How to hire an account associate

How to hire an account associate, step by step

Here's a step-by-step account associate hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an account associate job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new account associate
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an account associate do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your account associate job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find an account associate for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them an account associate to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire an account associate that fits the bill.

   The following list breaks down different types of account associates and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Account Associate	Description	Hourly rate
   Account Associate	Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks produce financial records for organizations. They record financial transactions, update statements, and check financial records for accuracy.	$16-32
   Bookkeeper	Bookkeepers are employees who are in charge of the company's general ledger. They are well-versed in basic accounting principles, and they apply these in their work... Show more	$14-25
   Corporate Accountant	A corporate accountant is a professional who prepares financial statements and maintains financial records of an organization to ensure that they comply with laws, regulations, and the organization's policies. Corporate accountants are required to analyze financial statements to help executives make financial decisions for the organization... Show more	$22-42

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • Work Ethic
   • Develop Leads
   • Patients
   • Account Management
   • PowerPoint
   • Reconciliations
   • Data Entry
   • Payroll
   • Client Facing
   • Account Reconciliations
   • Client Accounts
   • GAAP
   • Facebook

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage corporate Google+ and Instagram accounts.
   • Input and manage the company CRM system.
   • Utilize LinkedIn, Google search to identify B2B decision-makers and generate warm leads.
   • Install network software, create company inventory, and manage financial records in QuickBooks, and act as secretary
   • Manage social media accounts and advertise the soir e events through email and Instagram resulting in increase in follower count.
   • Manage data, creative, premium and POS fulfillment, follow-up telemarketing to dealers and legal requirements for group dealer programs.

   More account associate duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your account associate job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. An account associate can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, account associates' average salary in west virginia is 44% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level account associates 48% less than senior-level account associates.
   • Certifications. An account associate with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in an account associate's salary.

   Average account associate salary

   $48,927yearly

   $23.52 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level account associate salary

   $35,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 24, 2025

   Average account associate salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$63,841	$31
   2	New York	$59,095	$28
   3	New Jersey	$56,167	$27
   4	Massachusetts	$55,483	$27
   5	District of Columbia	$54,429	$26
   6	Delaware	$51,224	$25
   7	Maryland	$50,782	$24
   8	Washington	$50,048	$24
   9	Pennsylvania	$49,715	$24
   10	Texas	$49,683	$24
   11	Illinois	$48,388	$23
   12	Oregon	$46,667	$22
   13	Arizona	$45,948	$22
   14	Michigan	$45,937	$22
   15	Colorado	$44,125	$21
   16	Florida	$44,090	$21
   17	Georgia	$43,974	$21
   18	Tennessee	$43,727	$21
   19	North Carolina	$43,635	$21
   20	Oklahoma	$43,258	$21

   Average account associate salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Pacific Investment Management Company LLC	$76,709	$36.88	12
   2	Northern Trust	$76,632	$36.84
   3	New Relic	$71,047	$34.16
   4	Lord Abbett	$69,188	$33.26	1
   5	Capital Group	$67,013	$32.22
   6	Hilti	$63,617	$30.59	14
   7	TIBCO Software	$63,589	$30.57
   8	Prudential Bank	$62,944	$30.26	2
   9	Ernst & Young	$62,376	$29.99	34
   10	Novo Nordisk	$61,988	$29.80
   11	Google	$60,758	$29.21	5
   12	E. & J. Gallo Winery	$59,369	$28.54	3
   13	CF Industries	$59,291	$28.51	4
   14	Meltwater	$57,386	$27.59	4
   15	First Republic Bank	$55,495	$26.68
   16	JPMorgan Chase & Co.	$55,305	$26.59	29
   17	AMETEK	$55,187	$26.53	3
   18	PepsiCo	$55,095	$26.49
   19	Richmond American Homes	$55,013	$26.45
   20	American Century Investments	$54,922	$26.40

4. Writing an account associate job description

   A good account associate job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of an account associate job description:

   Account associate job description example

   Job DescriptionSystems Innovation specializes in the permanent installation of world-class AV systems. Our markets include Higher Education Facilities, Religious Institutions, Government, Corporate Boardrooms & Event Spaces, and Experiential and Immersive Environments that include the use of Premium Audio, LED Display Environments, Projection, Theatrical Lighting, and Intelligent Programmed/Automated Control.
   
