Accounting
Certificate in Accounting
The Certificate in Accounting provides training for early entry into accounting and financial transactions by preparing students to enter the workforce as entry-level financial clerks in business areas such as accounts payable and receivable, billing, and collections. Students are exposed to basic financial accounting, how businesses function, and the economics of business. The certificate is designed as a stand along academic credential or may be used as the basis for continuing on to an Associate of Applied Science in Accounting.
Experiential Learning
After completing the financial accounting course, students are trained on using Quick Books accounting software, one of the most widely used financial management and accounting software programs in the business world. Students are also trained in Microsoft office products, including Microsoft Excel.
Faculty Expertise
Dr. Sharon Hurley
Dr. Sharon K Hurley earned a doctorate in Accounting with an Economics minor from Texas A&M University. She earned a Masters of Accountancy from the University of North Florida, and Bachelors of Science from Brigham Young University. Dr. Hurley is a Certified Public Accountant, licensed in three states. Additionally, Dr. Hurley has many years of accounting experience including owning her own CPA practice/small business in Los Alamos for twenty-four years. Dr. Hurley has more than 27 years of teaching experience in higher education, and has been with UNM-LA since 2003. During those years, she has been a department chair, budget advisor to the Dean, Associate Dean, Dean of Instruction, and is currently the Program Coordinator for Business and Social Sciences. Dr. Hurley is tenured faculty at UNM-LA.
Cheryl Bernier
Cheryl Bernier earned an MBA from the University of Massachusetts. She has more than 20 years teaching experience in both face to face and online classrooms. Her areas of expertise are primarily in the business, management, and marketing fields. Recently, she added teaching financial literacy to dual credit high school students in New Mexico.
Montana Walsh
Montana Walsh earned a Global Leadership MBA from the University of Texas, Dallas. She has many years teaching experience and has taught in New Mexico for more than a decade. She has created textbooks, recorded cassettes, CDs and DVDs for learning and teaching. She is bilingual, with an expertise in Spanish.
Career Opportunities & Outcomes
Career opportunities for individuals with a certificate in accounting include working in offices as accounts payable and accounts receivable clerks, billing department, and collections departments. Entry level median pay is $44,250* annually. Job duties include processing bills and making certain vendors are paid on a timely basis, billing customers, processing payments from customers, and making basic entries in financial records. Credit hours may be applied toward an Associates of Applied Science degree in Accounting at UNM-Los Alamos.
*employment and salary data taken from: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor,
Occupational Outlook Handbook, Financial Clerks,
at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/office-and-administrative-support/financial-clerks.htm (October 5, 2024).
Program Highlights & Special Features
Complete the training for a new career in only two semesters. Build workforce skills to be successful in a variety of accounts payable, accounts receivable, billing, and collections careers. Most graduates work in offices or from home. Students completing the Accounting Certificate at UNM-LA may transfer all credit hours to the Associate of Applied Science in Accounting degree.
Program Details
More information on the Accounting Certificate program may be found at:
Program Cost
Contact Information
Coordinator, Department of Business & Social Science
Dr. Sharon Hurley
Associate Professor of Business
shurley1@unm.edu
UNM-LA was exactly what I needed-accessible quality instruction and a radically supportive community. From the beginning, staff and students kindly and compassionately received me, patiently encouraged me through challenging times, and finally celebrated with me at graduation. Even after, as I explore employment opportunities in Los Alamos, I continue to be supported through the university’s thoughtful career-readiness and community outreach programs. I am so grateful for the invaluable lessons, memories, and the many friendships and connections I’ve made with the brilliant people here.
Jennifer Trent, AAS Accounting