Accounting Technician Duties and Career Path Overview

As an accounting technician, you'll play a vital role in supporting accountants and bookkeepers with their day-to-day tasks. Your duties will include preparing financial statements, maintaining accounting records, and performing data entry.

Accounting technicians typically work in an office setting, often under the supervision of a senior accountant or bookkeeper. They may also work independently on smaller projects or tasks.

To become an accounting technician, you'll typically need a post-secondary certificate or diploma in accounting or a related field. Many colleges and universities offer these programs, which usually take one to two years to complete.

In terms of career progression, accounting technicians can move into supervisory roles or take on more complex tasks, such as auditing or financial analysis.

As an accounting technician, your day-to-day tasks will be varied and challenging. You'll assist in the preparation of financial accounts and other administrative tasks, which may include gathering, checking, and analyzing financial information.

You'll typically be involved in basic bookkeeping, processing and paying purchase invoices, recording receipts and payments, and preparing and checking monthly and year-end accounts. Additionally, you may complete and submit basic tax returns, including self-assessment and VAT.

Your responsibilities will also include handling company expenses, assisting with payroll systems and software that pay wages and salaries, and completing bank reconciliations. You'll use computerized accounting systems and software to perform these tasks.

With experience, you could move into a senior role, taking on supervisor responsibilities and more complex tasks, such as preparing and monitoring financial reports, preparing forecasts of income and expenditure, and planning and budget control.

Here are some specific tasks you may be responsible for as an accounting technician:

To become an accounting technician, you'll typically need a college program in accounting, bookkeeping, or a related field. This will teach you the fundamental skills of accounting, such as bookkeeping, business math, finance, and intermediate & management accounting.

In Canada, some employers expect accounting technicians to have completed secondary school education, and then pursue a college program in accounting. Alternatively, you can complete the first two years of a professional program like Certified General Accounting (CGA) or Chartered Professional Accounting (CPA).

You can also gain experience by working as a data entry or accounting clerk in the accounting or finance department, which will help you develop knowledge of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

Here are some common study options for accounting technician courses:

After completing your education and gaining experience, you may be eligible for professional development opportunities, such as continuing professional development (CPD) and membership in a professional body.

As an accountant, your role is multifaceted and requires a strong attention to detail. You'll be responsible for updating financial records and financial reports.

Accountants keep track of money received and expenses, controlling budgets and ensuring that everything is in order. This involves reviewing data to ensure its accuracy.

You'll work with clients to develop budgets and other financial statements, providing them with valuable insights into their financial situation. This requires strong communication and interpersonal skills.

Accountants perform administrative tasks like organizing payroll, which can be a complex and time-consuming process. They also complete tax returns and submit them on behalf of their clients.

In addition to these tasks, accountants perform basic bookkeeping duties, keeping track of financial transactions and ensuring that everything is up to date. This requires a strong understanding of accounting principles and practices.

To become an accounting technician, you don't necessarily need a degree, but having a good level of literacy and numeracy is essential. Many employers look for up to five GCSEs, including English and maths, and some may ask for A-levels in areas such as maths or business studies.

You can gain experience by working as a data entry or accounting clerk in the accounting or finance department, which can lead to a promotion to an accounting technician role. Some employers may also provide on-the-job training, especially if you've completed a college program in bookkeeping or accounting.

To pursue a college program, you can consider programs like the Certified General Accounting (CGA) or Chartered Professional Accounting (CPA), which typically take two years to complete. Alternatively, you can complete a Level 2 Certificate in Accounting, which provides a grounding in the basics, or a Level 3 Diploma in Accounting, which covers higher-level accounting tasks.

If you're interested in taking a more formal route, you can consider apprenticeships, which combine paid work experience with study for a qualification. For example, the ACCA offers a Certified Accounting Technician (CAT) Qualification, while the ICAEW offers a Level 4 Accounting Technician Apprenticeship.

You'll usually train on the job, often through part-time study or distance learning, and companies will provide training on their software packages, policies, and procedures.

Many employers encourage you to improve your skills and knowledge through Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and may provide funding or time off to study.

Membership of a professional body is important and provides a range of benefits, including networking opportunities and discounts on events.

Full membership of the AAT is open to those who have completed the AAT Level 4 Diploma in Professional Accounting or have other relevant qualifications or membership.

To become a leader, you'll need to have been a full member (MAAT) for a minimum of five continuous years before applying for Fellowship of the AAT (FMAAT).

Once you have the Level 4 AAT qualification, you can choose to continue studying to become a chartered accountant, gaining exemptions from some of the exams from UK chartered and certified bodies.

Bodies like ACCA, AICPA-CIMA, and ICAEW offer Level 4 accounting technician qualifications that offer exemptions to some of their accountancy exams or a formal route into their accountancy qualification.

As an accounting technician, you'll need to possess a strong foundation in business and finance, as well as a thorough and methodical approach to your work.

Your math skills will come in handy when dealing with financial transactions and data analysis.

To excel in this role, you'll need to be proficient in using specialized accounting software and stay up-to-date with the latest developments.

Attention to detail is crucial in accounting, as small errors can have significant consequences.

You'll also need to possess strong interpersonal and communication skills to work effectively with other professionals in the accounting department.

Here are some key skills required for an accounting technician:

You'll also need to be self-motivated and able to use your initiative to complete tasks efficiently and effectively.

Good IT skills, particularly in the use of spreadsheets, will also be essential in this role.

Discretion and honesty are also important qualities, as you'll often be handling confidential information.

Salary and benefits are a big part of being an accounting technician. Salaries for trainee accounting technicians range from £18,000 to £22,000.

As you gain experience and qualifications, your salary can increase significantly. Once qualified, you could earn up to £35,000, and senior roles may be in excess of this.

Additional benefits may include a pension, health insurance, and bonuses. These vary depending on the sector, employer, location, experience, and professional qualifications.

Salaries can differ greatly depending on where you work in the UK. According to the AAT Member Salary Survey (2023), salaries are highest in London and the South East, while the lowest salaries are found in the North East and Wales.

Here's a rough idea of the salary range for accounting technicians in the UK: