Introduction to the Corporate Internship Program (CIP) – Part 1 of 2

May 15, 2012 by Leave a comment

Upon completing the third component, Advanced Bookkeeping of DISCOVERBOOKKEEPING (DB), participants have the opportunity to take one of two paths: 1) a one-on-one consultation with TBKC staff to discuss their career aspirations, or 2) apply to be an intern with our corporate sponsor – The Bookkeeping Company of New York City. Participants accepted into the Corporate Internship Program (CIP) receive the following benefits:

• Experience in a hands-on learning environment with an active agency
• Increase the level of workplace confidence
• An opportunity to increase employability and improve their resume
• Enhance bookkeeping and office administration skills
• Develop or bolster professionalism

The CIP was launched at the end of 2011. Our first group of interns (Graduates of DB’s Class of Fall 2011), Anastasiya J., Rosita N., Elena V., and Ileana V. would like to share their experience with you.

1. Describe your experience with CIP.

Ileana: Awesome.
I was treated like the bookkeeper I know I can be.
I was challenged to apply and build upon what I had learned in DB, to take ownership of my projects/assignments, and to take responsible for my own time management. I was also challenged to stand by my bookkeeping decisions and trust my instincts, to ask as many questions as necessary and give just as many suggestions.
Assuming the role of a bookkeeper during my time at CIP became a real confidence booster, and essential to my professional growth.

Rosita: The experience I got from the CIP was very challenging; doing “actual” office work, and learning to use some of the office equipment. I gained so much practical knowledge, especially in navigating the computer. The experience of making a presentation gave me so much confidence.

Elena: CIP gave me the opportunity to be in the real atmosphere of a bookkeeping company – with unorganized paperwork, old and unclear receipts, clients that want the work to be done yesterday, etc. But it is part of a daily bookkeeper job that we have to be aware of. It was also a nice experience.

2. What have you learned that is different from DISCOVERBOOKKEEPING?

Anastasiya: It is a real experience with real clients. I deal with different types of company so I can see the differences in their paperwork and QB entries.

Ileana: DB became the foundation for which my experience at CIP was built on.
CIP became the place where I came to better understand the information I learned in DB.

3. What is your favorite part of the program? The least favorite?

Anastasiya: My favorite part is that I get to work with accountants advising, which helps to understand, to learn more and faster. The least favorite: I would like to continue this experience as a part-time job!

4. What else would you like to learn or explore more of?

Ileana: I would like to work with different clients that have different bookkeeping needs. (This variety, I feel, will help me be a better rounded bookkeeper.)

Rosita: For me, I’m satisfied with all the aspects of the program, everything that I appointed were taken cared of considering the time limit.

Elena: I’d like to take part in the whole bookkeeping process for a company, beginning with entering data and ending with reporting and reconciling.

5. From a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the highest, how would you rate CIP?

Anastasiya: I would rate my experience as being the highest. I’m still not confident that I am able to do this kind of work by myself, but I am sure that I am able to be as a good team member in this field.

Elena: A big 10!

Please stay tuned for the next  newsletter as we feature the second half of the interview with our Corporate Program Interns.

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TBKC Wants You to Join Our Community

October 26, 2011 by Leave a comment

Dear Friends,

For this month, I would like to discuss “Community.” A community is traditionally considered to be a locality inhabited by a group or a social group of any size whose members reside in a specific locality. It also means a group sharing common characteristics or interests and perceiving itself as distinct in some respect from the larger society within which it exists.

TBKC’s community consists of our staff, our friends and families; our participants, their friends and families; our volunteers; our donors; our Facebook friends; our LinkedIn connections; our E-Newsletter recipients; and our official and unofficial partners in the workforce development community. The specific common characteristics of TBKC’s community are interests in the field of bookkeeping and job readiness skills development. We are committed to providing low-income and unemployed individuals with these tools so that they can find meaningful employment.

Our organization is distinct in the workforce development community because no other organization does what we do. The uniqueness of TBKC is represented in our program. As most of you know, DB teaches bookkeeping. Other programs around the metro area teach bookkeeping, but they do not provide a curriculum on par with DB. Some may teach the fundamentals and most others teach QuickBooks, but you will not find another organization that teaches both the fundamentals of accounting and then the computerized accounting software of Peachtree and QuickBooks, as well as the many other facets of our program. We go even further in our instruction. Check out our website for a full explanation of our curriculum.

