Accounts Receivable Specialist Syllabus
Course Description
This training program is a non-degree certificate program designed to provide practical, hands-
on, and real- world job skills as an Accounts Receivable Specialist. Accounts Receivable specialists
perform general bookkeeping duties related to preparing and processing of customer billing and
cash receipts and for accurately managing the tracking of transactions into the financial records.
In addition, AR specialists work with management to analyze and report on the ongoing efficacy
of outstanding uncollected accounts receivable accounts. AR specialists are also tasked customer
payment follow up, including contacting clients for payment resolution, and negotiating payment
arrangements.
Educational Objectives
By the end of this course, you will be qualified to obtain an entry level position as an accounts
receivable, billing and collection specialist. You will become proficient in the following skills:
Keyboard and ten-key efficiency
Improve basic and mental math skills
Understand basic accounting concepts
Know fair credit and collection regulations
Set up new customer accounts
Maintain accurate files and ledgers
Prepare and send invoices for accuracy
Process payments and credit memos
Past due balances follow up
Resolve customer disputed charges
Conduct account research and analysis
Periodically audit customer ledgers
Prepare monthly AR aging reports
Send statements to outstanding accounts
Reconcile AR to the General Ledger
Learn customer bookkeeping software
Length and Sequence/Frequency of Classes
The program is 288 hours and sixteen weeks. Mondays through Thursdays, four and a half hour
sessions each.
Schedule of Total Charges for a Period of Attendance and Estimated Total Charges for Entire
Program
The total charges for a period of attendance are based on the number of hours of student
attendance times the average hourly estimated total tuition charge of $15.63 ($4,500 ÷ 288
hours). The estimated total charges for the entire program are $5,000: registration $100, tuition
$4,500, and materials and supplies $400.
Method of Instruction
Onsite Method of Instruction
Onsite class sessions are conducted by a dedicated instructor at the school facilities located in
the central San Diego City area of Kearny Mesa. The site is in a professionally maintained business
park with enough student parking and special needs access. The inside of the school is configured
in a modern, clean, and professional office setting with adequate heating and cooling systems,
natural light, etc.
1
T
he
Accounts Receivable Specialist - continued
Training Resources and Materials
The training program utilizes a proprietary curriculum, training materials, and study guides
developed and designed by the CPA owner, operator, and instructor with over fifty years of
accounting and finance experience.
Program Syllabus-Sequential Outline of Subject Matter, Skills to be Learned
WEEK 1: STUDENT ORIENTATION, TYPING/KEYBOARDING, TEN-KEY-BY-TOUCH
Student Orientation; School Disclosures; Student Rights; Career Goals; Tools of the Trade; Typing
and Keyboarding; Ten-Key-by-Touch; Ten-Key Worksheets.
WEEK 2: REVIEW OF BASIC BUSINESS MATH
Basic Math Review; Mastering Mental Math; Simple and Compound Interest; Understanding
Markups and Margins.
WEEK 3: THE WORLD OF ACCOUNTING
The World of Accounting; Accounting Rules and Concepts; the Accounting Equation; the Two
Methods of Accounting;
WEEK 4: THE ACCOUNTING PROCESS, ACCOUNTS, JOURNALS, LEDGERS, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The Accounting Process; the World of Accounts; the Chart of Accounts; Journals; the General
Ledger; the Balance Sheet and Income Statement.
WEEK 5: OVERVIEW OF ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE
Introduction to Accounts Receivable; the Accounts Receivable Cycle; Customer Master File; Types
of Accounts Associated with Accounts Receivable; Selling to Customers on Account; Customer
Sales Invoices vs Statements; Customer Subsidiary Ledgers; Calculating Average Daily Sales
Outstanding; Estimating Collectability of Outstanding Accounts Receivable.
WEEK 6: COOPERATING WITH SALES STAFF
Importance of Sales and Accounts Receivable Relationship; What AR Can Do to Help the Sales
Staff; Tips and Techniques for Maintaining the Relationship; Educating the Sales Staff about
Accounts Receivable; Keeping Sales from Selling to Noncreditworthy Customers.
