The Catlins Area School
Accounts Officer Kaituhi Kaute
Accounts officers are responsible for monitoring and managing financial accounts for their organisation.
Accounts officers may do some or all of the following:
- arrange payment of bills and accounts
- issue customer invoices
- follow up outstanding payments
- process and keep records of financial transactions
- account reconciliation
- handle general accounts queries
- provide support to a wider financial or accounting team.
Useful Experience
Useful experience for accounts officers includes:
- accounting
- financial processing
- payroll
- office administration.
Personal Qualities
Accounts officers need to be:
- able to adapt to new processes and systems
- accurate, with high attention to detail
- good at communicating
- proactive and show initiative
- well organised and have strong time management skills.
Skills
Accounts officers need to have:
- an understanding of basic accounting principles
- basic maths skills
- knowledge of computer and accounting software.
Conditions
Accounts officers:
- usually work regular hours, but may work weekends or evenings to meet deadlines
- work in offices, but may travel to visit clients.
Subject Recommendations
There are no specific secondary education requirements to become an accounts officer. However, NCEA Level 3 maths, accounting and digital technologies are useful.
Accounts Officers can earn around $48K-$82K per year.
Pay rates for accounts officers vary depending on the type of work they do.
- Accounts officers usually earn between minimum wage and $61,000 a year.
- Accounts payable officers usually earn between $48,000 and $80,000.
- Accounts receivable officers usually earn between $51,000 and $77,000.
- Bookkeepers usually earn between $56,000 and $82,000.
Source: Hays, 'FY 2020/21 Salary Guide', 2020.
Accounts officers may progress into payroll work or study to become an accountant.
Accounts officers may specialise in:
- accounts payable - organising the payment of invoices for an organisation
- accounts receivable - collecting and recording payments that come into an organisation.
Years Of Training
There are no specific requirements to become an accounts officer as you gain skills on the job. However, a business or accounting qualification may be useful.
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