| As an accounting technician, it would be your job | | | | If you are employed in an accounting role, you |
| to keep accurate financial accounts for all types | | | | can take work-based training and assessments to |
| of business, and to assist qualified accountants. | | | | achieve NVQs in Accounting. This route has three |
| | | | | stages: |
| In larger companies, you would usually work as | | | | NVQ Level 2 (Foundation) |
| part of an accounts team. In a small business, you | | | | Level 3 (Intermediate) |
| may be the only person trained to deal with | | | | Level 4 (Technician). |
| finance matters like wages and invoices. In either | | | | If you do not yet work in accounting or if you |
| case, your typical duties would include:processing | | | | prefer to take an exam-based route, you can |
| and paying invoices recording receipts and | | | | choose the Diploma pathway to the AAT |
| payments preparing and checking ledger balances | | | | Accounting Qualification. The Diploma also has |
| and other monthly and yearly accounts completing | | | | three stages: |
| and submitting tax returns monitoring company | | | | Certificate (Foundation) |
| expenses using computerised accounting systems. | | | | Advanced Certificate (Intermediate) |
| With experience, you might take on management | | | | Diploma (Technician). |
| responsibilities and more complex tasks, such | | | | You will be assessed for the Diploma by exams |
| as:drafting financial reportsplanning and budget | | | | and simulated skills tests, instead of providing |
| controlassisting qualified accountants with audits. | | | | practical evidence from the workplace. |
| To be an accounts technician you should | | | | You can study for the AAT Accounting |
| have:confidence working with numbersgood | | | | Qualification full- or part-time at colleges or training |
| spoken and written communication skillsan interest | | | | centres, or in the workplace. |
| in business and financegood organisational skillsthe | | | | For full membership of the AAT, you must pass |
| ability to solve problems and analyse figuresa high | | | | all three stages of the qualification, and have at |
| level of accuracy and attention to detailthe ability | | | | least a year's approved work experience. You can |
| to work to strict deadlineshonesty and discretion. | | | | find more details on the AAT's website. |
| You will find it helpful to have previous experience | | | | Association of Certified Chartered Accountants |
| of office work. Temporary work (‘temping') | | | | (ACCA) |
| can be a good way of getting experience that | | | | To become qualified with the ACCA Certified |
| may lead to a permanent job. Computer | | | | Accounting Technician (CAT) Scheme, you must |
| experience is also useful, particularly in using | | | | pass exams at the three levels (Introductory, |
| spreadsheet and database packages like Microsoft | | | | Intermediate and Advanced) and keep a training |
| Excel and Access. | | | | record of at least one year's practical accounting |
| Above all, you should feel confident with maths | | | | experience. |
| and using computers. Employers may prefer you | | | | You can study for CAT full- or part-time at |
| to have at least four GCSEs (A-C) including maths | | | | further education colleges and private training |
| (or a similar level of qualification), although entry | | | | centres, or alternatively through home study. |
| requirements may vary. | | | | See the ACCA's website for full details. |
| You would often start as an accounts clerk doing | | | | Once you are fully AAT or CAT qualified, you |
| basic accounting duties in a company. You could | | | | could study further to become an accountant. |
| then take work-based training or a part-time | | | | Your accounting technician qualifications mean that |
| college course to qualify as a technician with the | | | | you can usually bypass the first stage of |
| Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) or | | | | professional exams. For example, you could start |
| the Association of Chartered Certified | | | | at Part 2 of the ACCA's Chartered Certified |
| Accountants (ACCA) Certified Accounting | | | | Accountant Scheme, instead of Part 1. See the |
| Technician (CAT) scheme. | | | | Private Practice Accountant profile for more |
| You may be able to miss out some parts of AAT | | | | information. |
| or CAT training if you already have one of the | | | | Starting salaries at foundation and intermediate |
| following: | | | | levels can be around £14,000 to £18,000 a |
| AS or A Level in Accountingprevious relevant | | | | year. |
| work experience in accountingan entry-level | | | | Once qualified to technician level, salaries can be |
| bookkeeping qualification (see the Accounts Clerk | | | | up to £25,000. |
| profile). | | | | What opportunities are there? |
| You may be able to get into this job through an | | | | You could work for companies in every business |
| Apprenticeship scheme. The range of | | | | sector, or in the public sector for organisations |
| Apprenticeships available in your area will depend | | | | such as local councils, colleges/universities and the |
| on the local jobs market and the types of skills | | | | NHS. |
| employers need from their workers. For more | | | | Jobs may be advertised in the local press, |
| information on Apprenticeships, visit | | | | Jobcentre Plus, and by recruitment agencies. |
| Your training is normally a mixture of learning on | | | | With experience, you could move into |
| the job and studying for qualifications from the | | | | management or become self-employed and work |
| Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) or | | | | on accounts for a number of small business |
| the Association of Certified Chartered | | | | clients. You could also choose to study further |
| Accountants (ACCA). | | | | and become a qualified accountant. |
| You can take the AAT Accounting qualification in | | | | AAT and ACCA qualifications are recognised |
| one of two ways – the NVQ route or the | | | | across the world, so work abroad is an option. |
| Diploma route. | | | | |