Advanced Diploma of Accounting

The Advanced Diploma of Accounting at Brisbane College of Australia is a one-year qualification that takes you past the basics and into the work accountants actually do. You'll study financial accounting and reporting, management accounting, budgeting and forecasting, taxation for individuals and businesses, computerised accounting systems, and business law as it applies to accounting. The course is built around the kinds of tasks you'd handle in an Australian accounting practice or finance team: preparing financial statements, lodging BAS and tax returns, reconciling accounts, and using software such as MYOB or Xero to keep the books straight.

How the course is structured

Australian qualifications are measured in units of study and credit points, and this advanced diploma sits at the diploma level of the Australian Qualifications Framework. You'll complete a set number of core and elective units over the year. The college runs on a semester or trimester calendar, so you can expect two or three study periods, each ending in assessments. There's no honours year or thesis at this level, that comes later if you choose to articulate into a bachelor degree, where you'd typically receive credit for what you've already completed. Assessment is a mix of exams, assignments, and practical bookkeeping and software tasks.

Skills you'll gain

By the end, you should be able to prepare and analyse financial reports, manage ledgers and journals, apply Australian tax law to common situations, use accounting software confidently, and explain financial information to people who aren't accountants. You'll also pick up the workplace habits that matter: meeting deadlines, keeping records that stand up to scrutiny, and working within professional and ethical standards.

Who this suits

This course is for people who want a practical accounting qualification without committing to a three-year degree. It suits school leavers, career changers, and international students who want a recognised Australian credential and a pathway into further study. If you're already working in bookkeeping or administration, it's a way to formalise your skills. English proficiency is required for international applicants, IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall is the common standard, with TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced and the college's own English programmes accepted as equivalents. The Department of Home Affairs sets a separate English threshold for the Student visa itself. While studying, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight, and on completion you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register. Confirm all details, including unit lists and intake dates, on the official page.

• Assistant accountant, working in public practice firms, corporate finance teams, or government departments preparing financial statements and reconciliations.
• Bookkeeper, managing day-to-day accounts for small businesses, often using MYOB or Xero.
• Accounts payable/receivable officer, processing invoices, payments, and collections in organisations of all sizes.
• Payroll officer, handling wages, superannuation, and compliance with Australian employment rules.
• Tax assistant, supporting registered tax agents with individual and small business returns.
• Budget analyst, helping organisations plan and monitor spending, often in the public sector or large enterprises.

Graduates work across accounting firms, banks, insurance companies, government agencies, and the finance departments of private businesses. The qualification also provides a pathway into further study, such as a bachelor degree in accounting, which can lead to professional accreditation with bodies like CPA Australia or Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand.