These documents are ancillary to the Bookkeeping certificate program and are to be used as guides for your own bookkeeping work.

It is important to note that these tools are NOT be used as simple check-lists. They must be appropriately tailored to your organization's or client's needs. They are practical tools being provided to assist participants in brainstorming and developing the proper documentation needed to establish your bookkeeping processes.

NOTE: This course is one of a series of courses developed for the Professional Bookkeeping Certification program on Illumeo. The full curriculum of courses will provide you with the ultimate foundation to a career as a bookkeeper. 

1. Bookkeeper Responsibility Checklist – Information Sheet

   This information sheet is to be used as an example outlining typical responsibilities of the bookkeeper for each function below. It is not meant to be all inclusive. Responsibilities and assignments may vary based on the organization.

2. Debit and Credit Guide - Information sheet

   This document is an instructional sheet that provides a summary of how debit and credit’s impact various financial statement accounts and balances.

3. General Ledger Worksheet – Template

   This is an example of a general ledger worksheet with tabs for monthly expense summaries, itemized expenses and year-to-date budget summary. This worksheet can be expanded to include other specialized accounts or sub-accounts that the organization may choose. This is not mean to be an all inclusive worksheet and is an example template only.

4. Paycheck Calculator – Template

   Use this worksheet to assist in calculating individual pay and withholdings. Note: the second worksheet contains the tax tables for 2019. You must check the IRS tax tables annually and update the worksheet.

5. Payroll Manual Worksheet – Template

   This is an example manual timesheet template that exhibits the type of information that an organization would want to capture for timekeeping purposes. This is an example only. You must tailor the information to what is important to your company.

6. Accounts Receivable Explanation Guide – Instructions

   This is an instructional memo explaining aspects of creating an accounts receivable aging report and using that information to determine how to estimate an allowance for doubtful accounts.

7. Accounts Receivable Aging – Template

   This is an example template showing the requirements to develop an accounts receivable aging report.

8. Cash Forecast – Template

   This is an example template that provides an outline of items that would be considered in preparing a cash forecast. The individual line items are those that should be tailored to each organization. Use this as a brainstorming tool only.

9. Inventory Spreadsheet - Template

   This template can be adapted to assist the organization in tracking inventory. The columns listed include: Inventory ID, inventory name, description, unit price, quantity in stock, reorder level, reorder time, quantity in reorder, discontinued. These are example columns and can be tailored to your organization.

10. Inventory Spreadsheet – Template

    This is an alternative format to utilize to track total inventory in a warehouse as well as the value of the inventory. Columns are segregated into categories and include: Asset: Item number; Name; Description; Type; Location: Department; Space; Purchase;: Date of last order; Vendor; Purchase price per item; Warranty Expiration date Quantity/Value: Condition, Quantity, Asset Value, Total value Asset Information: Model; Vendor number; Remarks; Photograph

11. Depreciation Template

    This template outlines several depreciation methods and provides a template for calculating depreciation.

12. Depreciation MACR - Template

    This template outlines methods for depreciation calculation based on MACRS. (The Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System)

13. Invoice – Template

    This is a mock template to that displays the type of information bookkeepers would want to ensure are included on their invoices. Note: Based on your business there may be additional information you would wish to include.

14. Bank Reconciliation Process and Template

    This is an informational sheet and template for utilizing when preparing a bank reconciliation.

15. Overview Accounting Process Manual – Instructions

    This provides an example of an overview accounting process manual. When creating your initial accounting policies and procedures manual, start with an overview of your accounting process and system. Remember not everyone has an accounting background, so a review of the concepts and an overview of your people and software is the place to begin your manual

16. Accounting for Assets Policy - Instructions

    This document provides information for creating a complete assets policy. An asset management policy is a cornerstone of a solid and complete asset management strategy. It is like a compass pointing everyone at your organization in the right direction when making decisions about assets. It does this by providing a set of guiding principles, intentions, goals and methods for asset management, so everyone feels confident in their choices and contributions to the facility.

17. Revenue for Recognition Policy - Instructions

    This document provides information for creating a revenue recognition policy. Revenue recognition is a generally accepted accounting principle (GAAP) that stipulates how and when revenue is to be recognized. The revenue recognition principle using accrual accounting requires that revenues are recognized when realized and earned–not when cash is received. The revenue recognition standard, ASC 606, provides a uniform framework for recognizing revenue from contracts with customers

18. Purchasing Policy - Instructions

    This document provides information for creating a purchasing policy. Purchasing policies are typically a part of a company's overall operations handbook. It will describe the purpose for the policy, restrictions placed on employees, responsibility of purchasing department employees and other specific procedures or processes.

19. Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable Policy - Instructions

    This document provides information for creating an accounts payable policy and as well as an example policy. The accounts payable process is important since it involves nearly all of a company's payments outside of payroll. Regardless of the company's size, the mission of accounts payable is to pay only the company's bills and invoices that are legitimate and accurate.

    This document provides information for creating an accounts receivable policy as well as an example policy. Accounts receivable is defined as an asset that reflects a future payment. In actuality, an accounts receivable is a debt. How your business deals with the debt obligation, and the terms of the debt, must be clearly written in organizational policy that your staff understands

20. Financial Reporting Policy - Instructions

    This document provides information on what to include in a financial reporting policy. Financial Reporting Procedure ensures that financial reporting is completed in accordance with legal and ethical requirement and accepted accounting practices; completed within the required time frame(s) and forwarded to required agencies; reviewed and signed by company officers who attest to the reasonable accuracy of the information; and available for the company’s needs.

21. Fraud Policy - Example

    This is an example fraud policy outlining various components of information that organizations should consider. The corporate fraud policy is established to facilitate the development of controls that will aid in the detection and prevention of fraud against the company.

22. Code of Ethics Policy - Instructions

    This provides information on what to include in developing a code of ethics policy.

23. Miscellaneous Policies - Instructions

    This provides information on establishing various policies such as: Accounting for Expenses; Authorization Policy; Internal Control Policy; Records Management Policy

24. Documenting Processes and Controls for Sarbanes-Oxley Guide

Note: Information within this course comes from readily available public domain documents and is utilized by the trainer as a supplement for relaying the course content.