We were also fortunate this month to celebrate our second annual, On Top of Success event. Not only did our guests and the staff had a wonderful evening together with delicious food, great drinks, and soothing live music, it was also a big accomplishment for the organization. Our guests witnessed eleven participants graduate from DB, our beloved Susan Goscewski received the 2011 Outstanding Volunteer Award, and our hardworking graduate, Sharon Price accepted this year’s Maurice A. Smith Bookkeeping Achievement Award. From this event, TBKC gained perfect 10’s: raised over $10,000, had over 100 attendees, and received over 10 different corporate donors’ contributions to our gift bags. To say the least, our second annual event was a success!

TBKC is an active workforce development organization with a growing community, and we hope you will continue to support us. Since the summer of 2010, we have received approximately 400 inquiries from passionate individuals all over the five boroughs of New York City who are ready to change their lives. Moreover, 78% of our participants find work upon completion of the program. Even our online audience has expanded to over 900 followers on Twitter and over 100 followers on Facebook.

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. If you are interested in joining our community, please contact our Communications Associate, Lolita Wong at lolita@tbkc.org.

We appreciate your interest in our organization and I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Thomas P. Graham IV
Executive Director
The Bookkeeping Center

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A Celebration of Excellence at The Bookkeeping Center

September 29, 2011 by Leave a comment

Dear Friends,

This month, we want to explain how the value of ‘Excellence’ is promoted by our organization.  Excellence is defined as the quality of being outstanding or extremely good.   The pursuit of excellence may be a cliché, but there really is no substitute for achieving it.  As a workforce development organization that trains individuals in financial administration, it is only natural that we try to instill this value in our participants as well as into our organizational DNA.

DB teaches the fundamentals of accounting during the first semester because these are concepts all bookkeepers need to excel in their career.  We start with the terminology that participants will apply to their work every day. Then, we gradually layer in the remaining fundamental concepts so that our participants will have the best chance at becoming outstanding members of the accounting industry.  With a computerized semester covering the most popular accounting software programs in the industry, we feel that we are providing our participants with a competitive edge in today’s job market.

Another way we ‘build’ our bookkeepers to be extremely good at what they do is to promote the values you have read about in my previous letters.  Along with those other tenets, we promote excellence in soft skill areas via our workshops and organizational policies. Our business attire and punctuality requirements, our professionalism rewards, and our many job readiness workshops all play a part in our pursuit of excellence.

Furthermore, we celebrate excellence many times throughout the year.  Our annual benefit, On Top of Success (OTOS), is coming up in October and it is the culmination of many of our organizational efforts.  This year, we are including a graduation as part of the festivities.  Four times each year, our participants graduate from DB and for everyone involved, it is a wonderful experience where we get to thank our graduates for their dedication and wish them well on their future personal and professional endeavors.  This year at OTOS, join us in congratulating our graduates on a job well done!

As you can see, TBKC is growing rapidly and we remain focused on the pursuit of excellence.  As a growing organization, we are constantly reviewing our efforts and analyzing our participant evaluation information to continuously improve our services.  If you would like to help, please contact Lolita Wong at lolita@tbkc.org.

Thank you for your time and interest in TBKC.

 

Sincerely,

Thomas P. Graham IV
Executive Director
The Bookkeeping Center

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Class of Fall 2011 – The Journey with DISCOVERBOOKKEEPING

September 28, 2011 by Leave a comment

We are very excited to announce that our Class of Fall 2011 is graduating from DISCOVERBOOKKEEPING (DB)! Our graduates from the Class of Fall 2011 joined DB earlier this year (January 2011), and they make up our largest class since the redesign of DB. Representing the third graduating class under this redesign, we continue the tradition of asking our graduates a few questions to understand their experience in DB. Some of our graduates (Alexandra, Anastasiya, Arthur, Rosita, and Kam) shared with us their opinions:

Maurice Smith, Instructor (second from the left) with some graduates from the Class of Fall 2011.

