what is a part-qualified accountant?

As a part-qualified accountant, you work alongside senior accountants and finance professionals to prepare accounts for businesses. You prepare the financial statements for companies, partnerships and sole traders. Aside from preparing financial records, you complete basic tax compliance work.

You can improve your skills and become a controller when working under a certified accountant's supervision. Since you work with various company stakeholders, you require business acumen to understand the company’s operations. Aside from preparing weekly, monthly and annual financial reports, you also make statutory reports. Your job is to ensure the company is tax compliant. That means you file the company's tax returns and the right taxes associated with the payroll. The role requires attentiveness to details to avoid making mistakes in the financial data. You require a good attitude to professional development to learn new accounting principles continually.

Would working as a part-qualified accountant suit your numerical skills? Then read on to find out what competencies and qualifications you need to thrive in a part-qualified accountant role.

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average part-qualified accountant salary

According to ONS, the average salary of a part-qualified accountant is £31,000 per year. When you join the field and have minimal experience, your earnings start at £27,500 yearly. As you improve your skills and experience, your earnings increase to over £40,000 annually.

how to increase your salary as a part-qualified accountant

As a part-qualified accountant, your compensation package depends on your experience. Since it is an entry-level role, you don’t require any experience to start working, but having prior experience in accounting gives you an added advantage. When you have some experience, you are likely to earn more than part-qualified accountants without experience.

The company you work for and your duties also influence your earnings as a part-qualified accountant. When you work for a big organisation, you perform complex tasks depending on the department. In a small start-up, a part-qualified accountant does bookkeeping and other clerical tasks. Multinational companies also have unlimited resources and higher salary scales based on the complexity of the role.

The location of the company can also influence your earnings. When you work in a large city, you are likely to earn more due to the high demand for part-qualified accountants to assist with accounting work.

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types of part-qualified accountants

As a part-qualified accountant, you can fill in the following positions in the company:

  • assistant accountant: as a part-qualified accountant, you take on ad hoc duties to assist other accountants in the company. For instance, you provide financial information to clients, like preparing invoices and handling budgetary issues. You also prepare monthly and annual reports to keep the financial statements up-to-date.
  • payroll administrator: as a part-qualified accountant, you can be assigned duties in human resources. As a payroll administrator, you use your knowledge to prepare monthly payroll and tax returns. You also ensure the statutory deductions are in order and the company complies with various regulations.
  • management accountant: as a part-qualified accountant, you assist the management accountant in preparing financial reports. You analyse accruals and prepayments and make balance sheet reconciliations. You also analyse the monthly revenue and expenses and ensure any balances are paid to suppliers.
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working as a part-qualified accountant

If you want to work as a part-qualified assistant, check out the role's duties, responsibilities and work environments.

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education and skills

You require educational qualifications to become a part-qualified accountant. You don't have to complete accounting certification from ACCA or CPA, but you need a background in accounting. For instance, complete a bachelor's degree in finance or accounting to acquire basic accounting knowledge. Since you also require certification from accounting bodies, it is important to pursue the qualifications. Unlike a qualified accountant, a part-qualified accountant is only expected to complete the first ACCA or CPA training level.

Aside from educational qualifications, learn the basics of using Microsoft Office and accounts packages. Work experience in accounts preparation and tax compliance also prepares you for the role.

part-qualified accountant skills and competencies

A part-qualified accountant requires technical and soft skills to excel in the role. Some of the qualities of a part-qualified accountant include:

  • attention to detail: as a part-qualified accountant, you require attention to detail to maintain accurate information. You handle huge amounts of financial data that require analysis. Any simple errors can cause problems. Your detail-oriented skills help you maintain organised accounts to avoid making costly mistakes.
  • communication skills: as a part-qualified accountant, you require good communication skills. Listening skills help you gather accurate facts and figures from clients or other stakeholders. Communication skills help you articulate the results of your work when presenting your findings. Written communication skills help you prepare accurate reports.
  • business acumen: as a part-qualified accountant, it is important to understand the basic operations of a business to analyse and interpret financial data accurately. When you have a solid foundation in business, you provide context to the financial information that accountants work on daily.
  • data analysis: as a part-qualified accountant, you rely on your analytical ability to interpret financial data. Your analytical skills help you identify patterns in financial information to determine trends that could impact company growth.
  • mathematics skills: as a part-qualified accountant, you should have exceptional numerical skills since you analyse numerical data. Your maths skills help you calculate financial information, compare figures and complete balance sheet reconciliation.
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FAQs about working as a part-qualified accountant

Here, you will find the answers to the most frequently asked questions about the profession of a part-qualified accountant.

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