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accounting technician
The work
Accounting technicians keep accurate financial accounts for all types of businesses.
They also prepare and analyse financial information to help qualified accountants.
In a small business, the accounting technician may be the only person trained to
deal with invoices and wages. In a larger company they may work as part of an accounts
team and specialise in certain tasks. This means the work can vary according to
the level of responsibility and size of team, but duties will usually include:
- processing and paying invoices
- recording receipts and payments
- preparing and checking ledger balances and other monthly and annual accounts
- completing and submitting tax returns
- monitoring company expenses.
When fully qualified, they usually take on more complex tasks and management responsibilities,
such as:
- drafting financial reports
- planning and budget control
- helping accountants with audits.
Most organisations use computerised accounting systems with a variety of spreadsheets,
databases and specialised software.
Hours and Environment
Most accounting technicians work 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. They may need to
work extra hours at busy times. Flexi-time, part-time work and job sharing are widely
available. Temporary work is often available.
Accounting technicians are usually office-based, but may sometimes visit clients’
businesses with an accountant when helping with audits.
Skills and Interests
To be an accounting technician you should:
- be comfortable working with numbers
- have good spoken and written communication skills, including report writing and
presentation skills
- be interested in business and finance
- be able to plan and organise your own workload
- be able to solve problems and analyse data
- work accurately and pay attention to detail
- be able to work to strict deadlines
- be honest, discreet and trustworthy.
Entry
There are no set entry qualifications, but you will need to feel confident with
maths. Employers may prefer you to have GCSEs (A-C)/S grades (1-3) or equivalent
in English and maths.
You will find it helpful to have previous experience of office work. Computer experience
is also useful, particularly in using spreadsheet and database packages like Microsoft
Excel and Access.
You could begin as an accounts clerk doing basic duties, and take work-based training
or a part-time college course to qualify as a technician with the Association of
Accounting Technicians (AAT) or Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).
See the Training section for more details.
You may not have to do the first stages of accounting technician training if you
already have one of the following:
- A level/H grade in Accounting
- previous relevant work experience in accounting, or
- an entry-level bookkeeping or accounting qualification (see Accounts Clerk/Book-keeper
profile).
Contact course providers or the AAT or ACCA for advice about where to begin training.
You may be able to get into this job through an apprenticeship scheme. Funding for
apprenticeships is available for 16-24 year olds and some over-25s. To find out
more, visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk.
For information about apprenticeships in other parts of the UK, see Scotland, Wales and Northern
Ireland.
Training
You can qualify as an accounting technician through schemes from either the Association
of Accounting Technicians (AAT) or the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants
(ACCA).
You can study for the AAT Accounting Qualification full- or part-time at colleges
or training centres, or in the workplace. If you are employed in accounting, you
can take the AAT Accounting Qualification through the work-based NVQ/SVQ route,
which has three stages:
- NVQ/SVQ Level 2 in Accounting (Foundation)
- NVQ/SVQ Level 3 in Accounting (Intermediate)
- NVQ/SVQ Level 4 in Accounting (Technician).
You will be assessed for the NVQ/SVQ by exams and showing evidence of your accounting
experience in the workplace.
The AAT has also developed a Diploma pathway to the AAT Accounting Qualification.
You could choose this route if you are not yet employed in accounting, or if you
prefer not to use the workplace evidence needed for the NVQ/SVQ. The Diploma also
has three stages:
- Certificate (Foundation)
- Advanced Certificate (Intermediate)
- Diploma (Technician).
You will be assessed for the Diploma by exams and simulated skills tests.
For full membership of the AAT, you must complete all three stages of the scheme
(either pathway) and a year’s approved work experience. Please see the AAT's website
for full details.
The other main qualification is the ACCA Certified Accounting Technician (CAT) Scheme,
which has three stages:
- CAT Introductory Level (two exams)
- CAT Intermediate Level (two exams)
- CAT Advanced Level (five exams).
To qualify under the CAT Scheme, you must pass exams and also keep a training record
of at least one year's practical accounting experience. You can study full- or part-time
at colleges and training centres, by distance learning or online. Please see the
ACCA's website for full details.
After becoming a fully qualified technician, you could choose to continue your studies
to become an accountant. Your experience and qualifications as an accounting technician
will allow you to bypass some of the professional accountancy exams. For example,
if you have CAT Advanced Level or AAT Technician level, you will not have to take
Part 1 of the ACCA’s Chartered Certified Accountant Scheme, and can start training
at Part 2. See Accountant: Private Practice for further details of exemptions.
Opportunities
Accounting technicians work in all types of organisations, including commerce and
industry, local and central government, public services and in private practice.
Self-employed accounting technicians often work part-time for a number of small
businesses, and prospects are good for this type of work.
Experienced accounting technicians can move into senior management positions or
progress to become qualified accountants.
Accounting technician qualifications are recognised across the world, so work abroad
is also an option.
Annual Income
Figures are intended as a guideline only. Location can affect salary, with accounting
technicians in London and the south east sometimes earning up to 50% more than those
in other areas.
Accounting technicians at foundation and intermediate levels can earn £10,000 to
£18,000 a year.
Fully qualified accounting technicians can earn £18,000 to £25,000.
Self-employed accounting technicians or those with management responsibilities can
earn much more.
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