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Accreditation This programme is accredited by the CPD Certification Service, an internationally recognised body that independently recognises quality professional development training. |
Start a career in bookkeeping and payroll in 14 weeks with live online training designed for beginners. Build practical finance skills you can apply in real-world accounts and payroll roles.
The CPD Accredited Professional Certificate in Bookkeeping & Payroll at Dorset College Dublin is designed for beginners and career changers, with no prior accounting or finance experience required. Over 12 modules you will work hands-on with Sage Accounting and Sage Payroll, the accounts software used by employers across Ireland. You’ll learn how to manage financial records, ledgers, balances, and statements, while also developing an understanding of compliant payroll processes, including PAYE, PRSI, and USC. The course also explores the current Irish legal and tax framework, helping you apply your knowledge with confidence. Premium resources include access to the EBSCO Online Library.
All classes are recorded, so you can review the material at any time on the learning platform. On successful completion, you will receive your Digital Professional CPD Certificate in Bookkeeping & Payroll and a strong foundation for progression toward qualifications such as AAT Level 2 and Level 3. Limited class sizes help ensure individual attention and high-quality training.
Next intake starts Tuesday 24 November 2026
14 weeks · Live online · Evening classes
Your pathway into bookkeeping and accounting:
STEP 1
Professional Certificate in Bookkeeping & Payroll, Dorset College Dublin
STEP 2 RECOMMENDED NEXT STEP
AAT Level 2 Certificate in Bookkeeping
STEP 3 RECOMMENDED NEXT STEP
AAT Level 3 Diploma in Accounting
Steps 2–3 are external AAT qualifications, taken separately after this course.
Key skills covered in this programme:
The practical skills, tools and tasks used in entry-level accounts and payroll roles.
✓ Sage Accounting – set up and run a company’s books, from configuration to sales.
✓ Sage Payroll – process weekly and monthly payroll from start to finish.
✓ Double-entry bookkeeping – ledgers, trial balance and period-end closing.
✓ Irish payroll administration – PAYE, PRSI and USC calculations and compliance.
✓ Revenue & ROS reporting – real-time payroll submissions to Revenue.
✓ VAT returns – prepare and file accurately and on time.
✓ Bank reconciliation – match bank statements to the ledger and resolve differences.
✓ Accounts payable & receivable – manage invoices, payments and credit control.
✓ Financial reporting – profit and loss, balance sheet and clear reports for managers and accountants.
Reserve your place on the November intake
Apply online in under 4 minutes. Admissions will then guide you through the next steps, including payment options and the instalment plan.
€1,375 €1,100
Entry-level roles this course can support:
Graduates are equipped for roles such as:
✓ Accounts Assistant – processing invoices, payments and reconciliations in a finance team.
✓ Payroll Administrator – running payroll and Revenue submissions.
✓ Bookkeeper – keeping the books for a small business, a practice or your own clients.
✓ Office Administrator - with accounts responsibilities – the route many graduates take.
Amazing, challenging, and unique. I loved every moment of studying here and am leaving with a course, a network, and a plan for what comes next.
Josue Isai Leonides Tolentino – Dorset College Dublin
Funding available:
Intreo Training Support Grant – up to €1,000
Eligible jobseekers may apply for this grant towards the course fee, subject to Intreo approval.
Learn more: Training Support Grant (TSG) on gov.ie
Chat with Admissions on WhatsApp, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5:30pm.
✓ Finance function in an organisation — managing resources, monitoring cashflow, and strategic planning.
✓ Manual vs. computerised accounts — differences between traditional paper-based processes and Sage software.
✓ Double-entry bookkeeping — understanding that every transaction has equal debit and credit sides.
✓ Journal entries — recording transactions into journals as the foundation for accurate bookkeeping.
✓ System configuration — tax codes, VAT setup, account status, credit control, and nominal ledger structure.
✓ Customer & supplier setup — creating accounts with credit limits, payment terms, and VAT details.
✓ Products & services setup — entering stock and non-stock items with pricing and VAT in Sage.
✓ Stock purchases & reporting — recording purchases and generating reports to track stock levels.
✓ Purchase orders & supplier invoicing — creating orders, converting to invoices, and recording payments.
✓ Supplier reports — aged creditors, supplier daybooks, and activity reports.
✓ Quotations, sales orders & invoicing — managing the full sales process from quotation to invoice.
✓ Customer reports — aged debtors, customer statements, and sales daybooks.
✓ Customer receipts & supplier payments — recording transactions via cheque, cash, and EFT.
✓ Bank reconciliation — comparing Sage records to bank statements to ensure accuracy.
✓ Chart of accounts — understanding nominal codes grouped under Balance Sheet and Profit & Loss.
✓ Trial balance preparation — posting journals for depreciation, accruals, and prepayments.
✓ Income statement structure — classifying sales, direct expenses, and COGS to calculate gross profit.
✓ Net profit calculation — differentiating direct, distribution, and administration expenses.
✓ Assets, liabilities & equity — classifying fixed and current items and applying the balance sheet formula.
✓ Sage financial reports — generating Trial Balance, P&L, and Balance Sheet in Sage.
✓ PAYE, PRSI & USC — calculating statutory deductions and understanding employer payroll costs.
✓ Manual payroll exercises — calculating gross and net pay using Revenue tax credits and rates.
✓ Employee setup & RPNs — configuring salaried and hourly employees with correct tax and PRSI details.
✓ Full payroll run — processing payroll, producing payslips, generating reports, and preparing bank files.
Do I need any prior experience to enrol?
None. The course suits complete beginners, career changers, office administrators looking to upskill and business owners who want to manage their own finances.
What certification will I receive?
A digital Professional Certificate in Bookkeeping & Payroll, awarded by Dorset College Dublin and independently accredited by The CPD Certification Service UK.
How is the course delivered?
Live, tutor-led online classes every Tuesday evening, 6:30pm to 9:30pm, in a group of no more than 10 students. Each class is recorded and available the next day.
How long is the course and when does it start?
14 weeks, from 24 November 2026 to 9 March 2027, with a two-week break over Christmas and New Year.
What does it cost and are there payment options?
€1,100 for this intake, with no hidden fees. A €150 deposit secures your place; the balance is payable in full or in three instalments (dates under Flexible Payment Terms below).
How is the course assessed?
Continuous assessment through practical, workplace-based assignments, followed by an end-of-course examination.
What careers can this course lead to?
Accounts Assistant, Payroll Administrator or Bookkeeper roles, with progression to AAT Level 2 and Level 3 – see the roles and pathway sections above.
• Complete the online application form – under 3 minutes, no photo ID or documents needed to start
• Pay the €150 deposit to secure your place on the November intake; admissions will guide you through the rest
• Questions? Email [email protected] or message us on WhatsApp
• Continuous assessment with practical assignments reflecting real workplace scenarios
• End-of-course examination
• Award: Digital CPD Accredited Professional Certificate in Bookkeeping & Payroll, issued on successful completion
• Suitable for complete beginners – no prior accounting or finance experience required
• Strong numeracy and literacy skills
• B2+ proficiency in English is required
• A computer and reliable internet connection for the live online classes
• Non-refundable deposit of €150.00 to secure your place
• Balance of €950.00 paid in full or split into 3 monthly instalments from the course start date
• Manage payments online from the comfort of your own home — Pay Online
• 1st Instalment: €317.00 – 24/11/2026
• 2nd Instalment: €317.00 – 24/12/2026
• 3rd Instalment: €316.00 – 24/01/2027
• Live online classes on Tuesday evenings, recorded and available the next day – no travel, no campus attendance
• All course materials provided, including access to the EBSCO Online Library
