How To Become An Accounting Administrator: What It Is and Career Path

What is an accounting administrator and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Hollis Skaife Ph.D.

A company's accounting department may be one of its busiest departments. They handle all things related to finance, such as cash flow tracking, managing payables, handling receivables, and even procurement. This is why accounting departments usually have strong leaders; they ensure that the whole team is working well and can submit their deliverables on time. As such, having an accounting administrator is important in a company.

Accounting administrators oversee the accounting activities of the company. They are involved in the planning of finance-related matters. They handle transactions and ensure that their company follows government regulations. Accounting administrators are also mindful of deadlines, given how important timely payments are in the business world. They may also manage team members and train them to ensure that they are at par with company expectations.

Being an accounting administrator is a big responsibility. If you enjoy doing accounting activities and are up to the challenge, this role is perfect for you.

What general advice would you give to an accounting administrator?

Hollis Skaife Ph.D.

Professor of Accounting, UC-Davis

We are fortunate that the vast majority of accounting firms are honoring their employment offers, so our Master's of Professional Accountancy (MPAc) students will have jobs upon graduation. But the start date for many has been delayed. In the past, MPAc graduates juggled starting their jobs and studying for the CPA exam. With the delayed start date, it makes sense that MPAc graduates will use the time to study and successfully complete the CPA exam, so when they do report to work they will be better prepared to focus on their clients.

ScoreAccounting AdministratorUS Average

Salary

3.8

Avg. Salary $48,068

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

6.0

Growth rate -5%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

2.7

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.63%

Asian 6.49%

Black or African American 6.69%

Hispanic or Latino 14.23%

Unknown 3.96%

White 68.01%

Gender

female 83.08%

male 16.92%

Age - 53

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 53

Stress level

6.0

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

6.4

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance

7.3

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become an accounting administrator

Explore accounting administrator education requirements

Most common accounting administrator degrees

Bachelor's

53.5 %

Associate

25.7 %

High School Diploma

7.1 %

Start to develop specific accounting administrator skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Service	13.24%
Data Entry	9.28%
Reconciliations	6.56%
Purchase Orders	5.63%
Journal Entries	4.59%

Complete relevant accounting administrator training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New accounting administrators learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an accounting administrator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real accounting administrator resumes.

Research accounting administrator duties and responsibilities

Manage cash flow; online banking, initiates ACH transactions, deposits and transfer of funds.
Manage revenue ledger including other subsidiary ledgers and responsible for the reconciliation of various income accounts to ensure accuracy of postings.
Monitor and resolve accounts overdue, return ACH and collection calls.
Import time into the ADP batch and process any expenses or miscellaneous reimbursements.

Prepare your accounting administrator resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your accounting administrator resume.

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