Accounting technician
You'll make sure a business pays its taxes, bills and employees!
About the job
What it's like
Enjoy working with numbers? As an accounting technician, you'll manage accounts and financial matters across all sorts of businesses.
In this role, you'll make sure a business pays its taxes and bills. You'll also ensure its employees receive their wages on time.
When working for large companies, you might be part of an accounts team. In a smaller firm, you may be responsible for dealing with all the wages and invoices yourself.
Accounting technicians are also in a good position to transition into tax inspector or tax specialist roles within HMRC. In these positions, you'll review financial information and tax records to make sure individuals and businesses are paying the correct amount of tax.
Your tasks might include:
processing and paying invoices
recording receipts and payments
preparing and checking ledger balances as well as other monthly and yearly accounts
completing and submitting tax returns, VAT returns and National Insurance contributions
handling company expenses
investigating tax cases and guarding against fraud taking place, if you work in a tax-based role with HMRC
As an experienced accounting technician, you could move into a supervisor role. This'll include more complex tasks, such as:
preparing financial reports and creating financial plans
controlling the business' budgets and spending
helping qualified accountants with accounts inspections (audits)
Explore more information about this job
Here are some useful links to learn more about this career:
Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) – use the AAT Careers Hub to find jobs and guidance that'll help you stand out from the crowd
Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) – explore the global body for accounting professionals
His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) – learn more about the company's Tax Specialist Programme, a fast-track route into specialist tax careers
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Related industries
Many jobs can be done in lots of different industries. We've highlighted the ones we think are most important for this job.
Finance, law and professional services
Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- understanding
- analysing
- time management
- developing a plan
- attention to detail
- observation
- working with numbers
- problem solving
- working with technology
- verbal communication
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Accounting
Business
Economics
Maths (Mathematics)
Skills for Work: Financial Services
Statistics
Foundation Apprenticeship: Accountancy
Applications of Mathematics
You can get a head start in this career by doing a Foundation Apprenticeship in S5 and S6.
You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification which is the same level as a Higher. You'll also learn new skills and gain valuable experience in a work environment.
Discover what's on offer at your school on Apprenticeships.scot.
There are no set entry requirements to become an accounting technician. Although, most people enter the profession through a Modern Apprenticeship or college course.
Apprenticeships
Modern Apprenticeships (MAs) mean you learn on the job. You get paid and work towards a qualification at the same time. You might want to consider an MA in Accounting.
Graduate Apprenticeships (GAs) are designed for industry. You'll spend most of your time learning on the job but you'll also go to university. You'll have a job, get paid and work towards a degree qualification at the same time. You might want to consider a GA in Accounting.
College
Getting qualifications at college, such as an HNC or HND in Accountancy, could help you find a job or progress to more advanced study.
Use the My World of Work course search to find Accountancy courses at college.
Want to work as a tax inspector or tax specialist?
You can apply for entry-level roles within HMRC as long as you have some Highers, although a college qualification is beneficial. Once you build experience, you can progress into senior tax-based roles. Search for vacancies on the My World of Work job search.
A background working as an accounting technician also looks good on your application for a tax-based role at HMRC.
If you have a degree or are an existing civil servant, you could apply for HMRC's Tax Specialist Programme. It's designed to develop your skills so that you can become a senior tax professional.
Once qualified, it's beneficial to become a member of the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT).
Once you start working, you may need to pass accounting technician exams through the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT). If you do a Modern Apprenticeship or college qualification, you may be exempt from all or some of these exams.
To work in a tax-based role at HMRC, you must complete a three-stage selection process. This includes an application form, various online tests and an assessment centre.
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