1. How has your knowledge/perspective in bookkeeping changed since the first day of class?

Alexandra: Almost all of my knowledge of bookkeeping comes directly from the class experience, or from having enrolled in the program. So far, that includes joining AIPB, several LinkedIn groups, and beginning to move the finances of a non-profit to QuickBooks. Engaging AIPB newsletter material, Q&A on LinkedIn (even if it’s just as a reader at this point), as well as beginning to work as a bookkeeper, I feel at the edge of, but definitely ON, the playing field, whereas before, I was barely among the spectators.

Anastasiya: I am very happy that I found DB. This course gave me confidence that I am able to be professional in the US. That means a lot for me and my future. Actually, it changed my way of thinking. The last semester assured me that my age doesn’t mean anything. I am able to learn and absorb absolutely new information in English. I am very proud of myself and that gave me more, and more energy and enthusiasm.

Arthur: For me, I thought that bookkeeping is simply debit & credit and I was extremely confident during my first day of class that the course would just be a review of what I learned in college. But I was definitely wrong. I grappled with every lesson taught by our instructor. With determination, coupled with constant practice during computer labs, my knowledge in bookkeeping has remarkably improved – learning Peachtree, MYOB, QuickBooks and payroll, most of all.

Rosita: Basically, the program has refreshed my knowledge in accounting terminologies and procedures which I have learned when I was in school. But more importantly, the knowledge in bookkeeping using the various accounting software made a lot of difference.

Kam: I am much more familiar with the process of bookkeeping.

2. What else would you have liked to learn if DB was longer?

Alexandra: Hearing more about different positions where bookkeeping know-how is used would be helpful. I expect a newbie like me is unaware of how many positions directly use, or would be enhanced by, bookkeeping knowledge.

Anastasiya: I would like to deepen my knowledge and have more practice with both programs: Peachtree and QuickBooks.

Arthur: If DB was longer, I would like to learn bookkeeping of a manufacturing company because my ambition is not only to work in clinics or law offices but with big companies, which are more challenging and rewarding.

Rosita: I would like to learn more bookkeeping topics emphasizing on the following:

  • Reports and aging of Accounts Receivables on a per client basis
  • Reports on Client’s Accounts Payables according to due dates
  • How to write checks

Kam: I wish to have a more in-depth and thorough use of the accounting software. I prefer the exercises to be more extensive (covering more different cases).

3. How will you use the bookkeeping knowledge you’ve gained after the completion of the program?

Alexandra: Next steps for me: apply for a Corporate Internship Program position, study for certification test, and finish entering the non-profit’s financial transactions to QB.

Anastasiya: I was already offered to make reconciliations at the company I’ve been working at, a daycare. It starts today. What can be more?! I will definitely learn and prepare for the CB exam.

Arthur: The knowledge I got from the program will be my tool to my plan for a career shift. Though I am a banking professional, I want to practice my accounting profession here in New York, thus I joined the program. This will be my stepping stone to get a bookkeeping certificate which will boost my career prospects, making me more attractive to prospective employers and eventually realizing my long-term plan to become an accountant.

Rosita: The knowledge I got from the program will be my stepping stone to become a certified bookkeeper in the future. My immediate plan is to start my job search in the bookkeeping field with the end view of gaining more experience. Since I have a captured market here in New York and New Jersey, getting the bookkeeper’s certificate and eventually to have my own bookkeeping business are my long–term plans.

Kam: I hope to find an accounting/bookkeeping related job.

 

Congratulations Class of Fall 2011! We look forward to celebrating your success on October 14th! It will definitely be an evening to remember with your friends and family.

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The Bookkeeping Center Empowers the Community

August 29, 2011 by 1 Comment

Dear Friends,

We, at TBKC believe that all adults deserve the opportunity to develop their full professional potential by receiving an education, developing job skills, and eventually, advancing to leaders and role models in their communities. TBKC facilitates this opportunity through Empowerment. The organization empowers its participants to further their abilities by investing our time, energy and resources in these individuals.

The instructional components of our program empower current and past participants by providing them with instruction and skills training. Participants start the program by developing a thorough understanding of the fundamentals of accounting and receiving comprehensive training in accounting software (Peachtree and QuickBooks), computerized payroll, and cloud accounting. From that knowledge base, DB equips our participants during the advanced bookkeeping module, by preparing them for the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers (AIPB) Certified Bookkeepers Exam and offering thirteen job readiness workshops. Participants and alumni also develop their potential through career development and job opportunities.

