How do you manage the finances of a business? Whether you are an entrepreneur, running a family business, or just looking to advance your career and add to your skill set, this Bookkeeping Certificate will provide you with the knowledge needed to measure, and manage, the financial health of your business. This program focuses on cash basis accounting.

No one will care more about the financial health of your business than you! It’s imperative that you understand how the process works and are able to complete the accounting cycle accurately and in a timely fashion. Even if you plan to outsource your bookkeeping needs, you should still understand how the process works. No one should be clueless when it comes to the finances of their business.

The Bookkeeping Certificate courses must be taken in the below order (the classes build off each other): 

• Understanding Debits and Credits
   Winter: Feb. 5 - Mar. 1
   Spring: Apr. 1 - 26

• General Ledger and Month End Procedures
   Winter: Mar. 4 - 29
   Spring: May. 6 - 31

• Closing Procedures and Financial Statements
   Winter: Apr. 1 - 26
   Spring: Jun. 3 - 28 

Nonprofit bookkeeping fundamentally differs from business bookkeeping. Delve into fund accounting. Learn how to record transactions with a focus on how money filters in to a nonprofit organization and how you track the spending of those funds. Become proficient in how to prepare financial statements for nonprofits as well as a cash flow statement. Nonprofits make up America’s third largest workforce. It’s important to understand how to handle bookkeeping procedures for this unique type of organization.

Classes included in this program include:

• Introduction to Nonprofits

• Accounting for Nonprofits

• Financial Statements

Reviews the basics and coverage levels of Medicare

• Coverage of Part A, B, C and D
• When to sign up
• How to sign up
• The differences between Medicare advantage and Medicare supplement

Reviews the basics and coverage levels of Medicare

• Coverage of Part A, B, C and D
• When to sign up
• How to sign up
• The differences between Medicare advantage and Medicare supplement

This class will begin with an overview of basic estate planning, including Wills,Powers of Attorney, Health Care Directives, etc. The class will then delve into,learning how revocable trusts can help avoid probate and protect your privacy, andhow irrevocable trusts can protect your assets from nursing home or Maine Care(Medicaid) liens. Discussion will include other strategies to safeguard assets from life events such as business failure or divorce of adult children.

Kathryn Bedell is a lawyer in York, Maine and has been practicing for 31 years. Her practice focuses on estate planning, asset preservation, and probate matters.