Accounting Technician

Typical Salary

£18,000 To £32,000

Typical Hours

37 to 39 a week

between 8am and 6pm

How To Become a Accounting Technician

You can get into this job through:

a college course
an apprenticeship
working towards this role
applying directly

College / University

There is no set entry route to become an accounting technician but it may be useful to do a relevant qualification like:

Level 2 Foundation Certificate in Accounting accredited by the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT)
Foundations in Accountancy accredited by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)

Apprenticeship

You could get into this job through:

an advanced apprenticeship as an assistant accountant
a higher apprenticeship as a professional accounting / taxation technician

5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

Routes into this Career

You could start as an accounts clerk or bookkeeper while you study to become an accounting technician.

The Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) have information on accounting courses.

You can apply directly to employers if you have some of the relevant skills and knowledge needed for this role.

Employers are likely to look for up to five GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), including English and maths. A level business studies, maths, economics, or equivalent qualifications, could also be useful.

Previous experience of office work or working in an accounts or finance department would be helpful. Experience of using accounting software or spreadsheets could also give you an advantage when looking for work.

Other Routes

Other Routes are not listed for this job.

Skills And Knowledge

You'll need:

to be thorough and pay attention to detail
the ability to work well with others
administration skills
customer service skills
the ability to use your initiative
to be flexible and open to change
maths knowledge
excellent verbal communication skills
to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

Day To Day Tasks

On a typical day you could:

process and pay invoices
record receipts and payments
prepare and check ledger balances and other monthly accounts
complete and submit tax returns, VAT returns and National Insurance contributions
handle company expenses
update computerised accounting systems

Working Environment

You could work in an office.

Career Path & Progression

With experience, you could move into management or become self-employed and work on accounts for small businesses. You could also study to become a qualified accountant.

AAT and ACCA qualifications are recognised across the world, so you could work overseas.

Volunteering Opportunities

Volunteering Opportunities are not listed for this job.

Tips & Information

Further information

You can find out more about careers in accountancy from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.

Restrictions & Requirements

Restrictions & Requirements are not listed for this job.