Advanced Diploma of Accounting

The Advanced Diploma of Accounting is a one-year course for people who want practical accounting skills and a qualification that sits above a certificate IV but below a bachelor degree. You will work through the core of financial accounting: preparing journals and ledgers, reconciling bank and supplier accounts, producing financial statements, and handling GST and BAS lodgements the way Australian businesses actually do them. Alongside that you will study management accounting for budgeting and cost control, computerised accounting software, and the tax rules that apply to individuals and small entities. The course is delivered by Queensford College and Q Learning.

How the course is structured

Australian qualifications are built from units of study, each carrying credit points. This advanced diploma is normally delivered over two or three study periods across a single year, with each unit assessed through a mix of assignments, practical software tasks, and exams. Some providers offer trimester intakes, so you may be able to start in February, June or September depending on the campus. There is no compulsory honours year or research thesis at this level. The final units often pull several subjects together into a simulated accounting cycle for a small business, which acts as a capstone task rather than a separate research project.

Skills you gain and how they are taught

Expect a hands-on course. You will learn to use accounting software to enter transactions, run reports and fix errors, and you will practise preparing income statements, balance sheets and cash flow statements from raw source documents. The tax and compliance units cover GST, PAYG, superannuation and the record-keeping obligations that apply to Australian entities. By the end you should be able to take a set of records from a small business and produce accurate reports, spot discrepancies, and explain what the numbers mean to a non-accountant. Assessment is largely practical, so you build a portfolio of work you can show an employer.

Who it suits and what to check

This qualification suits school leavers who want a fast route into an accounts role, career changers moving into bookkeeping or finance administration, and people already working in payroll or accounts payable who want formal recognition of their skills. It also gives a pathway into a bachelor degree with credit for prior study, though the amount of credit depends on the receiving institution. International students should note that while studying in Australia on a Student visa you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight during term, and after completing the course you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream, subject to the Department of Home Affairs requirements. English proficiency is required for international applicants, with IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall being the common standard for courses at this level, though the Student visa has its own separate English threshold. Tuition fees are published on the CRICOS register. Always confirm current intake dates, unit lists, credit arrangements and English requirements directly with Queensford College or Q Learning before you apply.

• Accounts clerk or assistant accountant, working in the finance team of a private company, not-for-profit or government agency, handling day-to-day transactions and reconciliations.
• Bookkeeper, managing the books for small businesses, either in-house or through an accounting or bookkeeping practice.
• Payroll officer, processing wages, superannuation and PAYG obligations for an organisation's staff.
• Accounts payable or receivable officer, managing invoices, payments and debtor follow-up in industries such as construction, retail, health and professional services.
• Tax agent support, assisting registered tax agents with individual and small business returns during tax season.
• Assistant management accountant, helping with budgeting, cost analysis and monthly reporting in larger organisations.

These roles are found across every Australian industry, with strong demand in accounting firms, small business services, local government and the health and education sectors. The qualification also provides a pathway to further study, such as a bachelor degree in accounting, which can lead to membership of a professional accounting body and more senior roles.