Accounting Technician Job Description, Duties & Skills

Anyone interested in a career in accounting and finance may have questions relating to the role of a qualified accounting technician, the key skills required, the job opportunities available and in particular, the potential job titles a qualified accounting technician can obtain. Oftentimes, businesses will advertise job positions for “Payroll Manager” or “Accounts Assistant”, rather than “Accounting Technician”. Qualified accounting technicians can fill these roles and many more as you’ll read further on.

The aim of this short piece is to answer those questions above and give you, the reader, some more information on the accounting technician qualification. 

Accounting Technician Job Description

Accounting technicians execute tasks in areas of accountancy, finance and taxation to fortify the work of accountants.

Accounting Technician Work Duties / Responsibilities

• Performing administrative tasks such as arranging payroll and administering payments for invoices.
• Book-keeping tasks.
• Operating software packages to record and retrieve information, particularly spreadsheets.
• Monitoring company/department financial transactions and controlling budgets.
• Preparing accounts, budgets, reports and financial statements for clientele.
• Auditing internal and external accounts and generating end of year calculations.
• Making sure the organisation is compliant with current taxation legislation.

Accounting Technician Qualifications / Requirements

Typically an accounting technician qualification is required to enter this field of work. Accounting Technicians Ireland provide qualifications designed specifically for the profession and can be undertaken from post second level education. Relevant work experience alongside a qualification will aid applications and increase job prospects.

Accounting Technician Key Skills

• A thorough, logical approach.
• Strong mathematical skills.
• Dynamic problem-solving skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and communicative skills.
• Strong commercial sense.
• Competent IT skills, particularly in the use of spreadsheets.
• Highly self-motivated.
• Team player.
• An understanding of industry practices gained through work experience may be helpful.

Accounting Technician Employers

Accounting Technicians work in the public and private sector, industry and commerce, private accountancy practices, and family businesses.
These include:

• National Public Service Bodies 
• Global Professional and Financial Services including the “Big Four”
• Large and Family-owned Accounting and Solicitors Firms 
• FMCG Companies
• Construction and Engineering Firms 
• Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Groups    

Accounting Technician Related Job Titles

• Payroll Manager
• Accounts Assistant
• Audit Associate
• Financial Assistant
• General Ledger Accountant

January 2024 Prospectus