Attention, job seekers! Are you interested in the best way to secure entry-level accounting positions? Then this post is for you.
We’ll explore what hiring managers are looking for, what a good starting salary would be, what kind of experience you need (or don’t necessarily need), and who is hiring accountants right now.
As a CPA firm with multiple locations across West Tennessee that has been in business for over 40 years, we’ve seen a thing or two. We’ll do our best here to help guide you through getting ready for an entry-level accounting position. (But it’s tough to replace the value of a good one-on-one conversation…so when you’re done reading, schedule a call with any questions you have.)
We look forward to seeing where accounting takes you!
Entry-Level Accounting Positions
When people think about accounting careers, they automatically picture the CPA running their own firm, a CFO, a finance manager, or some type of corporate accounting manager. Those are great “top of the ladder” positions to work towards, but the reality is that everyone has to start somewhere. The goal is to start in the best way possible.
Entry-level accounting positions are designed so people can get their foot in the door, gain valuable experience, and begin working toward their dream accounting careers. They are also a great way to decide which specific areas of accounting you might want to focus on.
(We recently did another post on “How to Land Your First Entry-Level Accounting Job” which is worth a read if you are ready to start an accounting career.)
So what kinds of jobs are available? Here are the top entry-level jobs in accounting according to Accounting.com. Depending on the particular company you work for, many of these roles could end up overlapping. It’s not unusual for entry-level accountants to wear many hats.
- Bookkeeper – records transactions, pays invoices, generates financial reports
- Accounts Payable Specialist – makes sure bills are paid
- Accounts Receivable Clerk – makes sure invoices are sent out
- Auditing Clerk – ensures financial entries and documents are accurate
- Payroll Administrator – manages employment records and ensures paychecks are sent out accurately and on time
- Assistant Controller – produces and analyzes reports to help business owners make better decisions
Jobs With An Accounting Degree
Accounting isn’t the only thing you can do with an accounting degree, by the way. While most accounting graduates start in one of the entry-level positions we just listed, there are other paths your career could take beyond what you might assume.
An accounting degree can certainly land you a job as a bookkeeper, staff accountant, or auditor. However, did you know it can also help you become a
- Budget Analyst? – You’d be helping companies and nonprofit organizations maximize their money by looking at their budgets from an outsider’s perspective and developing proposals for additional funding.
- Personal Financial Advisor? – If working for a large corporate accounting firm isn’t your thing, you might enjoy helping people one-on-one by guiding them through all the different ways of investing their wealth to achieve better growth.
- Sales Manager? – Companies across every industry want people who are good with numbers that can help them sell more products and services. You could use your skills to help analyze existing sales patterns, set new goals, and train other sales reps.
These are just a few jobs that Forbes recently highlighted in an article titled “What Can You Do With An Accounting Degree?” Check it out for more details.
What Is A Good Accounting Starting Salary?
We realize that while planning for the future is a worthy goal, if you’re looking for an entry-level accounting position you’ve got bills to pay today. And the big question on every accounting graduate’s mind is “How much money can I expect to make?”
Here are some numbers to help you know what a good accounting starting salary would be. (Disclaimer: A lot of it depends on where you live, your level of experience, and what size company you work for. So keep that in mind.)
- In Tennessee, where our firm has 6 locations, the average annual starting salary is a little over $46,000 (according to Ziprecruiter.com).
What Are Hiring Managers Looking For?
The figures will not matter if you can’t get that entry-level accounting job in the first place, though. So let’s take a look at what hiring managers are looking for to give you the best shot possible and help you land a position that sets you up for success.
Every job and every hiring manager is different. There is no formula that you can apply to win an interview every single time. However, there are some basic principles you can use to better understand what the employer needs. Then, you can market yourself (since that’s what you’re doing with a job application and interview) in a way that makes hiring managers say, “Yes! We found the perfect fit!”
Flexjobs.com has a good post explaining 8 ways to find out what a hiring manager is looking for. Here are a few:
- Research the company. By becoming knowledgeable about the company, you signal that you are not “just another applicant.” When you can communicate how you align with the company’s mission and values, you set yourself apart.
- Read the job description. We know…you already did that. But how carefully did you read it? Study it to see what keywords and phrases they emphasize. Use those to show how you are the solution to their problem.
- Pay attention to their questions. If you get to the interview stage, take note of the tone the hiring manager sets and the types of questions they ask. Do things seem formal and scripted? Or casual and conversational? This can tell you a lot about what they’re looking for and what they would expect from you.
- Ask lots of questions. Remember, they’re auditioning for you as much as you are for them. By asking lots of questions, you communicate genuine educated interest in the company. Be sure to weave them in throughout the interview as conversationally as possible, but save a couple for the end where they always ask if you have any questions.
You can be sure that regardless of where you apply for your first entry-level accounting job, you’ll be meeting with someone who is looking for a bright, competent individual who others are going to want to be around. Anytime you can present yourself that way, you stand a much better chance of getting hired.
Advice From Accountants With Lots of Experience
Over the past 4 decades, our firm has worked with lots of great accountants as they’ve worked in entry-level accounting positions. And we’ve enjoyed watching as they gain experience and work their way up into more and more fulfilling roles. We’re always on the lookout for great accounting talent, but even if we aren’t able to bring you on with our firm we’d love the opportunity to help you find the perfect place to put your skills to work. Schedule a call with our team if you’d like some one-on-one help in getting started on your way to success.
