5 Great Entry Level Jobs for Someone with an Associate’s Degree in Accounting
- Account Clerk
- Assistant Auditor
- Tax Assistant
- Payroll Assistant
- Assistant Banker
Applying for one or more of these 5 entry level jobs for a graduate with an associate degree in accounting can be the first step on the path to a lucrative career. The purpose of any entry level job is to give you a chance to sample the work done in an occupation. Check out the details on these 5 entry level occupations.
Account Clerk
Account clerks work for businesses and companies of all types. Some job responsibilities include:
- creating balance sheets
- keeping track of costs and income
- checking financial documents for accuracy
This professional needs to know how to use software designed for organizing the accounts in a business. The ability to focus on detail, persistence and skill at finding small errors are all assets for a person in this job. Normally, an account clerk works regular, weekday business hours. A large corporation may hire dozens of account clerks while a small, independently owned business may employ one or two.
Assistant Auditor
This person helps create a plan for auditing the financial operations of a business. This professional helps to determine which areas of a business to focus on. It could be a single department of a company or an entire company depending on the span of the project. An assistant auditor is given various tasks by the head auditor. Some tasks include:
- examining financial records for the necessary data
- organizing files
- looking for discrepancies in financial documents
The lessons learned while earning a degree in accounts can prove valuable in this entry level job.
Tax Assistant
This entry level job involves:
- checking completed tax returns for errors
- helping clients with questions and concerns about tax forms
- organizing tax information
- filing returns and more
Knowing how to use computer software for filing taxes is a plus in this job. Companies need tax assistants year-round, but most of these positions open up just before tax season. Attention to detail, accuracy and the ability to communicate with clients are all skills required for this job. A college graduate with an associate’s degree in accounting is more than prepared for the duties required of a tax assistant.
Payroll Assistant
Preparing the monthly payroll, examining it for accuracy, inputting data and paying employees on time are all responsibilities of a payroll assistant. This type of professional works in a variety of places including:
- offices
- stores
- small businesses
- large companies
Any place that has employees needs someone who organizes and manages the payroll. Another part of this entry level job is preparing reports on payroll that include:
- dates
- names of employees
- pay rates
- taxes
Answering the questions of employees regarding paychecks and making adjustments when necessary are two other tasks of this busy professional.
Assistant Banker
An assistant banker is responsible for:
- helping with currency transactions
- monitoring daily transactions for suspicious activity
- organizing transactions and answering customer questions
An assistant banker helps to settle accounts at the end of the bank’s business day. If there is a problem with a transaction, the assistant banker pitches in to solve the problem. This entry level job allows you the opportunity to explore other occupations available in a bank such as:
- loan officer
- financial manager
- financial analyst
Starting to work as a bank assistant gives you experience with the fundamentals of how a bank operates.
Applying for work in different industries can help you determine where you’d like to pursue a career. One of these 5 entry level jobs for a graduate with an associate’s degree in accounting can be a good place to begin.
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