What Is an Accounting Technician?

If you are interested in accounting and have a knack for the technical side of things, an accounting technician might be your perfect career choice. Accounting technicians work closely with accounting professionals to keep track of financial records, process invoices, and manage finances.

This article will cover what an accounting technician is, how they fit into the accounting profession, and some helpful tips on becoming one yourself!

An accountant technician executes tasks related to accounting skills like finances and taxes – helping out other people’s accounting jobs by updating records so that everything looks accurate.

As an accountant technician, you also have opportunities to expand what you do, including offering services such as consulting or advising on complicated topics.

What Does an Accounting Technician Do?

An accounting technician will work with an accountant and perform tasks to assist their clients and create reports for them. This can include updating new records or distributing payments to creditors on behalf of an account owner.

A typical day might involve:

Balancing accounts by converting foreign currencies into US dollars
Reconciling checks and deposits and calculating interest rates for lending institution balances
Preparing bank reconciliations, financial statements, tax returns
Compiling data from various sources such as last year’s budget vs. actual spending
Researching information about company balance sheets and asset valuations
Performing research on companies before making investment decisions based on this knowledge.

What Are the Skills Required to Become an Accounting Technician?

Accounting technicians aren’t usually required to have a bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or business administration. There is no regulatory body that oversees accounting technician credentials; however, this position typically requires candidates to work with computers and essential accounting software such as QuickBooks or Excel and proficiency in Microsoft Office suite.

They also need excellent oral and written communication skills. A high school diploma is generally the minimum requirement for entry-level positions, while some employers may require an associate’s degree at the time of hire.

Responsibilities of Accountants vs. Accounting Technicians

While accountants and accounting technicians typically work on similar projects, there are some differences between an accounting technician and an accountant, particularly when discussing responsibilities.

Accountant

Accountants work with financial records and help the government or businesses keep track of their money. A few different types, such as tax accountants specializing in taxes, and others oversee various accounts for organizations. To become an accountant, you need to have at least a bachelor’s degree in accounting or another related field like finance.

It is unnecessary to obtain certification, but it can make potential employers more likely to hire you if they know that those qualifications exist. Some may advance into higher-level positions after gaining experience working on the lower levels; some examples include managers, executives, researchers, etc.

Accountant jobs usually involve sitting behind desks all day long — but don’t worry about being bored because there will be plenty of data to work with.

Accountants provide advice on the best tax strategies for a company.
They help manage the financial records of a business or organization.
They work with clients to determine and implement financial goals such as maximizing profit, minimizing taxes, or improving cash flow.
Accountants are responsible for calculating and reporting earnings per share (EPS) based on company performance.
Finally, accountants also have to ensure that all transactions are accurate so that the balance sheet is always up-to-date.

Accounting Technician

Accountant technicians are responsible for updating financial records and may also be in charge of some other finance-related transactions. When it comes to the level of qualification for an accounting technician, there are many things that you should know. First and foremost, they don’t have to meet any educational requirements.

Still, they do need computer skills, which can usually only be acquired through on-the-job training or by taking courses in math and accounting at a postsecondary level. Some employers ask for higher levels of education as well, like certification from an accredited institution.

Accountant technicians help accountants by keeping their books in order.
They are responsible for maintaining the integrity of accounting records and files.
They have to know how to use various software programs like Excel, QuickBooks, and Quicken.
They must be able to communicate with clients about tax-related issues.
It is also vital that they maintain confidentiality when dealing with sensitive information.

Traits of a Good Accounting Technician

Not just anyone can be a good certified accounting technician. Accounting technicians must have the following traits:

Good Accounting Skills

Even though an accounting technician is not technically an accountant, they still must have accounting skills.

Accounting technicians must know how to read and understand financial statements, such as the balance sheet and income statement. Also, it’s often their responsibility to make sure that all of the accounting books are organized correctly so a proper accounting professional can review them later on down the line if necessary.

Organization

Accounting technicians must stay organized with all of the tasks they’ve been assigned so far because if they don’t, there is bound to be some hiccup along the way. The last thing an accounting technician wants to face is a customer coming back to them with a question about why they paid for something that was supposed to be free or vice versa.

An accounting technician is responsible for ensuring every customer is cared for and nothing falls through the cracks.

Strong Communication Skills

It is also crucial that an accounting technician has strong communication skills when working with clients who might have tax-related issues at any given moment in time. Communication could mean anything from speaking to their accounting team about the client’s account or even just being able to have a conversation with them as well.

An accounting technician will need strong communication skills because they are responsible for communicating and listening, and understanding both ends of the spectrum. They must understand what clients want out of their interactions with accounting technicians, so it makes sense why communication abilities should be developed over time.

Conclusion

Accounting technicians bring a lot to the table. They need skills like empathy, analytical thinking, and writing – but they also have one of the most important assets in their arsenal: financial acumen.

The knowledge that comes with being an accounting technician can help clients understand where their money is going and how it will be allocated for years to come. If you’re looking for your own accounting technician in Canada, be sure to check out our vetted accountants and find an accountant today.