Do you have a keen knowledge when it comes to finance and bookkeeping? If so, you might be interested in a career as an accounting technician. Accounting technicians specialize in helping businesses manage their financial records. In this role, you can work directly as an employee of the company or offer your services as an independent freelancer.
As an accounting technician, you will offer support to accountants and finance departments for bookkeeping and accounting work. These duties can include recording financial transactions, managing payroll systems and company accounts, and updating financial records with new data. This role does not require you to work in-depth with financial data at the same level as an accountant. However, your role as an accounting technician is still crucial in ensuring the accuracy and reliability of this data.
After you meet with the company's accountant or manager and discuss any ongoing goals, your day primarily consists of general bookkeeping duties. These include handling any financial discrepancies such as late payments, updating clients' financial records, and managing payroll systems. If it is tax time, you also need to ensure that the company's taxation records are accurate and up to date. You do much of this work using computerized accounting software packages. Finally, you help prepare financial documents and reports for the accountant or finance department and offer advice to the company. This job can involve part-time or full-time hours and include overtime during busy periods such as the end of the financial year.
If you receive an interview for an accounting technician position, keep in mind that each company uses different interview questions. That said, some common interview questions you may receive include:
Putting together a resume that appeals to hiring managers can be tricky. However, you'll have more success creating an effective resume if you follow these tips:
Once you have an impressive resume, you need to ensure that your cover letter shows your passion for the role. When constructing your cover letter, structure it the following way:
Accounting positions will be in demand across all industries in Canada for the foreseeable future, and accounting technician jobs, in particular, remain popular. This popularity is because accounting technician roles generally require only basic qualifications, making it a great entry-level position for anyone seeking a future financial career. To remain viable, however, accounting technicians need to have good computer skills and financial and accounting skills. Due to how well this position can transfer between different industries, the outlook for this career remains strong.
The average salary you can expect to earn as an accounting technician in Canada is around $43,965 per annum. Most entry-level positions start at around $38,171 per annum, while more experienced accounting technicians can earn an average salary of around $55,000 per annum. Factors that influence your average salary include the type of industry you work in and the size of your company. In addition, the state of the local economy also affects your overall annual wage.
Top paying areas for accounting technicians in Canada include: British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec.
The role of an accounting technician is almost entirely office-based, although you may be able to perform some duties remotely. This position frequently uses accounting software so that you work with computers for much of your day. You also meet with accounting and managerial staff to determine your goals and how to achieve them. Typical work hours apply in this role, although it's possible that you are required to work overtime and at weekends during busy periods. Overall, you can find accounting technicians in almost any industry, and many consider it a good entry point for a financial career.
A high school diploma is the highest education level needed to become an accounting technician for most companies. However, some larger companies may prefer a candidate with a bachelor's degree in accounting for the position. Some companies also require you to have experience and knowledge with a specific brand of accounting software such as Quickbooks or Xero to apply. However, you will receive on-the-job training for your role in most cases. This training provides you with the basic skills and knowledge to perform your duties effectively.
In addition to your job training, consider pursuing a related certification to boost your skills and credentials. Some good examples include the Certified Accounting Technician (CAT) and the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT), both recognized in Canada and worldwide. These certifications require you to study and pass exams upon completion, but you can undertake them part-time or outside of work hours.
Below are some of the most commonly asked questions about accounting technician jobs.
In most cases, you will only need a high school level of education to apply for an accounting technician role. Some companies, however, prefer a bachelor's degree in accounting when selecting candidates. In all cases, good financial skills and an understanding of accounting software will benefit you. Successful applicants often receive on-the-job training, and you can further your skills and employability through certifications such as CAT and AAT.
You can find accounting technician positions constantly on job sites throughout Canada. Keep an eye out on job boards and social media pages for any job descriptions that appeal to you. In particular, Randstad has a job seeker page for accounting technicians and other financial positions.
Search on our job seeker page until you find the accounting technician job that interests you. Once found, create an account and sign in to apply for this or any other position that catches your eye.
Use any potential sources of information to find accounting technician jobs. These include job boards, social media pages, and even your networks of family, friends and colleagues. One of the best ways to discover new accounting technician jobs is to sign up for our newsletter.
Accounting technicians assist accountants in their work but do not have the same duties as accountants. Accounting technicians help reconcile accounts and payrolls while preparing data for budgeting, taxation and other financial reports. The accountant then analyses this information to inform the company of its current situation and assist the company in improving its financial position.
The accounting technician assists the accountant and the company by performing general accounting duties. These include preparing periodic bank reconciliations, recording transactions including revenues and investments, and adjusting financial entries in ledgers. The accounting technician's role consists of general bookkeeping and other clerical duties.
An accounting technician role is considered an entry-level position, and as such, it is not a complex role to perform. However, it does require good financial skills, attention to detail and strong organizational and time management skills to succeed. The more experience you have in accounting, the more quickly you will be able to carry out the tasks required for this role.
Applying for an accounting technician job is easy: create a Randstad profile and search our job offers for vacancies in your area. Then simply send us your CV and cover letter. Need help with your application? Check out all our job search tips here!