TBKC’s participants have been empowered!

Recent graduates, Shelanda Graham and Gias Ahmed are excelling in our Corporate Internship Program. They are boosting their skills and expanding their abilities in bookkeeping and adding work experience to their resumes. Also, alumnus Hector Arias is working part-time for TBKC’s Corporate Sponsor, The Bookkeeping Company of New York City (TBCNYC).

The impact we make could not be achieved without the help of our dedicated volunteers. For August, we want to thank our volunteers for offering our participants expert advice in key job readiness skills such as Networking, Worker’s Rights, Social Networking, and Public Speaking. Volunteers such as Sujerly Escobar from PricewaterhouseCoopers, Kinaja Janardhanan and Carmen Calderon from the New York State Department of Labor, and Mathew Heggem from TBCNYC, have informed our participants with the best practices in job readiness in today’s tough job market. Othniel Denis has assisted our participants with the best bookkeeping practices this August with his Excel workshop “7 Formulas Every Bookkeeper Should Know.” Lastly, our tutor and teaching assistant, Susan Goscewski, has been integral in our instructional components.

TBKC’s Job Readiness Series of seminars and workshops ends in September. If you are interested in learning more, please email our Volunteer Coordinator, Dwight Williams at dwight@tbkc.org.

If you want to help us to provide more individuals with the opportunity to improve their education, enhance their job skills, help them support their families and strengthen their communities, please contact Lolita Wong at lolita@tbkc.org.

Thank you for your time and interest in TBKC.

Sincerely,

Thomas P. Graham IV
Executive Director
The Bookkeeping Center

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Reflections from Our Recent Graduated Class, Class of Summer 2011

July 21, 2011 by Leave a comment

Class of Summer 2011 Graduation Ceremony, July 6, 2011

The Class of Summer 2011 joined DISCOVERBOOKKEEPING (DB) in October 2010 as group of hardworking and eager-to-learn individuals and after nine months of hard work, they are now our second graduating class since the redesign. At the end of the program, we asked some of our graduates (Gias, Mohamed, Shelanda, Chrissone, and Sharon) their opinions about their overall experience with DB at The Bookkeeping Center (TBKC).

1. What were you doing before you started DISCOVERBOOKKEEPING?

Gias: Before starting DISCOVERBOOKKEEPING, I was working as an Administrative Assistant in a hospital.

Mohamed: I was a Store Manager at Metro PCS before I lost my job due to downsizing.

Shelanda: I was unemployed and the last job I had was at a rehabilitation center.

Chrissone: I just finished a 9 month work assignment that I got through a temp agency after college and was looking for another job. It was very hard to obtain a job due to the decline in the job market, and so I wanted to find a program that will help me improve the knowledge I had of accounting.

Sharon: Prior to signing up for DISCOVERBOOKKEEPING, I was employed on a part-time basis and dreamed of a full-time position within the accounting industry. After spending six years in college, my high expectations of finding a position hit reality. The economy had taken its toll on the job market and I was forced to temper my enthusiasm and adopt a patient outlook. However, I networked with my friends and colleagues while sending out as many resumes as I could.

2. How did you find out about DISCOVERBOOKKEEPING and what ultimately made you decide to enter into the program?

Gias: I went to Workforce1 on 125th Street to ask for government funding while I learned about bookkeeping. But the advisor there, Janet, told me my working experience wasn’t enough to receive government funding. I was so upset when I heard that. However, she suggested I go to The Bookkeeping Center for training. When I met Lynn Mercredi, the Director of Program, she gave me the opportunity to enroll in the program.

Mohamed: I was participating in an Upwardly Global program for professional immigrants seeking an accounting job and the organization appointed me to DISCOVERBOOKKEEPING at TBKC.

Shelanda: The New York State Department of Labor.

Chrissone: I found out about DISCOVERBOOKKEEPING from Workforce 1, where I’ve attended various workshops to help prepare me for the job market. In college, I’ve always enjoyed my accounting classes, and I felt that DISCOVERBOOKKEEPING would help me learn a lot more about accounting. In addition, it helped me decide if I wanted to pursue a career in accounting in the future.

