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What is an accounting and administrative assistant and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted expert
Jodi Olson

The accounting administrative assistant is responsible for handling administrative and accounting duties for the management. He/She is responsible for helping process documents, manage accounts, and calculate rates paid for purchases and all price extensions. He/She also helps to retrieve system reports and enters and updates accounting data from an automated system. An accounting administrative assistant endorses warrants or money orders, prepares account deposit tickets, and deposits money as directed. He/She also reviews online transactions for changes, accuracy, and correct errors.

An accounting administrative assistant needs administrative writing skills, good reporting skills, proficiency in Microsoft office. He/She must also be professional when handling any office-related matter and solve problems with ease. The minimum education required for an accounting administrative assistant position is an associate degree in accounting and other relevant courses. An accounting administrative assistant earns an average of $36,925 per year.

What's a day at work look like for an accounting and administrative assistant?

Jodi OlsonJodi Olson LinkedIn profile

Assistant Accounting Professor, Winona State University

Graduates could see a range of possibilities from working entirely remotely to fully on-site with precautions in place, based on recent graduate and internship experiences we have seen during the pandemic. Except for a very few internships cut short or cancelled immediately at the onset of the pandemic as the profession adapted to unknowns and putting safety measures in place, we have not seen a significant change in the demand for interns or graduates. Some new graduates expect their first day on the jobs to be remote and feel ready to meet that challenge being familiar with the technology required to be productive and communicate virtually. It has become an assumption that precautions are in place, regardless of the remote or in-person setting. It seems that both graduates and employers are working hard together to achieve success, both with caution and the usual high professional standards.
ScoreAccounting And Administrative AssistantUS Average
Salary
3.0

Avg. Salary $38,192

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
6.0

Growth rate -8%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
3.1
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.73%

Asian 3.85%

Black or African American 9.41%

Hispanic or Latino 16.46%

Unknown 3.88%

White 65.67%

Gender

female 90.03%

male 9.97%

Age - 52
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 - 52
Stress level
6.0

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
4.4

Complexity level is basic

7 - challenging

Work life balance
7.6

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Accounting and administrative assistant career paths

Key steps to become an accounting and administrative assistant

  1. Explore accounting and administrative assistant education requirements

    Most common accounting and administrative assistant degrees

    Bachelor's

    48.4 %

    Associate

    29.1 %

    High School Diploma

    10.7 %
  2. Start to develop specific accounting and administrative assistant skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Data Entry11.57%
    Customer Service7.76%
    Financial Statements7.12%
    Purchase Orders6.20%
    Vendor Invoices4.15%
  3. Complete relevant accounting and administrative assistant training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New accounting and administrative assistants 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 and administrative assistant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real accounting and administrative assistant resumes.
  4. Gain additional accounting and administrative assistant certifications

    Accounting and administrative assistant certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific accounting and administrative assistant certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for accounting and administrative assistants include Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and Medical Assistant.

    More About Certifications
  5. Research accounting and administrative assistant duties and responsibilities

    • Manage revenue ledger including other subsidiary ledgers and responsible for the reconciliation of various income accounts to ensure accuracy of postings.
    • Upload participant and employer contributions after each payroll run, prepare ACH wire for funds and reconcile payroll.
    • Maintain a cash balance report consisting of current bank account activity, business checking balance and upcoming ACH withdrawal transactions.
    • Create numerous PowerPoint presentations for internal and external presentations.
  6. Prepare your accounting and administrative assistant resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your accounting and administrative assistant resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an accounting and administrative assistant resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable accounting and administrative assistant resume templates

    Build a professional accounting and administrative assistant resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your accounting and administrative assistant resume.
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    Accounting And Administrative Assistant Resume
  7. Apply for accounting and administrative assistant jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for an accounting and administrative assistant job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first accounting and administrative assistant job

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Average accounting and administrative assistant salary

The average accounting and administrative assistant salary in the United States is $38,192 per year or $18 per hour. Accounting and administrative assistant salaries range between $29,000 and $48,000 per year.

Average accounting and administrative assistant salary
$38,192 Yearly
$18.36 hourly

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How do accounting and administrative assistants rate their job?

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Accounting and administrative assistant reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2022
Pros

Writing a message,Organizing receipts and expenses and sending them out when needed

Cons

Failure to comply with working hours, theft and fraud,


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A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2022
Pros

Helping companies grow their business.

Cons

Working with companies that do not follow the GAAP guidelines.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2020
Pros

It my passion to help people in need. It makes me feel good to see people the Youth do well in the life

Cons

I don't like to see anyone stuck in between and not being helped.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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