Tailored for Cornish Residents and Businesses

A practical, confidence-building route into finance for Cornwall’s residents and businesses

If you’re looking to build solid bookkeeping skills, strengthen your understanding of financial processes, or help your team work more confidently with business numbers, the Skills Bootcamp in Bookkeeping & Digital Skills for Accountancy is designed with you in mind.

Open to Cornwall residents aged 19 and over, this fully funded programme is supported by Cornwall Council and forms part of the Government’s Skills for Life initiative — making high-quality training accessible to those looking to develop new skills, change careers, or support the financial side of their business.

Delivered by Accountancy Learning, this 10-week bootcamp blends hands-on bookkeeping practice with digital accounting training, particularly using Xero, one of the UK’s most widely used accounting software solutions. Whether you’re an individual exploring a new path or an employer wanting to develop staff capability, the bootcamp provides a practical, supportive route into the world of finance.

We’ve been training accountancy students for decades, with consistently high pass rates and learning outcomes that reflect our deep understanding of what works for learners and for industry. Our approach is friendly, flexible and always centred on helping people genuinely get it, not just pass an assessment, but feel confident using their skills in real workplaces. This Skills Bootcamp is built on that same philosophy.

Why This Bootcamp Exists and Who It’s For

Cornwall has a thriving business landscape built on small enterprises, start-ups, and growing organisations that need clear, accurate financial information to make good decisions. At the same time, many people across the county are looking for new opportunities especially roles that offer stability, flexibility, and long-term progression.

The Skills Bootcamp meets both needs by:

For Individuals

• Providing a fully funded, practical route into bookkeeping and digital accountancy
• Helping career changers, job seekers, and self-employed individuals build skills that employers genuinely value
• Offering structured training, real-world exercises, and personalised support
• Giving participants a clearer understanding of what bookkeeping and finance roles involve day-to-day
• Opening doors to progression into further study, apprenticeships, and entry-level finance positions

For Employers

• Allowing businesses to develop staff skills affordably
• Ensuring employees understand core bookkeeping processes and can support financial operations more effectively
• Introducing staff to Xero and modern digital tools
• Improving accuracy, efficiency, and confidence across finance-related tasks
• Providing a pathway into more advanced qualifications if needed

The result is a well-rounded programme that supports Cornwall’s workforce and business community giving learners the foundation to thrive and organisations the skills they need to grow.

Funding Eligibility

The bootcamp is designed to be accessible, with funding support tailored to different groups. Using your website wording:

• Unemployed, self-employed, or career changers – FREE (fully funded by the Government)
• Employers with under 250 staff – contribute just 10% of the course cost (£308.70)
• Employers with 250+ staff – contribute only 30% of course cost (£926.10)

This means the bootcamp is within reach for virtually anyone in Cornwall who wants to strengthen their financial skills. An opportunity to gain valuable training without the financial barriers usually associated with professional development.

What the 10-Week Bootcamp Covers

The bootcamp is structured to guide learners from basic bookkeeping principles through to digital accounting, financial reporting, and employability support. Each week builds on the last, gradually strengthening understanding and confidence.

Below is a week-by-week overview with expanded detail:

Week 1: Welcome, Orientation & Bookkeeping Foundations

The programme kicks off with a warm welcome and an introduction to the support available throughout the bootcamp. We understand that starting something new can feel daunting, so we take time to help participants settle in, meet the team, and feel at ease.

From there, we begin exploring the fundamentals of bookkeeping:

• Why bookkeeping matters to businesses
• Key financial terminology
• The flow of financial information
• Introduction to double-entry bookkeeping
• Basic bookkeeping tasks and processes

This early grounding ensures that everyone, regardless of experience and has a solid foundation from which to build.

Week 2: Sales Processing & VAT

Week 2 focuses on the sales cycle, from invoices to receipts. Participants learn how to:

• Process and record sales invoices
• Record credit sales
• Manage VAT within sales transactions
• Understand how sales entries flow into ledgers
• Spot common errors and correct them

VAT is often an area that causes confusion, so we take a step-by-step, supportive approach to help learners feel confident navigating it.

Week 3: Purchases, Payments & Payroll Basics

This week mirrors Week 2 but from the purchases perspective. We explore:

• Processing purchase invoices
• Recording credit purchases
• Handling supplier payments
• Introduction to petty cash
• Basic payroll concepts and terminology

The aim is to understand the full cycle of money flowing out of a business and how to record it accurately.

Week 4: Reconciliations & The Trial Balance

Many learners tell us that reconciliation is the moment where “everything finally clicks” and we agree. This week includes:

• Bank reconciliation
• Customer (sales) ledger reconciliation
• Supplier (purchase) ledger reconciliation
• Control account reconciliations
• Producing and understanding a trial balance

Reconciliation skills are essential for real-world bookkeeping roles, and this week gives learners a chance to apply everything they’ve covered so far.