Sharon: One day while having a conversation with a co-worker, who was also an accounting major, she mentioned that she was enrolled in a bookkeeping program and encouraged me to apply. At first, I was hesitant and then I remember thinking, why not? It was already Fall, work would conclude by the third week in December and I had no imminent plans. I picked up the phone, made some inquires about the program and requested the application form. The voice at the other end of the phone (Darin Webb, Founder) was friendly and informative. After visiting the website, I decided to apply for the program.

3. What was your favorite part about DISCOVERBOOKKEEPING and why?

Gias: My favorite part was the Computerized Bookkeeping semester when I converted all of my manual data into the computer software (QuickBooks, Peachtree, and MYOB) because it helped increase my skills and knowledge. In addition, I enjoyed the job-readiness workshops, especially the ones hosted by Lenin O. Gross (Director of Career Transitions & Job Coach at The Learning Disability Association of New York City). His advice helped me create a standard resume and taught me how to properly present myself when I am at a job interview.

Mohamed: My favorite part was learning the accounting software programs.

Shelanda: My favorite part was the Manual Bookkeeping, my classmates and the Instructor. I feel more comfortable working manually than on the computer, even though I have no problem with computer my classmates gave me the motivation to come back.

Chrissone: My favorite part about DISCOVERBOOKKEEPING was learning the different types of accounting software programs that are being used by businesses today. Such knowledge will help make me become more marketable when applying for jobs.

Sharon: Initially, I was very happy to get hands on training with different accounting software. The staff at DISCOVERBOOKKEEPING was very helpful and supportive but the success of any student weighed heavily on his/her ability to complete his/her projects individually. My favorite part of the program was the interaction with my fellow classmates; we helped and encouraged each other. At first, classes were held two days during the week and then switched to Saturday from 12-5pm. It was extremely hard to give up my Saturdays when everyone around me was doing fun stuff. There were many days I wanted to sleep in on a Saturday or go out with my friends. Instead, I went to class early and left late in an effort to complete my work. My classmates were very dedicated and they motivated me to show up. When one of us ran into difficulty, someone else neglected their work and assisted; we created a lasting bond. My thanks to Chrissone, Freddy, Camilo, Shelanda, Gias, Mohamed, and Mathew; we made a great team and you all played a major role in helping me to complete the program.

4. What are you planning on doing now that you’ve completed DISCOVERBOOKKEEPING?

Gias: At the current time, my plan is to do any bookkeeping-related work which can help increase my skills in the financial industry.

Mohamed: I’m looking hard to get a job in accounting and finance positions.

Shelanda: I will be interning at the Bookkeeping Company and looking for a part-time job in a bookkeeping position.

Chrissone: I am going to continue to look for jobs in accounting, and research various master programs to further my education.

Sharon: I found an accounting position as a result of networking with a student at DISCOVERBOOKKEEPING. Now that I have completed the program, my plans are to focus on work. In addition, myself and a few of my former classmates plan to form a study group and sit for the certified bookkeepers exam offered by the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers (AIPB); we completed the first two sections during our class and will strive to finish the four remaining sections to become certified. My long-term goal is to sit for the CPA exam.

5. How has DISCOVERBOOKKEEPING, and working with The Bookkeeping Center, had a positive impact on your life?

Gias: It gave me a new path to go forward in the financial industry.

Mohamed: DISCOVERBOOKKEEPING has helped me understand bookkeeping and accounting for the USA’s financial system.

Shelanda: I have new people in my life and a support system to work with me in this transition.

Chrissone: DISCOVERBOOKKEEPING has given me the knowledge I need about the different accounting software which will help me, and attending the Bookkeeping Center job readiness workshops have better prepared me for the job market.

Sharon: There are many positives to describe my experience as a result of attending the DISCOVERBOOKKEEPING program and interacting with the staff at The Bookkeeping Center. The program combined practical lessons with workshops that highlighted life skills. We were exposed to different ways to launch and sustain a successful career in the professional world. As a graduate of the program, one is equipped with the knowledge of how to create a resume and cover letter, the preparation that should precede an interview, the conduct expected during the interview process, and techniques to remain an asset to your employer after gaining a position.

6. Is there anything else that you’d like to say about your time at The Bookkeeping Center?

Gias: All of The Bookkeeping Center’s staff are so cooperative and helpful, especially Maurice, Mathew, and Lynn. They respond in a kind manner every time we interact.

