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

What is an accounting systems analyst and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Dr. Wayne Durr

An accounting systems analyst prepares financial reports. They make financial statements and compile them together with other documents like general and subsidiary ledgers. Organizing schedules are also part of their work. They should ensure accountability and transparency, keeping comprehensive records and files.

More than half of the accounting systems analyst population have finished their bachelor's degree, but one can still be an accounting systems analyst with a GED or a high school degree. However, if they want to increase their chances, they can pursue a bachelor's degree and even a master's degree.

If one wants to succeed as an accounting systems analyst, they should have strong critical-thinking and analytical skills. Some companies also look for working experiences with accounting or financial systems.

When it comes to salary of an accounting systems analyst, it can vary depending on the location. On average, in the US, the salary is said to be $70,899 per year.

What general advice would you give to an accounting systems analyst?

Dr. Wayne Durr

Finance Professor, Stonehill College

Maximizing your salary potential starts with understanding your value. What skills and
capabilities can you articulate to a prospective employer? The ability to articulate these skills
and what you bring to that company can be challenging. Think of your resume like an artist
thinks of their portfolio. What projects or analysis have you worked on? You cannot articulate
the value you will bring to that prospective company without the ability to articulate your skills
and capabilities. Do your research to determine what other employers pay people with the

same abilities. Ask employers what the salary range is and use that as your baseline. As you
get close to graduating, your classmates talk about the job offers they receive and most likely
share the salaries they are being offered. Listen and use this as a baseline. All this gives you
an idea of your value. Your first job isn't always the place where you'll be able to maximize your
earning potential. Think of your first job as where you will get the work experience to maximize
your future earning potential. Look at this as the place where you will sharpen your skills and
develop new ones. This first job will be where you fill out your resume and either have an
opportunity to maximize your earning potential there or elsewhere in the future.
Additionally, think about passive income and the "side gig". If you don't feel like you're
maximizing your earning potential at that first job, think about how you can make money on the
side. I believe we now live in a society where truly maximizing your earning potential comes
from more than your current employer. The ability to earn money from a side gig is more
prevalent than ever before. I think every student should take an entrepreneur class. Think
about your skills, which one could make you some side money. Don't dismiss jobs you did
growing up, like delivery service, landscaping, etc. There are so many apps and websites that
people and companies are looking for anything from an hour to a couple of days worth of work.
Take that first six months on the job to get settled in, and then start thinking about that side gig.

ScoreAccounting Systems AnalystUS Average

Salary

5.6

Avg. Salary $71,946

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

5.3

Growth rate 9%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.19%

Asian 14.49%

Black or African American 10.46%

Hispanic or Latino 11.19%

Unknown 5.02%

White 58.65%

Gender

female 52.38%

male 47.62%

Age - 42

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 - 42

Stress level

5.3

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.3

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

4.8

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become an accounting systems analyst

Explore accounting systems analyst education requirements

Most common accounting systems analyst degrees

Bachelor's

70.6 %

Master's

17.6 %

Associate

10.2 %

Start to develop specific accounting systems analyst skills

Skills	Percentages
Hyperion	15.16%
Process Improvement	7.81%
Financial Systems	6.18%
Financial Reports	5.14%
Financial Data	4.96%

Complete relevant accounting systems analyst training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New accounting systems analysts 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 systems analyst based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real accounting systems analyst resumes.

Research accounting systems analyst duties and responsibilities

Manage human resources, payroll, customer ordering, and inside sales.
Manage business requirements gathering for functionality development and interface definition from the legacy systems to the CRM and SA management applications.
Work on a team to improve the month end close process by more effectively utilizing the ERP system.
Experience with database querying and VBA macros.

Prepare your accounting systems analyst resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your accounting systems analyst 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 systems analyst resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

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