Accountancy courses in Kenya [All you need to know]

Last updated on July 27th, 2023 at 03:53 pm

In this article, we shall be discussing accountancy courses in Kenya- and we shall specifically try to talk about all you need to know about studying accountancy in Kenya.

Are you ready for this?

If yes, let’s dive in- we hope that our information will help you make an informed decision..

 

Accountancy courses in Kenya: All you need to know

Accountancy professionals record and prepare reports on the financial transactions taking place in both public and private (business) organizations.

Put another way, accountants communicate the financial health of a business or an organization by assessing the assets, liabilities, and cash flow.

It is important to note that accountants do not operate in a vacuum- they prepare and maintain various financial records in line with standard guidelines(which are often international).

So, what skills and interests do you need to pursue a career in accounting?

That’s what we are looking at next:

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Key skills and interests required to pursue an accountancy course

Below are the most critical skills and interests you need to have if you’re to succeed as an accountancy professional (which is what you become after passing through courses in accounting):

• Reporting skills
• Attention to detail
• Deadline-oriented
• Confidentiality
• Time management
• Organizational skills
• Data entry and management skills
• General mathematical skills

What an accountancy job / career / profession entails

An accountant does the following tasks, among others:

• Provides financial information to management by researching and analyzing accounting data (financial reports);
• Prepares asset, liability, and capital account entries by compiling and analyzing accounting information;
• Records financial transactions by entering them into an accounting information system like QuickBooks, SagePastel, Zoho, etc;
• Recommends financial actions to be taken by the management after analyzing a variety of accounting options; and
• Substantiates financial transactions by auditing documents

 

 

Accounting courses in Kenya (list of accounting courses)

There are a number of accounts courses in Kenya that you can pursue, depending on how far you want to go in your career, your KCSE grade, and more.

Here they are:

Degree level

Degree in accounting and finance in Kenya

The first option you have is a B.Com (bachelor of Commerce- accounting option)- you can take this if you had the minimum entry grades (C+) in several universities locally.

The other option is The Bachelor of Science in Accounting at institutions such as the UoN (University of Nairobi).

Meanwhile, institutions like TUK (Technical University of Kenya) offer a B.Com (Bachelor of Commerce) in Accounting and Finance.

Diploma level

Diploma in accounting and finance in Kenya

Here you can go for a KNEC diploma in accounting in Kenya (Offered by various TVET institutions across Kenya including National Polytechnics).

The other option is a pure Diploma in Accounting and Finance in Kenya offered by institutions like Zetech University and TUK University.

Another alternative is a diploma in accounting and finance in Kenyatta University.

 

However a Diploma in Accountancy is not the most marketable option particularly if you do not support it with a professional accountancy qualification like CPA so if possible, I would advise you to take the CPA directly (more on this shortly).

Diploma in accounting and finance requirements

Here you need at least a C- in your KCSE to get admitted.

Accounting technician diploma course (ATD)

The final diploma option is the ATD also by KASNEB.

This course was initially designed for those who did not get the C+ required to take a CPA but it’s also a complete course and is acceptable for certain lower level accountancy jobs:

Accounting technician diploma jobs in Kenya

With an ATD, you can be hired for entry-level positions such as Bursar, Book-keeper, entry level Accounts clerk, and audit clerk/technician.

ATD requirements

Like the Diploma in accounting, you need at least a C- in your KCSE to get admitted for the program.

 

Certificate level

A certificate in accounting and finance in Kenya is the entry level qualification and it’s designed for those who did not get the grades to take a Diploma/Degree.

Now, the most viable option, if you have to take a certificate, is CAMS(Certificate In Accounting And Management Skills) examined by KASNEB.

 

CPA (Certificate Public Accountant)

The best option professionally is taking a CPA course. This course is again examined and is widely recognized by employers as the premier certification in accounting in Kenya.

You need a C+ mean grade and a C+ in Math and English to take this course (though sometimes KASNEB can accept a C in Math and English if you have a strong C+ mean grade or above).

Now, I previously wrote an in-depth article about the CPA course in Kenya and you should read it to get all the important details about the course. Here is the link.