Mohamed: I’ve had really good times with all of my classmates and TBKC. I appreciate the high standard of support from TBKC’S team.

Shelanda: I know that the Center will improve on clientele and whatever goals they are trying to accomplish. I am 100% supportive. If I am needed, the organization will know to ask.

Chrissone: The staff at The Bookkeeping Center is very professional, understanding and friendly. They were always there when I needed help with anything.

Sharon: My time at The Bookkeeping Center was well spent. I have established relationships with a group of professionals who I have come to admire and respect. I can’t say I had the greatest attitude at the beginning of the program. Sometimes my frustration got the better of me when I had to redo something I had been working on for hours or I was unable to figure out my next step. I have grown as an individual since enrolling at The Bookkeeping Center. I would like to thank Lynn Mercredi, the Director of Programs; her optimistic attitude and contagious laughter was something I looked forward to during my time there. I would like to say an extra special thank you to Maurice Smith, Founder and Instructor; his dedication and passion for accounting is inspiring.

TBKC is very happy and proud of our graduates. The organization would not have been able to grow if it weren’t because of our graduates and hence, TBKC is grateful for the relationships we’ve established. We are confident that the graduates of the Class of Summer 2011 will achieve their goals and find their ideal jobs soon.

Congratulations Class of Summer 2011! We thank you for dedicating your time and effort to DB and providing your feedback on ways to improve and continue the program.

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10 Reasons Why Our Spring 2012 Class Enrolled in DISCOVERBOOKKEEPING

July 15, 2011 by Leave a comment

First Week of Class: Participants having fun while reviewing Bookkeeping Terminology with Instructor, Maurice Smith.

On Tuesday, July 6th, The Bookkeeping Center’s newest class began their Manual Bookkeeping Semester. During registration, we asked participants why they wanted to enroll in DISCOVERBOOKKEEPING (DB). They provided us with the following insight as to why DB is beneficial for them as well as the many advantages of enrolling in our signature program.

1. Bookkeeping Opens the Door to Many Opportunities
“The reason why I enrolled is because of the opportunities bookkeeping can offer in our daily life. I‘m determined to complete the course because it is in my interest if I want to be successful in the future.” – Moustapha

2. The Marketability of Bookkeeping
“I believe that through this bookkeeping course I will gain valuable experience and increase my marketability to a broader spectrum of employers.” – Ramona

3. Bookkeeping is a Promising and In-Demand Industry
“I would like to enroll and complete the DISCOVERBOOKKEEPING class because the industry looks very promising and seems to be in demand. I have an older brother in the industry and it is working out very well for him and I’m sure he can help me as well.” – Michelleu

4. DB is the First Step Out of Unemployment
“I enrolled in DISCOVERBOOKKEEPING, due to unemployment. I had to review my options and look at my resume to see the experience I have acquired over the years. I had to look at changing my career path.” – Yolanda

5. DB is a Low Cost Bookkeeping Training Program
“I‘ve wanted to take a bookkeeping course for a while but never had the extra money for classes.” – Louise

6. DB’s Schedule is Flexible
“I wanted to complete part time education in accounting, but this never happened, because of lack of time.” – Valentina

7. DB’s Staff Leaves a Strong First Impression
“I enrolled in DISCOVERBOOKKEEPING because I was looking for a bookkeeping school and found [it] on the internet, so I went to meet Lynn [Director of Programs] at the office and I was impressed with the people I met and what the school has to offer.” – Hector

8. DB Prepares our Participants for the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers (AIPB) Certification Exam
“I enrolled in DISCOVERBOOKKEEPING because I would like a career in bookkeeping and obtaining a certificate is the first step.” – Islande

9. DB Participants Learn the Fundamentals of Bookkeeping & Accounting Software
“I would like to enroll in DISCOVERBOOKKEEPING because it’s a program that will help me better understand the fundamentals of bookkeeping. In addition, this program will give me the opportunity to obtain computerized training to improve my skills and qualifications, which will help me become more marketable and be able to have a successful career in the accounting field.” – Sugeiry

10. DB is a Refresher Course for Former Bookkeepers and Accountants
“I would like to enroll in DISCOVERBOOKKEEPING to learn about computerized bookkeeping and to refresh my accounting knowledge.” – Laura

TBKC welcomes the newest group of participants into our community. We will be very excited to watch them grow and transform into professional bookkeepers.