   "At Systems Innovation, we are building relationships and delivering extraordinary experiences through technology and imagination.”– Les M. Goldberg, CEO/Founder
   Systems Innovation is searching for Account Associate in Orlando.
   
   As an Account Associate you will provide support to the Sales team ensuring all elements of the sales process are organized, accurate, and timely. You will perform functions in association with Account Executives to facilitate the execution of contracts for the sale and installation of audiovisual equipment and the provision of technical services.
   
   A typical day may include, but is not limited to: Assist Account Executives with their customers, sales, projects, bids, and reports. Prepare and enter formal customer quotes, proposals and/or service contracts in applicable software to include the cost of equipment, materials, shipping or freight, labor including in-shop, field installation, engineering and travel cost estimates. Coordinate with Project Coordinators and ensure data is entered accurately into the applicable software. Assist in researching pricing and availability of products. Upon confirmation of all contracts, request purchasing department to order. Follow up with purchasing as needed. Maintain status of open orders and follow up with Account Executive, Project Coordinator, vendor, or customer as needed. Review/compile expense reports, materials worksheets, and check for accuracy. Enter into software for inclusion on costing report. Respond to any customer or vendor issues as they occur and try to resolve as best as possible along with Account Executive involvement, if necessary. Coordinate with Technical Staff, Account Executive and/or Customer for scheduling site visits, meetings and/or installations, recording the dates and times in the appropriate manner. Work with Accounting Department for deposits, invoices, and open billings. Complete Pre-qualification applications as needed. Respond to customer inquiries. Maintain continuous contact, when requested by Account Executive, with client representative to receive and respond to inquiries and complete confirmation process. Communicate with customer about company billing policy, ensure receipt of signed quotation once confirmed, and follow up on all deposit payment requests with customer, Account Executive, and Accounting department. All other duties as assigned.
   To be a successful Account Associate, you should have the following: Administrative Experience. Understanding of sales process.
   If you are eager to work with cutting edge technology, enjoy a fast-paced work environment, and are ready to take your career Beyond Technology, join our team!
   
   Systems Innovation takes pride in offering a comprehensive and competitive employee benefits program. For full time employees, System Innovation provides:
   
   Paid Time Off starting at 12 days, 8 Holidays, Jury Duty Pay and Bereavement Time. Through our benefit partners, we offer medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance coverage. We also have a flexible spending account and a 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan.
   
   Systems Innovation is a Tobacco-Free and Drug Free Organization and an Equal Opportunity Employer.
   
   Entertainment Technology Partners or any of its subsidiaries are not accepting unsolicited assistance from search firms for this employment opportunity. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at Entertainment Technology Partners or any of its subsidiaries via-email, the Internet or in any form and/or method without a valid written Statement of Work in place for this position from ETP Human Resources will be deemed the sole property of Entertainment Technology Partners. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by Entertainment Technology Partners or any of its subsidiaries as a result of the referral or through other means.
   
   About Entertainment Technology Partners:
   
   Entertainment Technology Partners, LLC is the parent to a collection of exceptional brands in the live event, broadcast, and entertainment technology services industry. A dynamic collection of like-minded businesses with a global reach, ETP is focused on building strong relationships and delivering high-quality experiences through technology, customer service, and imagination.Visit us at www.etp.net

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5. Post your job

   To find the right account associate for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with account associates they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit account associates who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your account associate job on Zippia to find and recruit account associate candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as efinancialcareers, financialjobsweb.com, careerbank, financial job bank.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit account associates, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new account associate

   Once you've selected the best account associate candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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