Introduction

This certificate course introduces blockchain technology as it applies to the accounting profession. It begins with the theoretical foundations of distributed ledger technology (DLT) and then moves into the practical aspects of how accounting documentation and transaction recording are performed on third-party shared ledgers, referencing real-world use in industry, including at Deloitte in the UK.

Unique Selling Propositions

Combines theoretical grounding in blockchain and distributed ledger technology with hands-on practical training in how transactions are documented and recorded on a third-party shared ledger, drawing on real industry practice such as Deloitte UK’s use of blockchain in audit and accounting.

Objectives and Learning Outcomes

1. Explain the theoretical foundations of blockchain and distributed ledger technology (DLT).

2. Analyze the accounting implications of blockchain-based transaction recording, verification, and audit trails.

3. Apply practical skills in documenting and recording transactions on a third-party shared ledger, referencing industry practice such as Deloitte UK.

Key Topics / Related Concepts

1. Fundamentals of blockchain and distributed ledger technology.

2. Blockchain’s role in accounting: recordkeeping, verification, and auditing.

3. Practical documentation and transaction recording on the Block Ledger shared-ledger application (industry case: Deloitte UK).

4. AI-assisted analytics for anomaly detection, audit review, and ledger-data interpretation.

Activities and Learning Strategies

1. Interactive lectures and guided discussions.

2. Case study analysis of blockchain implementation in accounting (e.g., Deloitte UK).

3. Hands-on demonstration of documenting and recording transactions on a shared ledger.

Week

Day

Topic

Reading / Application (Block Ledger App)

1

Day 1

Getting Started with Block Ledger – blockchain fundamentals in practice: setting up an account and exploring the app’s shared-ledger architecture

Reading: Introductory article on blockchain fundamentals. Application: Set up a Block Ledger account and navigate the platform’s shared-ledger dashboard.

1

Day 2

Recording & Hashing Transactions on Block Ledger – applying cryptographic hashing and digital signatures to real transaction entries within the app

Reading: Basics of cryptographic hashing (SHA-256). Application: Enter sample transactions in Block Ledger and generate and compare their hash values.

2

Day 1

Mining & Consensus on Block Ledger – Proof of Work and Proof of Stake in practice, using the app to run a live mining and validation exercise

Reading: Comparison of consensus mechanisms. Application: Run a live mining exercise on Block Ledger and observe how the app validates and confirms blocks.

2

Day 2

Smart Contracts on Block Ledger – building and executing a smart contract for an accounting use case (e.g., automated invoice settlement)

Reading: Introduction to smart contracts in accounting. Application: Build and deploy a sample smart contract on Block Ledger and trigger its execution.

3

Day 1

Shared-Ledger Accounting on Block Ledger – recording and documenting transactions in the app, benchmarked against industry practice (Deloitte UK)

Reading: Deloitte UK blockchain-in-accounting case study. Application: Record and document a set of transactions on Block Ledger’s shared ledger.

3

Day 2

AI-Assisted Anomaly Detection & Cryptocurrency Adjustments – using AI tools alongside Block Ledger to flag irregular transactions and support valuation/reconciliation entries

Reading: AI applications in fraud detection and digital-asset accounting. Application: Use an AI-assisted review alongside Block Ledger to flag anomalies, then adjust and reconcile cryptocurrency balances.

4

Day 1

AI in Ledger Analytics – applying AI-driven analytics to interpret validation and consensus data generated within Block Ledger, from transaction submission to block confirmation

Reading: AI-driven analytics for blockchain validation data. Application: Walk through the full validation cycle in Block Ledger and apply an AI analytics tool to interpret the results.

4

Day 2

Capstone: End-to-End Application on Block Ledger – independently creating, validating, mining, and adding a block to the chain, with an AI-assisted review step

Reading: Course recap notes. Application: Complete an end-to-end exercise on Block Ledger — create a transaction, validate it, mine it, and add the block to the ledger — supported by an AI-assisted review step, followed by instructor-led assessment.