Overview
If financial reports, budgets, or cash‑flow conversations make you pause, or rely on someone else to explain them, Accounting and Finance for Non‑Accountants helps you make sense of the numbers you encounter at work.
This practical course is designed for working professionals who regularly interact with financial information but do not have formal accounting training. You’ll learn how core financial statements are structured, what they measure, and how they are used to track performance and support planning and decision‑making in Canadian organizations.
The course focuses on applied skills rather than accounting theory. You’ll practice preparing balance sheets and income statements, developing budgets, reading cash‑flow information, and analyzing basic financial results using realistic examples. Concepts are presented in clear, plain language so you can follow the logic behind the numbers and participate more effectively in workplace discussions involving financial information.
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to consider legal factors when making business decisions, recognize potential risks, and support responsible business practices through informed discussion and escalation.
This course is ideal if you:
- are a skilled trades or technical professional taking on estimating, budgeting, or cost‑related responsibilities
- work in an office role and want a clearer understanding of budgets, financial reports, and business performance
- bring leadership or management experience from another country and want to build familiarity with Canadian financial statements and terminology
- want practical accounting skills to support your role without pursuing full accounting training.
Upon successful completion of this course, you’ll be able to:
- recall key accounting concepts
- prepare a balance sheet
- prepare an income statement
- develop a budget
- evaluate financial results
- analyze financial statements.
To request a course outline, contact ConEdAdvising@sait.ca.
If you're certified by a professional association, this course may qualify for continuing professional development (CPD) hours to help maintain your certifications/designations. Please check with your association to confirm eligibility.
This course aligns closely with the business competencies outlined in Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training (AIT) Blue Seal Certificate framework and may support your application. Learn more about earning the Blue Seal using SAIT Continuing Education courses.
Upcoming dates
Select an available section and add it to your cart. When you're ready, proceed to check out to sign into your student account and complete your registration.
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Registration closes seven days before the start date for on-campus, online scheduled, and blended courses, and one day before the start date for online self-paced courses.
After you've completed this course
Upon successful completion of this course, you'll be able to self-print a proof of completion document from your Continuing Education student account.
Costs
Textbook and reading list
Included in the purchase of this course, you’ll receive:
- Course content accessible online in Brightspace (D2L)
- Learning materials/hand-outs distributed in class (in-person delivery).
Technology
To use D2L outside of classroom time, you’ll need:
- Access to your own computer or laptop with standard hardware/software requirements
- Internet access.
Note: Please bring your laptop to class (in-person delivery).
Financial support
Financial opportunities are available to help pay for your course fees. Learn more about how to reduce your education or training costs with available awards, bursaries, loans and grants, including the Canada Alberta Productivity Grant.
Applicable certificates
This course applies to the following certificate programs:
- Certification type
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Certificate of Achievement
Train your team
Interested in group training opportunities for this course? Tell us about your organization's needs, and one of our training consultants will contact you within one business day.
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SAIT is located on the traditional territories of the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot) and the people of Treaty 7 which includes the Siksika, the Piikani, the Kainai, the Tsuut’ina and the Îyârhe Nakoda of Bearspaw, Chiniki and Goodstoney.
We are situated in an area the Blackfoot tribes traditionally called Moh’kinsstis, where the Bow River meets the Elbow River. We now call it the city of Calgary, which is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta.