Accounting technician : Employers and vacancy sources

Accounting technicians work in a variety of organisations throughout all sectors of business, industry and commerce. Many begin their training in firms of chartered or certified accountants. It may be possible to move employers during training. Employers often ask for either part or fully qualified accounting technicians.

Typical employers include:

• banks and building societies;
• accounting firms;
• charities;
• educational institutions;
• local government;
• health authorities;
• insurance companies;
• manufacturers;
• the media;
• public utilities;
• retail companies;
• service industries;
• small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), where you may be the only qualified member of accounting staff.

Alternatively, there is the option to become self-employed. The number of members of the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT)  who work on a freelance basis is increasing. Freelance accounting technicians provide specialist services to a range of businesses.

Sources of vacancies

• Search graduate jobs on this site.
• Accountancy Age  
• Accounting Web  
• eFinancialCareers  
• Financial Skills Partnership   
• GAAP Web    
• Guardian Jobs  

Professional bodies may also provide useful links to vacancy websites. Some produce monthly magazines that provide useful sector information and vacancies.

Specialist recruitment agencies handle temporary and permanent vacancies. See the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC)  website for details of relevant agencies.

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