Our next registration period is from August 29, 2011 to September 16, 2011. If you’re interested, please call us at (212) 242-6010 or email our Director of Programs, Lynn Mercredi at lynn@tbkc.org to become more marketable, learn the fundamentals of bookkeeping and computerized accounting, and join the accounting industry.

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Dedication in Action at The Bookkeeping Center

April 25, 2011 by Leave a comment

Dear Friends,

For April, we focus on the value of Dedication. Dedication is a principle that we, at The Bookkeeping Center (TBKC), hold dearly. We require that our participants dedicate themselves to our program and we expect the people in our organization to be dedicated to its mission.

Dedication is one’s commitment to achieving one’s goals. People come to us looking for a new or better job. They endeavor to learn a new skill set and capitalize on that skill in the job market. By enrolling in DISCOVERBOOKKEEPING (DB), an eleven-month program, our participants demonstrate a level of commitment to their long-term goals that is admirable.

Dedication pays off when participants receive their Certificate of Completion

Once accepted, participants demonstrate their dedication by:

  • Attending all classes dressed in professional attire
  • Meeting with the instructor or a mentor to ensure that they understand the classroom lessons
  • Utilizing group study sessions and lab hours to improve comprehension
  • Taking good notes and being accountable for each session’s coursework
  • Attending all job readiness workshops to learn how to be a well-rounded job applicant
  • Asking questions

Our intensive program demands commitment from the participants. Without it, they would have trouble passing the challenging ‘Terminology’ and ‘Chart of Accounts’ exams given within the first month of DB’s Manual Bookkeeping semester! From the skills learned on the first day of DISCOVERBOOKKEEPING to the last, our dedicated participants move closer and closer to career sustainability.

Organizationally, we are committed to the mission: to empower talented individuals to find meaningful employment by providing affordable, specialized financial administration, job-readiness assistance and work experience. Additionally, we’ve completed our first strategic plan, which will keep our dedicated staff on a path towards fulfilling our vision.

Our plan covers the next three years and keeps us focused on becoming a key member in the New York City workforce development community that has:

  • An organizational orientation towards accountability and results
  • A strong, engaged, forward-thinking board of directors
  • Enriching support services complimenting a solid curriculum to lead to successful, long-term placements
  • A mobilized corps of volunteers to support all aspects of the organization
  • Continued to fully embrace and utilize social media
  • Ensured a clear and consistent communications strategy for all audiences
  • The ability to attract new and diverse funding sources
  • On-going, two-way partnerships to access opportunities

We have put our Strategic Plan into action and we are on our way to achieving these goals. We are already tracking programmatic results and increasing the quality and quantity of job readiness workshops. We are building a stronger board (please see last month’s newsletter) and we have hired a volunteer coordinator to increase our human capacity. Finally, we are exploring ways to improve our communications and fundraising strategies. Our dedication to TBKC should lead to a more effective program, which helps us to better accomplish our mission and have a positive impact on the people of New York City.

If you have any questions about our Strategic Plan, please feel free to contact us. Your input reflects a dedication to the people participating in DISCOVERBOOKKEEPING, and we are always excited to hear from you.

Sincerely,
Thomas P. Graham IV
Executive Director
The Bookkeeping Center

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Job Readiness Workshop with PricewaterhouseCoopers

April 25, 2011 by Leave a comment

“Networking for Success”
Presented by PricewaterhouseCoopers & The Bookkeeping Center
April 30th, 2011
TIME: 11am – 1pm

LOCATION:
The Bookkeeping Center
27 W. 20th St., Suite 706
New York, NY 10011

OPEN TO PARTICIPANTS IN THE ADVANCED SEMESTER AND ALUMNI of DISCOVERBOOKEEPING ONLY.
RSVP Required to Director of Programs Lynn Mercredi at lynn@tbkc.org 

Explore the potential of successful networking with a global accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers. Join your fellow DISCOVERBOOKKEEPING colleagues as you learn how best to build relationships and deliver a professional elevator speech. You will examine how people-networks function and why they are important to your career success. Presenters include Sujerly Escobar, Tax Manager in the Industry Services Group, and Rachid Stoury, a Technical Research and Development Tax Consultant Specialist, at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

Sujerly Escobar is a Tax Manager in the Industry Services Group at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. In her current role, Ms. Escobar is responsible for managing various tax consulting issues at the international, federal, state and local levels in the technology, entertainment and media industry. Ms. Escobar joined PricewaterhouseCoopers in May 2006.

