The image of the boring accountant, hunched over a computer is one you should banish from your mind. It’s more than Excel spreadsheets – people working in accountancy develop skills in recording, summarizing, classifying and interpreting as well as communicating financial information.
If this sector of a business is not managed and performed well, it could spell disaster for the company. Becoming a chartered accountant is not the only thing those with a flair for numbers and all things financial can do, the field has many levels and rungs which people can fit into. For people who have a passion for accountancy but find that they don’t have the educational background to study towards a Bachelor of Commerce, the Association for Accounting Technicians (AAT) qualification may be a way to get their foot in the door.
“On a typical day, an Accounting Technician would process and pay invoices, record receipts and payments, prepare and check ledger balances and other monthly accounts, complete and submit tax returns, VAT returns and employee contributions, handle company expenses and update computerised accounting systems,” explains AAT communications officer, Nadine Kater.
On a typical day, an Accounting Technician would process and pay invoices, record receipts and payments, prepare and check ledger balances and other monthly accounts, complete and submit tax returns, VAT returns and employee contributions, handle company expenses and update computerised accounting systems,”
There are colleges that offer competitive accounting courses which will teach you basic accounting skills, principles of costing, financial statements, and computerised accounting software. Getting these skills under your hat will mean you’re well on your way towards becoming a financial whiz.
Completing either a Certificate or Diploma in Accounting opens doors to becoming an accounting technician, where you go into financial accounting, bookkeeping and business advisory/ financial services. It will also give you a firm grasp of how financial management fits in with marketing and the legal framework. Kater mentions that technician qualifications can and often are used as a stepping stone to a higher qualifications.
It’s an open secret that accountancy is the backbone of every business and you can work in any industry. Skilled people in this field will always be in high demand. If numbers are your thing, have a look at INTEC’s website to see what your options are.
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