 

Summary of Requirements for accounting course in Kenya (KCSE requirements for accounting)

Here are the requirements for accounting course in Kenya:

 

Degree level

Bcom course requirements in Kenya

KCSE Mean grade: C+

Cluster subjects requirements: C (at least) in Mathematics & English.

Degree in accounting and finance course requirements

KCSE Mean grade: C+

Common cluster subjects requirements: C (at least) in Mathematics & English/Kiswahili

Other acceptable qualifications: Diploma in accounting, CPA/CPS Part II.

 

Diploma level

KCSE Mean grade: C –

Common cluster subjects requirements: none

 

Certificate level (CAMS)

KCSE Mean grade: D+

Common cluster subjects requirements: none

Career prospects for those who have pursued Accountancy courses in Kenya

Certificate/ATD

• Cashier
• Accounts clerk
• Bursar
• Book-keeper

CPA/Degree in Accounting

• Investment analyst
• Banker
• Accountant
• Accountant assistant
• Financial consultant
• Investment analyst
• Banker
• Financial researcher
• Accountant
• Auditor
• Tax consultant

 

Accounting schools in Kenya

Now, if you would like to take any of the above accountancy courses in Kenya, there are some very good schools you can attend depending on the level of the course you’d like to pursue.

Here they are:

 

Colleges offering diploma in accounting and finance

Your best bet for a Diploma in Accountancy (Examined by KNEC) is TVET colleges/Technical Training Institutions(TTIs) and there are many such institutions in Kenya.

Here is a list of some of the TVET colleges/Technical Training Institutions(TTIs) you can check out together with their contacts (you can just call to enquire if they have the course)

And here is a list of specific TVET colleges in Nairobi you can check out.

 

Private colleges offering accounting courses in Kenya

For CPA, ATD, and CAMS qualifications (which are the best short accounting courses in Kenya), you can reach out to the following colleges:

Destiny technical college

Location: Bazaar Plaza, 2-nd Floor, Nairobi

Website: http://destinytechnical.ac.ke/

Royal Business School

Location: Stanbank House-Moi Avenue-, Nairobi CBD

Website: https://royalbizschool.com/

Summit Institute Of Professionals

Location: Bank House, Moi Avenue/Kenyatta Avenue junction-Nairobi CBD

Website: https://www.summitinstitute.ac.ke/ 

Universities offering accounting courses in Kenya

Nearly all universities in Kenya offer a B.Com or a BSC in Accounting & Finance including TUK (Technical University of Kenya), UoN, KU, JKUAT, Masinde Muliro (MMUST), University of Eldoret, TUM(Technical University of Mombasa), Dedan Kimathi University, and Meru University.

Others include KCA University, Strathmore University (These two are considered to be excellent when it comes to training finance and accounting professionals) and Karatina University.

In short, you can study at almost any accredited university in Kenya.

 

Is accounting marketable in Kenya

Well, there will always be demand for skilled finance professionals even though technology has eaten into the job market.

That’s because there are some outstanding accounting systems that use AI (artificial intelligence) to make some of the decisions accountants traditionally make.

Another thing that has made it harder for accountants to get jobs fast is flooding- it’s an open secret that there are many CPA and Bcom holders who are yet to find relevant work mainly because there was a period a lot of people took the course.

But do not let that kill your ambition- you can still make good money as an accountant if you get a good strategy…

The first route you can take is starting your own audit/accountancy firm- there is a gap that current firms ignore especially the small scale traders/small entrepreneurs.

Another way you can make good money with the course is by working as an online accountant- here you work for clients in foreign nations (read this article to learn how it works).

 

 

Best accounting courses in Kenya – Final words

Don’t forget that you need to have the CPA, regardless of your other accountancy courses in Kenya (Bcom+CPA is more marketable as is Diploma in Accounting+CPA).

Of course, it’s better to advance to the CPA after passing your ATD- and to ATD from CAMS so that you can go on and do the CPA.

On the other hand, if you’ll take the CPA directly, I’d advise you to pursue a Bcom/BSC (accounting) when you have the cash since it makes you more attractive to employers.

Remember you can advance to an Msc. in Accounting (and finance) in institutions such as KCA University and Strathmore, if you want to go further in your accounting career.

You can even go as high as a PhD. in Finance.

For the PhD, your options include Kenyatta University and technical university of Kenya(TUK), just to list a few.