Deakin’s Graduate Certificate of Accounting and Law is designed for graduates who need specialist legal knowledge in their roles (regulatory, compliance or risk management positions), and who wish to combine this knowledge with an accounting qualification. Graduates will have gained knowledge of accounting and commercial law, which may be built on through undertaking a graduate diploma or Master of Accounting and Law. Course structure To complete the Graduate Certificate of Accounting and Law, students must complete the three day Law Orientation Program and attain a total of 4 credit points. The 4 credit points consists of 2 credit points of core units, a 1 credit point Accounting elective and a 1 credit points Law elective unit chosen from a list. Most units (think of units as 'subjects') are equal to 1 credit point. Graduate outcomes Career outcomes Graduates of this course would typically seek employment in areas of accounting such as financial accounting, auditing, taxation, management accounting, public sector accounting, forensic accounting or commercial law. However accountants can choose to work in a range of different environments depending on their own skills and preferences. They can choose to work in large firms, small public practices, industry, government, law firms, management consultancies, banking and financial services, not-for-profit organisations (NPOs) or educational organisations. Many also set up their own businesses. Given the fundamental shift of accountants towards a wide-ranging advisory role, career opportunities are also becoming available in other vocations including working as financial planners, investment advisers, market analysts, tax consultants, advisers in mergers and acquisitions, in corporate recovery and insolvency, treasury banking, e-commerce or information technology. Professional recognition The course offers graduates, units of study recognised by the professional accounting bodies such as CPA Australia, the Institute of Public Accountants, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and exemptions from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). Students are advised that it is their responsibility to ensure that they take the appropriate units required for entry. Students who have completed prior undergraduate or graduate units in accounting or other core knowledge areas are advised to have their qualifications assessed by their preferred professional organisation to ensure they complete the correct units. Course learning outcomes Deakin's graduate learning outcomes describe the knowledge and capabilities graduates can demonstrate at the completion of their course. These outcomes mean that regardless of the Deakin course you undertake, you can rest assured your degree will teach you the skills and professional attributes that employers value. They'll set you up to learn and work effectively in the future.