Accounting technician : Salary and conditions

• Starting salaries for trainee accounting technicians are in the range of £15,000 - £22,000.
• Once qualified and with experience, an accounting technician may earn up to £32,000.
• Salaries vary according to the employer and sector of employment. There are regional variations with higher salaries in southern England, particularly London.
• Accounting technicians usually work standard office hours, although weekend work or overtime may be required at certain times of the year. Busy periods may occur when processing end-of-month accounts and at the beginning and end of the financial year.
• Work is mainly office-based. Work environment and conditions vary according to the employer.
• Some tasks at junior level may be repetitive.
• Self-employment is an increasingly popular option within this profession. It should be noted that self-employment brings its own pressures, including a lack of job security, and no holiday pay or company pension scheme, which may prove to be deterrents.
• Part-time work and career breaks are usually possible.
• Temporary and short-term contract work are possibilities.
• Jobs are available throughout the UK.
• Travel within a working day is more common for self-employed technicians making visits to clients. Absence from home overnight is not usually a feature of the work.
• The qualifications for accounting technicians, obtained through the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT)  or the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) , are recognised globally, which means that work abroad is a possibility.

Salary figures are intended as a guide only.