Week 5: Adjustments – Accruals, Prepayments, Doubtful Debts & Stock

Businesses don’t always operate in neat calendar months, and this week explores how we adjust financial information to reflect reality. Learners cover:

• Why accruals and prepayments exist
• How to calculate and record them
• Understanding doubtful debts and allowances
• Basic stock valuation principles

These adjustments help prepare participants for producing accurate financial statements later in the course.

Week 6: Suspense Accounts, Non-Current Assets & Depreciation

This week introduces more advanced bookkeeping areas, including:

• Suspense accounts and how to resolve them
• Non-current asset categories
• Understanding depreciation
• Using the extended trial balance

It’s also the point where learners begin to see how bookkeeping connects to financial reporting.

Week 7: Preparing Financial Statements

With the groundwork in place, Week 7 focuses on the creation of financial statements:

• Profit & Loss Account
• Balance Sheet
• Year-end adjustments
• Understanding how financial statements are used by business leaders

This is a rewarding moment for many learners seeing everything come together into a full set of accounts.

Week 8: Ethics & Introduction to Xero

Finance roles involve trust, accountability, and professional standards. This week explores ethical responsibilities and introduces learners to Xero with:

• Setting up accounts
• Navigating the platform
• Entering basic transactions
• Understanding the role of digital accounting in modern businesses

We keep things clear and practical, offering guidance that builds confidence no matter what your starting point is.

Week 9: Using Accounting Software Correctly (Xero Advisor Certification)

Week 9 focuses on applying everything learned so far within Xero, moving from basic entries to real digital workflows. This may include:

• Effective use of Xero tools
• Bank feed management
• Reconciliations in software
• Generating digital financial reports
• Completing the Xero Advisor Certification modules

This certification is widely recognised by employers and gives participants something meaningful to add to their CVs.

Week 10: Tailored Workshops & One-to-One Support

The final week brings everything together with personalised guidance and practical support based on each learner’s goals. Whether you’re aiming for employment, planning to continue your studies, or strengthening the bookkeeping side of your own business, Week 10 adapts to your needs.

You’ll have access to:

• One-to-one meetings to review your progress and build confidence in the skills you’ve developed
• CV, interview and application guidance for those looking to secure a finance role
• Business-focused support for the self-employed, such as using Xero for your own bookkeeping, improving record-keeping processes, and understanding financial information for better decision-making
• Progression and development planning, whether that means further training, growing your business, or exploring new career options
• Practical workshops shaped around learner feedback, questions, and real scenarios

The aim is simple: ensure every participant leaves feeling confident, capable, and clear about their next steps—whatever those steps look like for them.

Programme Highlights

1. Practical Accounting Skills

You won’t just learn what bookkeeping is – you’ll learn how to do it, with real examples, real processes, and the confidence to apply them.

2. Hands-On Xero Training

Digital accounting is the norm across businesses of all sizes. Becoming fluent with Xero gives learners a competitive advantage and gives employers the reassurance that their staff can work efficiently.

3. Embedded Learning from The Balancing Act

This award-winning resource strengthens key bookkeeping skills and supports learners far beyond the classroom.

4. Friendly, Experienced Tutors

Our team knows what works. We guide learners step by step, helping them overcome challenges and build genuine capability.

Assessment Approach

The bootcamp focuses on practical, meaningful assessment, including:

• Completion of Xero Advisor Certification modules
• Scenario-based exercises
• Ongoing feedback and support
• Skills development reflections
• Real-world bookkeeping tasks

There are no formal exams, just practical proofs of your growing capability.

Outcomes & Progression

By the end of the bootcamp, participants will:

• Understand core bookkeeping processes
• Use Xero confidently
• Apply accounting adjustments
• Produce basic financial statements
• Improve employability or staff capability
• Gain a clearer sense of direction for next steps

Progression may include:

• Entry-level bookkeeping roles
• Finance Assistant roles
• AAT Level 2 courses
• Apprenticeships in accounting or finance
• Further upskilling within your organisation

A Supportive, High-Quality Route Into Accounting

Accountancy Learning has spent decades helping people gain financial skills, build confidence, and move into rewarding careers. This bootcamp continues that tradition: friendly guidance, practical learning, and clear outcomes delivered with our usual down-to-earth approach.

Whether you’re an individual looking for a fresh start or an employer strengthening your team, the Skills Bootcamp in Bookkeeping & Digital Skills for Accountancy offers a tried-and-tested pathway to success.

We’re always happy to help, so why not get in touch with us today:

📞 Call us: 01392 435349
✉️ Email: [email protected]