated bank account or credit card over a period of eight weeks. Depending on your circumstances, we may be able to assist you to apply for government funding to cover all or part of your course fee. Funding programs are subject to availability, so please call us on (03) 5941 4711 to discuss what is currently available. Please note that payment in full or the first instalment of a payment plan is required to secure your place in a course.
	Inclusions	- MYOB Student Edition software to use at home - Resource book and exercise book - Individual use of a computer during class sessions - Access to our computer room for practice between classes (if required) - Qualified trainer who is also a practicing bookkeeper and MYOB Certified Consultant
	Not For Credit Option	Are you interested in training yourself (or your staff) to use MYOB and understand basic bookkeeping principles - but not concerned about receiving a nationally-recognised qualification? Then why not enrol in any of our Certificate III or IV courses under the 'Not-For-Credit' option? You will receive all the same course materials as other students You will attend the same classes as other students, and learn all the same topics You will have access to your trainer throughout the duration of the course, to answer your questions about course materials and provide assistance with exercises. You will not be required to complete assessment tasks, and none of your work will be graded. Please note that answers are provided for class exercises, so you will be able to monitor your own progress through your success in completing these. You will not be issued with a nationally-recognised Certificate or Statement of Attainment upon completion of the course. If, after completing your not-for-credit course, you decide you would like to receive a qualification after all, you will need to complete our standard assessment tasks (additional fees apply for this service). The Not-For-Credit option is available for any Certificate III or Certificate IV course run by Masterpiece Consultants. The course fee for this is 60% of the normal course price, payable either upfront or using our payment plan option. It is very important to remember that you will not receive a nationally recognised qualification upon course completion if you have chosen the Not For Credit option. If you have any questions or concerns, please call us on (03) 5941 4711 or e-mail admin@mpiece.com.au for assistance. The Not-For-Credit course fee for this course is $897.00. No further discounts or special offers apply.
	Prerequisites	Our classes cater for students ranging from absolute beginners to experienced bookkeepers wanting formal recognition of their skills. The only prerequisites are literacy and numeracy skills to a Year 10 level. Basic computer skills are useful, but not essential.
	Length	8 x 3 hour class sessions (held weekly), plus an independent study component completed at home.
	Location	Classes are held in our Pakenham training rooms, within walking distance of the Pakenham train station
	Trainer	Debbie Brownlie; visit her profile to learn more about her qualifications and experience
	Course dates	Certificate III in Financial Services (Accounts Clerical) Start Date: 2nd March 2009 End Date: 11th May 2009 Session Times: Mondays 10am-1pm Notes: Family friendly course, with no classes running on public or school holidays. Certificate III in Financial Services (Accounts Clerical) Start Date: 27th April 2009 End Date: 22nd June 2009 Session Times: Mondays 2-5pm Notes: Please note that no class will be held on Monday 8th June due to the Queen's Birthday Public Holiday Can't find a course that suits? Call us! As courses fill, more options are made available and classes are scheduled to suit the needs of our prospective students. We are happy to take your name, contact details, and details of the class times you prefer, and call you back as soon as a suitable class is available. Alternatively, click here to see our Certificate IV in Financial Services (Bookkeeping) page. The first eight weeks of the Certificate IV course are identical to the Certificate III course so, if there are places available, you may be able to find a suitable alternative here. Please call us on (03) 5941 4711 or e-mail admin@mpiece.com.au if you would like to do this.
	Software used	MYOB Accounting v18
	Before You Enrol: Important Information You Should Know	ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS As of 1^st January 2009, there is an 80% attendance requirement for all Certificate courses run by Masterpiece Consultants. This means that if you attend less than 80% of scheduled classes, you will not be eligible to pass your course; nor will you be eligible for a refund or transfer into a future course. Skipping classes is disruptive to your fellow students, and interferes with your own learning experience, so we recommend 100% attendance wherever possible. Of course, we understand that illnesses and family emergencies do occur! If, after commencing your course, you become ill or fear that for any other reason you may be unable to complete the 80% attendance requirement, please speak to your trainer as soon as possible. In cases of genuine need, we will make every effort to make suitable alternative arrangements (please note that documentation of your illness or changed circumstances will be required). We recommend that you select your course date carefully and, if regular attendance is difficult for you, consider our correspondence option as an alternative to class-based study. CLOSING DATE FOR ENROLMENTS Bookings for all Certificate course close 10 working days prior to course commencement. At that time, if there are insufficient numbers for the course to go ahead, we will notify enrolled participants, who will be offered a full refund or transfer to an equivalent future course (if available). HOW TO SECURE YOUR PLACE IN A COURSE We require payment in full or the first installment of your payment plan in order to secure your place in a course. Upon request, we will hold your place in a course for three (3) business days without payment or deposit, to allow you time to organise any necessary paperwork. If we do not receive your payment or deposit after this time, we cannot guarantee your place. Places will not be held beyond the course closing date unless payment or deposit is received.

