Our Philosophy, History, Staff, Credentials and Testimonials
Philosophy & History
Brad Elliott's decision to start his own business school stemmed from a few simple observations about the business world. After working for a variety of "medium sized" companies in the 1970's, he was amazed to learn that many small companies fail to succeed because of poor bookkeeping.
His revelation encouraged him to start his own one-man accounting service especially for small and medium sized businesses. Within three years, he came to another realization: "Small companies not only need bookkeepers, they need bookkeepers who know how to keep books."
But it wasn't until some of Elliott's clients asked him to help train their bookkeepers that he discovered a gaping hole in the educational community: There was no short-term school for bookkeepers. So, he started his own.
Founded in 1983 by Brad Elliott, Elliott Bookkeeping School (EBS) was established to provide short-term, cost-effective training for the bookkeeping profession. "Our students learn actual bookkeeping skills--not beginning accounting." The school is ideal for presently employed bookkeepers who want to sharpen their skills and for those looking to launch a new career.
According to Mr. Elliott, "Businesses wouldn't consider hiring a delivery driver without a driver's license, but they will hire a bookkeeper without training and certification. Recognizing that the chief responsibility of the bookkeeper is to keep management up to date on the financial condition of the company, hiring an untrained bookkeeper is like playing Russian roulette with the company's assets."
Mr. Elliott is personally committed to elevating the status of the bookkeeper and Elliott Bookkeeping School is dedicated to training for the bookkeeping profession.
Staff & Credentials
Mr. Elliott, founder of the school, is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) State of Maryland, and a Certified Management Accountant (CMA). He holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Portland, and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from San Diego State University. In addition to teaching seminars at Elliott Bookkeeping School, he maintains a consulting practice specializing in accounting systems analysis.
Elliott Bookkeeping School is licensed by the Oregon Department of Education. It consistently upgrades its programs and offerings to meet the changing needs of students and employers alike.
Each staff member has been personally selected and trained by Brad Elliott to ensure that students receive the highest quality bookkeeping and computer training available. School staff members include:
* Diane Sandefur, Director / Owner
* Brad Elliott, Instructor CPA, State of Maryland
* Amanda Andersen, Registrar
* Hank Becker, Instructor CPA, State of Oregon
* Pam Johnson, Instructor CPA, State of Oregon
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TESTIMONIALS
February 24, 2005
Dear Diane,
I called you sometime ago and asked if you could recommend someone to help me with my checking account. Your recommendation of Lei Williamson was a Godsend.I had not made an entry for months in my Quicken program, where I keep my check records. Lei was not familiar with Quicken when she first came, but she adapted immediately and she had no trouble learning the program and following my instructions. She was such a great help that I am, for the first time in years, current with my account. I am grateful to her and also to you and Elliott Bookkeeping (School). Thank you again.
Sincerely, M.L. Johnson
February 24, 2002
Dear Diane,
I wanted to take this time to thank you and the staff of Elliot Bookkeeping School for a job well done. I have just completed the course and received my certificate of completion for Practical Bookkeeping. I have to say the staff and the course is second to none. The staff was very helpful and understanding to the my needs.
As we all know in our crazy world that we live in, it is not always easy to take the time to finish what you start. Life has a tendency to put a couple of bumps in the road, but if you make the time and do not lose sight of the big picture you can accomplish your goals.
The course itself was outstanding. Everything was carefully thought out and tied in very nicely. The homework reaffirmed the chapters and the tests were quite fair. The final project was outstanding. It tied in the whole course very nicely and was quite challenging. It was a feeling of accomplishment to finish it as well as the whole course.
I have no reservations about recommending the school and course to anyone who is interested in learning bookkeeping for the first time or as a refresher course. I plan on contacting you again in the future to further my educational needs with additional courses that your school offers. Again, thank you for being patient and congratulations on an excellent course.
Sincerely,
Patrick J.