During August 2009, she travelled to Sao Paulo, Brazil to manage a sarbanes-oxley related project at a high profile client location. In May 2008, she travelled to Madrid, Spain to educate clients on accounting of income taxes related issues.

Sujerly attended Binghamton University earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting. She is a member of the AICPA, New York Society of CPAs, and the Association for Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting.

Sujerly has won a number of honorable awards during her lifetime including a recent 2007 Chairman’s award at PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Rachid Stoury began his professional career at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) as a Tax Consultant in New York City late in 2007. Mr. Stoury is responsible for working on various tax consulting issues at the federal, state and local levels in the technology, aerospace, medical device and financial industry. He is currently a Technical Research and Development Tax Consultant Specialist. Rachid focuses on helping his clients quantify the R&D credit computation to improve cash flow, increase earnings per share and improve their effective tax rate. Rachid also works on FAS 109 provisions and other Tax Project Delivery Project (TPDG) offerings. In addition to handling his daily work responsibilities, he leads various recruiting and diversity initiatives for PwC. Rachid has been a very active recruiting alumnus with both the UD and NYU recruiting teams since his 2007 hire.

Rachid is a 2007 graduate of the University of Delaware, where he doubled majored in Accounting & Management Information Systems (MIS) and was a member of both the Student EXCEL & MIS group. Rachid is a certified public accountant (CPA) and is a member of the AICPA and New York Society of CPAs. Outside of academics, Rachid is very active in several student organizations: the Excel, Yallah and Accounting Honors Society to name a few. In addition, Rachid received a full ride football scholarship to both the University of Delaware (UD) Blue Hens and West Virginia University (WVU) Mountaineers. Wanting to be closer to home, Rachid transferred from WVU to UD in 2004.

Rachid has won a number of honorable awards during his lifetime including the Henry J. Donnelly Memorial Achievement award from the University of Delaware. Rachid has been named to the Atlantic 10 Conference All Academic team in 2006 and 2007. In addition, Rachid was a regular dean’s list student with both West Virginia University and the University of Delaware.

Filed under Announcements, Students Tagged with , , , ,

Know the Numbers: A Few Facts from TBKC.

April 1, 2011 by Leave a comment

Did You Know that…

  • 44% of our applicants have a degree related to finance, but lack the key skills necessary to pursue a career in the field
  • 87% of these individuals could not afford other forms of education

And did you also know that…

  • In our Winter 2011 class, unemployment dropped from 79% upon enrollment to 17% upon completion. And, the remaining individuals were employed within 3 months of completion.
  • Over 50% of our graduates find full-time employment in a field related to bookkeeping & accounting
  • 17% of graduates pursue further, collegiate-level education in a related field

Yes, the people we serve need jobs. But, getting a job is not easy in this economy. As such, we attempt to change their lives through a holistic approach that addresses the development of their skills. At the same time we strive to create a positive, community-based culture to support and inspire these individuals.

Here’s something else you may not know:

“Middle-skills jobs account for 46% of all current jobs in New York, and a substantial share of projected future job openings. But only 39% of New York’s workforce has the educational credentials to fill those positions, posing a risk of worker shortages in crucial industries… that could put the state at a disadvantage in an increasingly competitive regional, national, and global context.” – Skills2Compete-New York, Answering the Middle-Skills Challenge, March 2011.*

We are proud to say that not only are we fulfilling the lives of DISCOVERBOOKKEEPING participants (serving 50% more people this year than last year with greater effectiveness), but we are also addressing a major employment issue that affects New York’s advantage in a competitive economic atmosphere.

*Skils2Compete-New York, Answering the Middle-Skills Challenge, March 2011, Commissioned by the National Skills Coalition in partnership with New York Association of Training & Employment Professionals & New York City Department of Small Business.

Filed under Inside DISCOVERBOOKKEEPING, Students Tagged with , , , , , , , , , ,

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