WHY STUDY WITH MASTERPIECE?

Many institutions - including TAFEs - teach the Certificate III in Financial Services (Accounts Clerical). Why should you choose Masterpiece Consultants?

New in 2009: Family Friendly Classes. Many of our students are mums and dads who need to fit study in around their kids' schedules. Our family friendly courses, while open to anyone, are specifically designed to suit parents. Class times suit school drop off/pick up times (classes run 10am - 1pm) and no classes are run on public holidays or school holidays. Commencement dates for our family friendly courses are marked on our current training schedule.
Small classes (maximum six students) mean that the trainer has time to give each student individual help during class.
Our trainers work as bookkeepers when they're not training, so students learn real world bookkeeping skills.
All necessary course materials are included in the course fee - so there are no textbooks or other extras to purchase after enrolment.
An informal, relaxed atmosphere gives students plenty of opportunities to ask questions and share experiences.
Much of the course is based around a case study, to give students a feel for what it's really like to work as a bookkeeper.
Masterpiece Consultants is a Registered Training Organisation (RTO), and follows the same set of training and assessment standards as TAFEs and other providers. This is what enables us to deliver a Nationally Recognised qualification and means that we are listed on www.training.com.au as a training provider.

Best of all, our small class size and hands-on approach means that you can gain your qualification in as little as eight weeks, with one 3-hour class per week and an independent study component which is completed at home.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Want to know more before you enrol? Call our office on (03) 5941 4711 or click here to Contact Us. Alternatively, you can browse through the following links and downloads. If you have problems downloading these files, you can contact our office to request that a hard copy be sent out to you.

Certificate III information flyer - for details of competencies covered and a week-by-week outline of the course.

Student Handbook - looking for information on the enrolment process, privacy procedures and refund policies? You will find this information - and more - within the pages of this handbook.

Payment plan information - download this if you would like to pay for this course using direct debit from your bank account or credit card, using a weekly or fortnightly payment schedule. You can also download a payment plan application form by clicking here; call our office on (03) 5941 4711 for assistance or more information.

Parents Returning to Earning - the Victorian government offers a grant of up to $1,000 towards the cost of training for eligible parents; click here to view the program website. Applications for this funding are made directly to the program administrators. If you are successful, a Grant Document will be provided to you which you can present to us as part payment of your fee for this course.
Please note: As of December 2008, there are no Parents Returning to Earning grants available. According to the program website, more grants should be released in 2009.

Productivity Places Program - This is part of the Australian Government's Skilling Australia initiative and offers funding for eligible students to complete nationally-recognised courses in industries currently experiencing skills shortages. The Certificate IV in Financial Services (Bookkeeping) is an eligible qualification, and Masterpiece Consultants is approved to deliver training under the program. Please note that Productivity Places Program funding is very much in demand, so we recommend applying early to improve your chances of securing a place. Click here to view the program website for more information on eligibility criteria, how to apply, and how the program works.

Recognition of Prior Learning - download this booklet if you are interested in having your current skills and learning recognised in full or partial completion of the Certificate III course.

Enrolment form - download and print this if you would like to go ahead and enrol in one of these courses. Please also download an enrolment checklist to make sure you have incorporated everything necessary with your enrolment. The enrolment checklist also includes a form to be filled out and returned if you plan to pay in full using credit card or cheque. If you prefer to make weekly or fortnightly payments on your course, please use the payment plan form instead (see above). (PDF document)

Frequently Asked Questions - answers to some of the questions we are most commonly asked (including 'I haven't been in formal study for a while - will I cope?').

Introduction to Adult Learning - what is competency based training? What are learners expected to do, at class and at home? What happens if you fail an assessment?

Sample Exercises - want to see what sorts of things you will be asked to do as part of this course? Take a look at this extract from our student learning materials to see some of the exercises we ask our students to do.

Policies - Visit this page if you would like to read the policies that Masterpiece's trainers work under.

MYOB Australia - new to bookkeeping and looking for more information on the software we use? Check out MYOB's comprehensive website to learn about the features and applications of the program you will be learning on.