Accounting Technician Career Path Explained

As an Accounting Technician, you'll play a vital role in ensuring the financial health of a company. You'll be responsible for preparing and examining financial records, and ensuring that they accurately reflect the company's financial position.

Accounting Technicians typically work in an office setting, and often work regular business hours. However, they may be required to work overtime during peak periods, such as tax season.

To become an Accounting Technician, you'll typically need a diploma or certificate in accounting or a related field. Many Accounting Technicians also choose to pursue a degree in accounting or a related field to advance their careers.

Accounting Technicians can work in a variety of industries, including government, non-profit, and private sectors. They may also work as freelancers or consultants, providing financial services to clients.

An Accounting Technician is responsible for planning, organizing, directing, and supervising accounting, financial, and statistical recordkeeping work.

Their duties may include managing accounts receivable, accounts payable, department payroll processing, and treasury functions.

Accounting Technicians perform technical, sub-professional, accounting, finance, and fiscal recordkeeping tasks.

They prepare and review financial and statistical records, ensuring accuracy and completeness.

Their work involves a variety of specialized technical tasks relative to their assigned area of responsibility.

To become an accounting technician, you'll typically need a relevant degree, such as an Associate's degree in Accounting or a related field.

Employers often prefer candidates with a degree from a reputable institution, so make sure to choose a college that aligns with your career goals.

A degree in Accounting, Business, or a related field is usually sufficient, but some employers may also consider degrees in Education, Public Administration, or Finance.

You can also consider pursuing a Graduate degree for more advanced roles or specialized positions.

In terms of specific coursework, look for programs that cover accounting principles, financial management, and business administration.

As an accounting technician, your main duties will revolve around maintaining accurate financial records and ensuring that transactions are properly recorded. You'll be responsible for keeping financial records, which includes creating, maintaining, and balancing accounts using both manual and computerized systems.

In this role, you'll also be responsible for posting journal entries, which is a crucial step in maintaining accurate financial records. This involves making sure that all transactions are recorded in the company's books and match the bank or credit card statements.

One of the key tasks of an accounting technician is to prepare trial balances, which is a summary of all the accounts in the general ledger. You'll also be responsible for keeping general ledgers up to date and preparing financial statements, such as balance sheets and income statements.

In addition to these tasks, you'll be responsible for calculating and preparing paycheques, payments for utilities, taxes, and other bills. This includes completing and submitting taxes, workers' compensation, and pension contribution forms, as well as preparing tax returns.

Here are some of the key responsibilities of an accounting technician:

To be a successful accounting technician, you'll need a solid foundation in knowledge, skills, and abilities.

You'll need to understand the principles and procedures of accounting and finance, and how to apply them to governmental financial transactions. This includes knowing the laws, ordinances, rules, and regulations that affect accounting and your assigned areas of responsibility in Placer County.

Principles and practices of computer hardware and software are also essential, including word processing, spreadsheets, and database packages. You should be proficient in using modern office equipment and computers.

Effective supervision, leadership, training, and performance management skills are crucial for success in this role. You'll need to supervise, train, motivate, and evaluate assigned staff.

To perform complex and varied accounting and financial recordkeeping, you'll need to be able to interpret, explain, and apply operating policy, rules, and procedures of assigned functions. This includes preparing complex financial reports and statements, and applying accounting principles to the maintenance of accounting, financial, and payroll transactions.

Here are some key skills and abilities required for an accounting technician:

Employment opportunities for accounting technicians and bookkeepers can be found in various industries and regions.

Employers often look to hire experienced accounting technicians and bookkeepers, which can make it challenging for new graduates to find work.

Experience in this career can be gained by doing volunteer work or through a co-operative education program.

Small business owners often want to invoice, collect payments, and update their books in just a few steps, making technology skills essential for accounting technicians and bookkeepers.

To adapt to the changing landscape of accounting, it's necessary to be able to quickly learn new software and applications, including cloud-based accounting software and mobile apps.

Typically, accounting technicians and bookkeepers use technology such as online banking and email to manage financial records and communicate with clients.

Accounting technicians typically work in an office from Monday to Friday, which can be a standard 9-to-5 schedule for many. They may work for small, medium, or large businesses, or be self-employed and work from a home office.

In larger companies, accounting technicians may only handle bookkeeping tasks, but in smaller companies, they may have additional responsibilities. Long hours spent sitting at a desk using a computer can lead to muscle strain, sore eyes, or headaches.

Working as an accounting technician or bookkeeper means spending long hours at a desk using a computer, which can cause muscle strain, sore eyes, or headaches.

Typically, this type of work takes place in an office from Monday to Friday, with some individuals working for small, medium, or large businesses, or even being self-employed and working from a home office.

In larger companies, their job might be limited to bookkeeping, but in smaller companies, they may have other duties to attend to.

Sitting for long periods can affect blood flow or cause back pain, so some people in this career use sit-stand desks and other supports to avoid these health problems.

Employee job satisfaction is closely tied to the work environment.

Accounting technicians tend to rate their job satisfaction highly, with one rating their job 5 stars. They enjoy tasks such as creating financial graphs and controlling budgets, which allows for autonomy.

Independence is a key aspect of the job, with one accounting technician stating they must like working independently for most of their shift. This lack of interaction with others can be a drawback, with one technician noting they miss talking with people.

If you're considering a career as an accounting technician, you're likely wondering about the salary and reviews of this profession.

The average Accounting Technician salary in the United States is $41,337 per year or $20 per hour.

Accounting technician salaries can vary, ranging between $31,000 and $53,000 per year, so it's essential to research specific companies and locations for more accurate information.

Here are some online sources where you can find reviews and insights from professionals in the field: