Do Accountants have assistants?
Christopher Davis
Updated on February 06, 2026
An Accounting Assistant, or Staff Accounting Assistant, is responsible for assisting Accountants with basic bookkeeping and accounting tasks. Their duties include reconciling bank records, drafting financial documents and invoicing customers or collecting payments.
What do you need to be an accounting assistant?
For an entry-level position, a high school diploma or GED is a minimum requirement. An Associate Degree or Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting or Finance or an accounting assistant certificate from an accredited college would also be beneficial.
What is an assistant accountant role?
An Assistant Accountant supports senior Accountants and the wider finance team by processing payments and invoices, preparing financial statements, budgets and accounts.
How much do Assistant Accountants earn?
Assistant accountant salary opportunities An assistant accountant average starting salary is £21,000 and can reach £28,000 with the right experience on their CV. For the best-earning potential, professionals should seek accountancy jobs London (£30,240), Nottingham (£19,740) and Bristol (£21,420).
Is being an accounting assistant hard?
Becoming an accounting assistant is fairly easy, and the minimal requirements are simple to fulfill. At the same time, most firms require the same educational requirements as for full accountants.
Do you need a degree to be an accounting assistant?
Although not required, most accounting assistants have some college education, especially coursework in accounting or business math. However, some employers will hire candidates with only a high school diploma. Some employers prefer to hire candidates with an associate or bachelor’s degree in accounting or business.
What is the difference between accounting assistant and accounting clerk?
Accounting assistants often do everything that an accounting clerk may do, plus more. Depending on the size of the organization they work for, a clerk may be singularly responsible for one account or be responsible for a wide variety of accounts. Typically, assistants also have more administrative duties than clerks.
What is the difference between a bookkeeper and an accounting assistant?
There’s a difference in the size of company where these professionals work; bookkeepers tend to work in smaller companies and take on a larger role than accounting clerks who often perform a more specialized role. Bookkeepers, however, sometimes travel to clients.
What are the requirements for an accounting assistant?
Accounting Assistant Requirements: Associate’s degree in related field with work experience. More education, experience, or additional certifications and licenses may be required. Proficiency with computers and bookkeeping software, strong typing skills. Exceptional time management and verbal and written communication skills.
Why do I need an accountant for my business?
An accountant can help you with data management, financial analysis, the generation of financial reports and can also ensure that your company meets regulatory compliance with its accounting practices. For a full breakdown of an accountant’s duties, please consult “What is the Difference Between Bookkeeping and Accounting”.
What kind of degree do you need to become an accountant?
An associate degree in accounting prepares students for entry-level positions, while a bachelor’s in accounting or business can lead to more advanced clerical positions. Additional master’s-level coursework can prepare learners for certified accountant exams.
What kind of computer skills do you need to be an accountant?
Accounting jobs often require knowledge of a variety of computer programs and systems. For example, an accountant might need to use finance-related software systems (like QuickBooks), a bookkeeper might need advanced Excel skills, or an auditor might need to know certain data modeling programs.