Accounting technician: roles, qualifications and career path
Discover what an accounting technician is, their responsibilities, qualifications like MAAT, salary, and career path. Start your journey with BPP today.
Whether you’re looking for an in-demand job role, or gaining valuable experience on the path to becoming an accountant, an accounting technician career is a great choice.
In this guide we’ll explore the job profile of an accounting technician, answering questions such as:
What is an accounting technician?
What are the responsibilities of an accounting technician?
What qualifications do accounting technicians need?
What skills do accounting technicians need?
How much do accounting technicians earn?
If you’re looking for an accounting role, read our other guides to find out more:
What is a chartered accountant?
What is a management accountant?
What is an accounting technician?
An accounting technician is a professional that supports the accounting and finance function of a variety of businesses and organisations.
These technicians, sometimes referred to as accounting technologists, work as part of an accounting team to ensure the smooth handling of finance tasks. This role is ancillary, providing essential support to accountants.
Accounting technicians can work in-house within a business, or as part of a dedicated accounting firm.
Responsibilities of an accounting technician
Accounting technicians perform a variety of different tasks. The duties of an accounting technician will vary widely across industries and organisations.
However, in most accounting technician roles, you can expect your responsibilities to include:
Running or supporting the management of payroll and company expenses
Arranging invoice payments
General financial administration
Assisting with the preparation of accounts, reports, budgets, and financial statements
Recording receipts and payments
Preparing and checking ledger balances
Completing and submitting tax returns
Monitoring financial transactions
Liaising with managerial staff and colleagues
As accounting technicians gain more experience, they can take on supervisor responsibilities and more complex tasks like preparing financial reports, planning, and budget control.
Accounting technicians also help qualified accountants with rigorous accounts inspections.
Qualifications for accounting technicians (including AAT MAAT and ACCA CAT)
There are no set qualifications or any standard entry route to becoming an accounting technician.
You could start your career through several pathways:
Applying for a role directly
Undertaking an apprenticeship
Gaining relevant experience for this role
While there are no set routes to becoming an accounting technician, having an entry-level accounting qualification will help you in your career.
An accounting qualification will give you the option of advancing your career further as you gain more professional experience and pass further exams. Many aspiring accountants, for example, start in an accounting technician role gaining valuable experience before moving on to become accountants.
Everything you need to know about accountancy qualifications.
Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT)
The AAT is a globally recognised qualification required by many leading employers worldwide.
There are no entry requirements to train with AAT. Many technicians train while on the job via part-time study or distance learning, or through apprenticeship schemes.
AAT is split into three levels:
Level 2 – Certificate in Accounting
Level 3 – Diploma in Accounting
Level 4 – Diploma in Professional Accounting
If you’re not sure where to start with AAT, use the Skillcheck tool.
As well as completing the AAT qualification, you’ll need a year’s worth of professional experience before applying for full membership.
Once completing your full AAT qualification, you will have formal recognition internationally with a MAAT designation. You will be able to use these letters after your name, and this will represent your achievement.
Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
ACCA’s Diploma in Accounting and Business is perfect for those wanting to get on the ladder to a career with high potential for progression.
Completing this qualification will mean you become a Certified Accounting Technician (CAT). You can use these letters after your name to represent your formal, internationally recognised achievement.
This involves studying for and sitting three exams:
Accountant in Business (FAB)
Management Accounting (FMA)
Financial Accounting (FFA)
After completing these, you can undertake two of three optional exams to complete the qualification:
Foundations in Taxation (FTX)
Foundations in Financial Management (FFM)
Foundations in Audit (FAU)
Professional Accounting Taxation Technician Apprenticeship
On this apprenticeship, you will learn how to apply your accounting technician role in a business framework. You’ll understand the systems and processes that have been used, as well as learning about the standards practices that are employed within accountancy.
Once you finish this apprenticeship, you have the option to do the Accountancy/Tax Professional Level 7 Apprenticeship to become a fully qualified accountant.
What skills do you need to be an accounting technician?
Accounting technicians use a broad range of technical and soft skills.
Numerical skills and problem solving
Numerical skills are vital for those who want to work in accountancy, as you’ll be working with numbers day in, day out.
A methodical approach
Accounting technicians should understand procedure and best practice, whilst having fantastic attention to detail.
Interpersonal skills
Communication is key for accounting technicians, whether that’s with clients or colleagues.
Commercial awareness
Accountant technicians working in commercial sectors will need good business and commercial awareness to succeed.
Digital literacy
Having good IT skills and a keen understanding of technology is becoming ever more important across industries. Learning how to use programmes such as Microsoft Excel will be particularly useful.
Salary and benefits for accounting technicians
Training salaries for accounting technicians typically start around £17,000 to £22,000.
However, once qualified and with good professional experience, accounting technicians can earn £35,000 or more.
Your career path could also lead on to more lucrative opportunities such as becoming an accountant.
Find out how much you can earn as an accountant.
Career path for accounting technicians
Becoming an accounting technician offers the chance to work with other like-minded professionals across a wide range of different industries. It is a position in-demand internationally, offering many exciting opportunities.
By gaining professional experience, and by completing accountancy qualifications, you’ll also have a clear pathway to becoming an accountant. Many employers will support you through your accountancy exams by paying your fees or providing time off for study leave.
Find out how you can qualify for a career in accountancy and tax.
