CPE Finance Certificate Program FAQs

We have several exceptional finance-related courses that have been created to provide a pathway to success for any type of student. They are Bookkeeper Professional, Certified Financial Planner® Program, Corporate Financial Planning & Analysis, and Payroll. The following are some of the most commonly asked questions for each of our course offerings.

Are there any prerequisites for these courses?

All of our courses are available to the public and only a high school diploma or equivalent is required.

What do these courses have to offer and how much do they cost?

The Bookkeeper Professional program will teach you to work with general ledgers, assets, liabilities, equity accounts, balance sheets and income statements. You will also learn to compute and record basic book and tax depreciation, manage bills and invoices, reconcile bank and credit card accounts, and provide financial statements for tax preparation.
Cost: $1,999

The Certified Financial Planner™ Program will cover fundamentals of planning for the following areas: financial, insurance, income tax, investment, retirement and estate. This program concludes with a Capstone project which will allow students to develop a complete financial plan for a fictional client. This will help students integrate their knowledge of all subject areas and prepare them to take the Certified Financial Planner™ exam.
Cost: $3,999

Earning your Certified Corporate Financial Planning & Analysis Professional credential will establish you as a recognized expert in the FP&A field. This course will cover five learning modules that include Part I: Financial Acumen ( gathering, interpreting, understanding, and communicating business and financial information) and Part II: Financial Analysis (analyzing information, building and interpreting financial projections and using technology/software).
Cost: $3,299

The Payroll Fundamentals course covers the fundamental concepts, calculations, fringe benefits, tax compliance, record keeping and best practices, accounting, and administration as they apply to Payroll.
Cost: $1,299

The Payroll Mastery course is a comprehensive course that provides you with a solid understanding of advanced payroll topics necessary for payroll managers and supervisors. Additionally, this course we will be using APA’s PayTrain Mastery body of knowledge materials.
Cost: $1,499

Who are some of the instructors?

Bookkeeper Professional instructor Tymone Green has been with CCPE since 2014. He is a certified QuickBooks consultant, educator and trainer in the greater Atlanta area who possesses more than 15 years of experience in corporate accounting, financial analysis and teaching at higher education institutions. Green has successfully enhanced business and computer curriculums in Pennsylvania and Georgia.

Payroll Fundamentals & Mastery instructor, Clarissa L. Harris, CPP, MBA, has more than 20 years of experience in the payroll industry and is a longtime instructor. She is Six Sigma Green Belt certified and an active member of APA. An experienced payroll manager, Harris oversees all aspects of multi-state payroll that has expertise in U.S. and global payroll management. She has been teaching payroll certification preparation classes in a variety of formats since 2007.

Our Certified Financial Planner™ program has five industry professionals who are part of Atlanta’s financial services community. Our instructors are dedicated to helping prepare students with the skills and training that they need to provide comprehensive and accurate personal financial planning services to their clients, in the future.

How long are the courses?

• Bookkeeper Professional: 30 sessions or 15 weeks, two days a week in the evening
• Certified Financial Planner™ Program: 90 sessions or 14 months, two days a week in the evening
• Corporate Financial Planning & Analysis: 14 sessions, once a week in the evening
• Payroll Fundamentals course: 10 sessions, once a week in the evening
• Payroll Mastery course: six sessions, with mostly evening classes

What is the ideal student like for these courses?

Bookkeeper Professional is ideal for individuals who are just starting a business or for those currently operating a small business who seek experience with QuickBooks. Shanise Hall, graduate, said, “The reward from the experience and knowledge gained is priceless.”

Certified Financial Planner™ Program is recommended for financial planners looking to achieve their CFP® certification, professionals who are specialists in a specific area (brokerage, insurance, accounting, banking and related fields) and want to learn how everything works together, or those who are looking to change their careers.

Corporate Financial Planning & Analysis is designed for individuals seeking credentials that will focus on mastering the core functions of the FP&A role. This course is ideal for FP&A managers and directors, accounting, treasury and finance analysts, finance and treasury directors, chief financial officers, vice presidents of finance and treasury, consultants, technical and administrative staff supporting corporate finance, or students with interest in finance and business-related fields.

“[This] really is a good class. If you’re new to financial planning and analysis it’s a good introduction. If you’ve been in financial planning and analysis for a while, it’s really good remedial learning,” says graduate Gerrold Kimbrough.

Our Payroll Fundamentals course is ideal for entry-level payroll professionals, payroll professionals preparing for the FPC or CPP examinations, managers and supervisors providing strategic payroll management, sales professionals and consultants serving the payroll industry, systems analysts and engineers writing payroll programs, payroll service bureau client representatives or certified human resources professionals.

“I went through the WIOA program which in turn sponsored my continued education to be able to market myself on a higher skill level. My confidence grew, my knowledge grew and my skill level soared,” says graduate Daphne Martin. “I chose KSU because they offered a foundation and the start of a new career. I want others to know the professors are great. [They] went beyond the call of duty to ensure the comprehension of the material was done.”

Our Payroll Mastery course is recommended for experienced payroll professionals, payroll professionals preparing for the FPC or CPP examinations, managers and supervisors providing strategic payroll management, sales professionals and consultants serving the payroll industry, systems analysts and engineers writing payroll programs, payroll service bureau client representatives or certified Human Resources Professionals.

“My instructor was excellent! She went above and beyond to make sure we had the information we needed to be successful,” says graduate Alicia Crockett. “She gave us additional resources and was always available to answer questions. This, by far, has been the most rewarding course. I’m glad I decided to sign up.”

What kinds of jobs can I look forward to receiving with these certifications?

• Bookkeeper: Auditing clerk, accounting clerk, accountant, treasurer, tax preparer, or billing and posting clerk (onetonline.org)

• CFP: Wealth advisor/investment counselor, financial analyst, advisor (associate or senior level), professor, manager, or a financial representative (cfp.net)

• CPF&A: Corporate treasury analyst, budget analyst, strategic program manager, IT audit manager, Controller, chief financial officer, or financial analyst (careercenter.afponline.org).

• Payroll: Payroll assistant, payroll technician, payroll manager/supervisor, or payroll director (students.org), staff accountant, human resources, accounts payable, or operations assistant and analyst (indeed.com)

Which programs have certifications?

Our programs are designed to help prepare students to pursue professional certifications after successfully completing our coursework. They include Certified Bookkeeper designation from AIPB.org, CFP® Certification, Association for Financial Professionals’ (AFP) new certified Corporate Financial Planning & Analysis Professional credential exam, Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) or Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) certification exams.

I found a program that is a good fit for me, but what financial aid options does CCPE offer?

• Interest-free payment plans
• VA Education Benefits
• WIOA funding
• Continuing education loans

Visit our website for more details.