Training as an accounting clerk: Experience and information from principal Jürg Koch - he tells you what you learn and how you can shorten your training to obtain a specialist certificate

Portrait-Foto Jürg Koch
Jürg Koch

Please introduce yourself briefly.

My name is Jürg Koch. I am head of school and site manager at Minerva in Baden. I am also responsible for continuing education at Minerva Switzerland.

Who is the target group for the Accounting Administration course?

The target group of the Accounting Clerk course are people who would like to gain in-depth training in the field of accounting. Those who would like to enter the accounting or fiduciary sector but do not yet have any professional experience. Of course, people with initial professional experience can also deepen their knowledge.

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What do you learn in the accounting clerk course?

The learning content of the accounting clerk course is:

  • Financial accounting (accruals and deferrals, closing entries, company valuations)
  • Financial management
  • Cost accounting
  • Value added tax
  • Taxes
  • Law
  • Social insurance

What you learn can be used in a company's accounting department, but also in a fiduciary office.

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Why do I need further training as an accounting clerk?

The motivation for further training as an accounting clerk is, on the one hand, to gain a deeper understanding of accounting and fiduciary matters - or to work for a fiduciary or in an accounting department. The other reason may also be because I am looking to enter the financial sector.

What kind of accounting clerk jobs are there?

Accounting clerk jobs are available in accounting departments. It is also interesting to work in the accounting department of a larger company (VAT accounting and social insurance). This also works well with this training, as the individual subjects are quite in-depth. It is also possible to work in your own business, where you would like to handle the entire financial process yourself, including bookkeeping, accounting procedures with VAT rates and social insurance, right through to completion.

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Accounting clerk self-study: How much self-study is involved in this accounting clerk training program?

Minerva offers all courses as face-to-face or hybrid lessons. Participants decide for themselves whether to attend classes on site or from home. We recommend that our students attend at least 30 percent of classes to ensure good teaching. However, we do not have a proportion of accounting clerk self-study. There are preparation and follow-up assignments in the clerk training course, but no explicit self-study.

How is the course structured and how long does it last?

The course has a modular structure, which means that the modules are always completed at the end (usually at the end of the semester). After one year, there is no longer an overall examination covering all the material learned. Instead, the results of both semesters lead to the title of Accounting Clerk VSK. This is therefore a recognized qualification from the Association of Swiss Management Schools.

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Which qualification can you obtain with the accounting training course - Edupool Accounting Clerk or Accounting Clerk VSK?

The VSK Accounting Clerk qualification normally allows direct entry into the third semester of further training for financial specialists. This makes it possible to shorten further training for the professional examination and thus for the federal certificate. However, this is only possible with the VSK qualification and not with other accounting clerk training courses.

How high is the Accounting Clerk salary?

Financially, the further training certainly entitles you to move up a level in terms of salary. Ultimately, the VSK qualification is at a high level and allows direct entry into the shortened professional examination. This means that the knowledge gained has its value. This is certainly also reflected in the salary of an accounting clerk.

Sachbearbeiter Rechnungswesen VSK

What further development opportunities do graduates of the accounting clerk training program have?

Even after completing the accounting clerk training, the following still applies: no degree without a connection. The most obvious option for further development is the professional examination to become an accounting specialist with a federal certificate. Alternatively, you could develop towards a fiduciary or higher business diploma, from which certain modules from accounting could then be credited for the professional examination. Depending on the desired management level and previous education, an HF Business would also be possible.

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What are the advantages of attending further training at Minerva?

The advantages of attending the accounting clerk training course at Minerva are:

  • The qualification is an association qualification - i.e. recognized by the VSK.
  • A shortened training course for accounting specialists with a federal certificate at AKAD.
  • The Accounting Clerk course is held at several Minerva locations, which also makes it possible to move to another location during the course (e.g. due to a change of job or place of residence).
  • All Minerva locations are close to the train station and are easily accessible by public transportation as well as by car, including parking facilities.

Overview "Accounting Clerk / Accounting Clerk"