Stop guessing if your books are right—learn the foundational mechanics that keep your business financial records in perfect balance.
In this basics course, we will discuss the nuts and bolts of accounting. We will talk about the different types of accounts, as well as what it means to be “in balance.” We will also give an introduction to debits and credits and explain why it is important to know what an account’s natural balance is. If you want to do your own bookkeeping or just want to get more familiar with financial and accounting records, this is the place to start!
The curriculum breaks down the essential relationship between assets, liabilities, and equity, while clarifying the nuances of normal debit and credit balances across various account types. By reinforcing these critical building blocks, the course highlights how impeccable data accuracy and a deep understanding of general ledger mechanics empower accounting professionals to elevate their practice. It bridges the gap between foundational bookkeeping concepts and advanced advisory, demonstrating how a mastery of basic account structures is essential for interpreting financial statements, identifying trends, and delivering the strategic, forward-looking insights that modern advisory clients demand.
Who Should Attend:
Small business owners who want to better understand financial and accounting records, as well as bookkeepers who are just getting started.
CPA, CFP, CLU, CPCU, MST, MBA
David Peters is the Founder and Owner of Peters Professional Education in Richmond, VA. He is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as an Investment Advisor Representative (IAR) with Peters Financial LLC. He brings over 20 years of experience in financial services, including three years in the hedge fund industry and six years in insurance. David was the first Chief Financial Officer of Compare.com, where he served for more than three years. He holds four master’s degrees, contributes frequently to professional publications, and is a nationally recognized CPE instructor and discussion leader for Surgent seminars and a former instructor for Don Farmer. David received the AICPA Outstanding Facilitator Award in 2021, 2023, and 2024 as well as Surgent's Outstanding Discussion Leader awards in 2019 and 2022. He also co-authored the Virginia CPA Ethics course in 2018, 2019, and 2020, which is a requirement for all CPAs licensed in Virginia. Through Peters Professional Education, David is the author and instructor for over 125 recorded on-demand CPE courses and leads private trainings, in-person tax seminars, and quarterly live tax update webinars. His areas of instruction include accounting, finance, insurance, financial planning, and ethics, and he regularly teaches professionals across the United States.
This portal is provided as a training and development resource for City of Markham employees. Every course is delivered by a qualified subject matter expert or learning organization, is quantifiable in hours, and is verifiable — you receive a documented certificate of completion for every course you finish, stored on LearnFormula indefinitely.
If you hold a professional designation (for example in engineering, accounting, human resources, or law), courses may be counted as professionally relevant, verifiable learning activities toward your continuing professional development. Individual practitioners are responsible for confirming that an activity meets the requirements of their professional body. For questions about the City of Markham's training and development policies, please speak with your people leader or Human Resources.
