Assistant Accountant Job Profile
Our Job Profile series explores what it's like to be an assistant accountant.
If you're considering a career in accountancy, the assistant accountant job description guide will help you learn about the role of assistant accountants. Read on for answers on questions you might have about assistant accountants, including:
What does an assistant accountant do?
What are an assistant accountant's duties and responsibilities?
Who do assistant accountants work with?
What qualifications do you need to become an assistant accountant?
What is the average assistant accountant salary?
This article will also cover the best way to access a career in accountancy.
Gain an accountancy qualification.
What does an assistant accountant do?
An assistant accountant, sometimes called an accounting clerk, supports a company's accounting department.
An assistant accountant's responsibilities are:
Maintaining financial records
Preparing reports
Raising invoices and credit notes
Purchase ledgers
Filling out purchase orders
An assistant accountant's duties can also include:
Supporting payroll, credit control, and debt chasing
Processing expenses
Managing petty cash
Filing
Many accounting assistants are given more responsibilities and duties as they develop their skills. As they become more experienced, they work closer with the employees they support, such as accountants.
Who does an accounting assistant work with?
Assistant accountants support a company's accounting department. Assistant accountants will report to a financial accountant, management accountant, or finance manager, and help with day-to-day tasks in different areas of the business.
Assistant accountant's duties play an important role in freeing up the time of the senior finance team to allow them to focus on complex issues. Many assistant accountants also have the opportunity to perform entry-level accounting.
Assistant accountant education and training requirements
To become an assistant accountant, you do not need a degree or equivalent qualification. The basic qualifications you will need for this job are at least five GCSEs at grades 9-4 (equivalent to A*-C).
Any further qualifications or experience, such as A-Levels or work experience, will help make your CV stand out. If you would like to gain a qualification before starting your career, having a degree in business, finance, or accounting will equip you with the skills you need for an accountancy career.
There are no specific assistant accountant education requirements because you will receive on-the-job training to learn your role. However, completing an accounting qualification will give you the skills directly relevant to an assistant accountant role and help fast track your career progression.
You could complete:
AAT Level 2 is perfect for school leavers looking to pursue a career in accountancy and finance. You can then progress onto the following levels. Alternatively, you could undertake an accountancy apprenticeship. This will allow you to work while studying for a qualification.
What skills do assistant accountants need?
Digital and data skills
Assistant accountants must be confident using computers to record and calculate data, and to perform research. Many financial teams use specialised accounting software, so you will need digital skills to learn to use these. You will also be regularly using Excel, to compile and present data.
Maths
A career in accountancy revolves around figures, so you will need to be good with mathematics to succeed. While you will often use software to help with complex calculations, accounting assistants need to be able to spot numerical errors and ensure accuracy. You will also need to be able to perform tasks including determining interest charges, balancing billing vouchers, and performing internal auditing.
Attention to detail
Part of an assistant accountant's responsibilities involves ensuring that there are no accounting errors, requiring keen attention to detail. To produce accurate financial reports, you will need to be skilled at avoiding and spotting any mistakes. Assistant accountants regularly update statements, record transactions, and check records for accuracy in figures, postings, and reports, so you will need to have a keen eye for detail.
Integrity
As part of any finance team, keeping records transparent and having integrity is important to avoid misusing company funds. To do so, you must use financial information property and ethically and keep information confidential where appropriate. You will also need to inform supervisors of any discrepancies in reports or transactions.
Assistant accountant salary
The average starting salary for an assistant accountant is £20,00. Once assistant accountants have gained some experience, this rises to an average salary of £29,000.
However, as it is an entry-level role, the salary and benefits offered will depend highly on where you are working. Salaries will depend on factors such as the size of the company, the location, and your experience.
Final thoughts
Assistant accountants have many important duties and responsibilities that make it an exciting role with lots of potential for development. When applying for assistant accountant jobs, you may notice that organisations require you to have at least one year of experience in a similar role.
By completing placements at companies that offer on-the-job training, you can develop the necessary skills and experience required to begin your career. You could also opt for either the AAT Level 2, or an accountancy apprenticeship. Both routes will help you access a career in accountancy while gaining important qualifications.