WEEK 7: ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE TRANSCATION PROCESSING
The Importance of Time, Dates, the Calendar Customer Sale Invoices; Customer Cash Receipts;
Customer Adjustments; the Sales Journal; the Cash Receipts Journal; the General Journal;
Entering Customer Invoices, Receipts, and Adjustments into Journals Exercise.
2
T
he
Accounts Receivable Specialist - continued
WEEK 8: CUSTOMER MASTER FILE
Importance of Customer Master File; File Maintenance; Customer Types; Tax Identification
Numbers; Contact Individual; Credit Score; Customer Payment and Credit Terms; Sales Tax
Exempt or Non-Exempt Status; Billing and Payment History.
WEEK 9: CUSTOMER RELATIONS
The Customer’s Accounts Payable and Purchasing Departments; The Value of Establishing Good
Relations with a Customer’s Purchasing and Accounts Payable Staff; Customer Purchase Orders;
Customer P-Cards or Procurement Cards (Proscar’s); Customer Letters of Credit; How AP
Associates Can Affect When Payment is Made.
WEEK 10: ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE BILLING AND MONTH-END EXERCISES
Accounts Receivable Customer Sales Invoice Billing Exercise; Accounts Receivable Month-end
Aging of Accounts Exercise; Calculating Average Daily Sales Outstanding Exercise; Estimating
Collectability of Outstanding AR and Adjusting the Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Exercise.
WEEK 11: ACCOUNTING FOR CASH RECEIPTS
Definition, Importance, and Nature of Cash; Types of Cash and Cash Equivalents; Controlling
Cash; Cash Receipt and Payment Journals; the General Ledger Cash Account; Cash Receipt and
Payments Processing Using Debits and Credits.
WEEK 12: SALES AND USE TAXES
Introduction to Sales and Use Taxes; Definitions of Sales and Use Tax; History and Purpose; the
Difference between Sales and Uses Taxes; Bookkeeping for Sales and Use Taxes; Overview of
State Laws and Regulations; Sales and Use Tax Return Exercise.
WEEK 13: CUSTOMER CREDIT
The Importance of Credit in Business; Definition, Types, and Uses of Credit; Business Credit vs.
Consumer Credit; Credit Ratings, Credit Scores, and Credit Rating Agencies; Laws and Regulations
Controlling the Credit Industry.
WEEK 14: CUSTOMER COLLECTIONS
The Art and Principles of Collection; the Collection Process and Methods for Improving
Collections; Collection Rules According to the Federal Fair Debt Collection Practice Act; Preparing
Friendly, Diplomatic, Demand Collection Letters; Collection Agencies and How they Work; Skip
Tracing; Credit and Collection Professional and Trade Associations.
3
T
he
Accounts Receivable Specialist – continued
WEEK 16: INTERNAL CONTROL AND ETHICS
Definition of Internal Control; Objective of Internal Control; How to Achieve Strong Internal
Control; How to Apply Control over Cash Receipts and Payments; the Practical Realities of Internal
Control; Understand the Nature Finance Ethics.
WEEK 17: RECORD RETENTION
Introduction to Record Retention; Suggested Time Frames to Maintain Business and Accounting
Records; Management of a Record Retention Program; Legal Requirement Affecting Record
Retention; Statues of Limitations; Regulatory Rulings; Litigation; Tax Audits; Court Order
Subpoenas.
WEEK 18: INTERVIEWING TIPS AND TECHNIQUES, COVER LETTER, RESUME
Evaluating Interviewers; Interviewers Issues with Job Seekers; Practical Tips on How to Ace an
Interview; Common, Touch, and Illegal Interviewer Questions; Questions to Ask the Interviewer;
How to Rate Your Personal Values, Qualities, and Work Preferences; Cover Letter; Resume
Exercise.
How Student Skills are Measured
Student reports of progress, attendance, and grades are summarized and published at the
end of each month. Copies are distributed to the students and entered into the student’s
records. Requirements for Completion: (1) 90% or greater cumulative attendance; (2)
minimum cumulative grade-point average of 70%; and (3) completion of all exercises and
practice sets.
4
T
he
