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Accounting technician skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
5 min read
Quoted experts
Curtis Nicholls Ph.D.,
Frank Longo
Accounting technician example skills
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical accounting technician skills. We ranked the top skills for accounting technicians based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 11.6% of accounting technician resumes contained customer service as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills an accounting technician needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 accounting technician skills for your resume and career

1. Customer Service

Customer service is the process of offering assistance to all the current and potential customers -- answering questions, fixing problems, and providing excellent service. The main goal of customer service is to build a strong relationship with the customers so that they keep coming back for more business.

Here's how accounting technicians use customer service:
  • Perform customer service duties by answering telephonic call and directing correspondence and questions to the appropriate individuals, divisions and/or departments.
  • Received customer service certificate, teamwork recognition letter, and letter of appreciation from Commanding Officer for volunteer services.

2. Financial Reports

Here's how accounting technicians use financial reports:
  • Prepared and reconciled financial reports and documents for oil and gas industry manufacturer; performed quality control and instigated corrective actions.
  • Maintained automated record of status of obligations and expenditures and provided input for financial reports to Chief Financial Manager.

3. Payroll

Payroll is the sum of all the compensation that an organization has to pay to employees at a specified time. Payroll is managed by the finance or HR department while small business owners may handle it themselves. Payroll isn't fixed as it varies every month due to sick leaves, overtime, etc.

Here's how accounting technicians use payroll:
  • Monitored and managed timekeeping duty for 16 employees, ensuring accurate and consistent accountability of work-hours and leave-hours for payroll administration.
  • Performed Payroll auditing process to ensure accuracy, compliance, overall balancing and reconciliation.

4. Purchase Orders

Here's how accounting technicians use purchase orders:
  • Processed vendor invoices including verifying and/or obtaining payment approval, matching purchase orders and receiving reports, and addressing exceptions.
  • Received purchase orders, travel authorizations and other source documents for obligation first verifying documents for accuracy and proper coding.

5. Data Entry

Data entry means entering data into a company's system with the help of a keyboard. A person responsible for entering data may also be asked to verify the authenticity of the data being entered. A person doing data entry must pay great attention to tiny details.

Here's how accounting technicians use data entry:
  • Perform data entry accurately and efficiently into appropriate data systems; make accurate arithmetic calculations and maintain accurate records and files.
  • Performed coding and data entry of health insurance enrollment forms, verified eligibility, assigned medical providers to members.

6. Reconciliations

Here's how accounting technicians use reconciliations:
  • Executed reconciliations of balance sheet accounts and cross-organization accounts within Abbott, including headcount reporting information between Document Direct and SAP.
  • Conducted contract reconciliations by preparing extensive analysis and audit summaries to substantiate accounting and other database information as required.

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7. Journal Entries

Journal entries can be defined as an act of keeping or making records of any transactions either economic or non-economic. The journal entries are made in the accounting systems of an organization. The entries are filled with two main fields; debit and credit. The debit and credit must be equal at the end of a journal entry else it is not considered correct. The journal entries also keep the date of transactions and the names of the accounts that were affected by the transactions.

Here's how accounting technicians use journal entries:
  • Analyzed and approved monthly journal entries for correctness and completeness of information to ensure the financial statements are accurately stated.
  • Prepared quarterly financial statements, entered journal entries into the PeopleSoft financial system, and performed account analysis and recommendations.

8. General Ledger Accounts

A general ledger account is a practice to keep a record of a company's total financial accounts. The accounts included in a general ledger lists the assets, liabilities, owners' equity, expenses, and income or revenue. It forms the basis of reporting a business's financial statements.

Here's how accounting technicians use general ledger accounts:
  • Reconciled accounts and transactions, including general ledger accounts and appropriations adjustments, initiating journal vouchers for correct action.
  • Ensured financial transactions are accurate, accounted for and properly posted to perform reconciliation of general ledger accounts.

9. Travel Vouchers

Here's how accounting technicians use travel vouchers:
  • Researched and organized information from multiple software applications; submitted documents and analyzed travel vouchers to determine reimbursements due to soldiers.
  • Processed and audited approximately 30 travel vouchers weekly and permanent change-of-station moves in accordance with customs statistical sampling system.

10. Financial Transactions

The type of agreement held between two parties (buyer and seller) regarding an exchange of funds for an asset, is termed as a financial transaction. The financial transaction is the exchange of products, services, cash or credit, information, and other things of value among two separate entities for a common goal.

Here's how accounting technicians use financial transactions:
  • Designed and implemented software program to electronically upload financial transactions from DCAS into the WAAS accounting system, eliminating manual input.
  • Conducted control point user training by providing expert advice and guidance on financial transactions recorded in financial accounting systems.

11. Financial Statements

A financial statement is a report of an individual or a company that includes all the information about the declared assets, the use of money, income, and also the contribution of shareholders over a certain period.

Here's how accounting technicians use financial statements:
  • Monitored and reconciled expenditures on a monthly basis to ensure proper charges to unit and prepared financial statements for several departments.
  • Generated monthly, quarterly or annual financial statements and reports detailing paid and unpaid invoices and other accounts receivable activity.

12. Management System

A management system is a set of policies, processes, and procedures taken by an organization or a business to ensure it can fulfill its tasks and achieve its objectives. A management system makes sure that the company excels financially and improves the user experience. The management system also takes care of the worker's and employees' needs and manages their workload and oversees their performance. Apart from interior matters of the company, a management system also deals with exterior matters like legislations, tax matters, and law issues.

Here's how accounting technicians use management system:
  • Performed monthly audits, comparing Compensation Board information with PCRJ Jail Management System information making adjustments and corrections as needed.
  • Managed inventory for 16 facilities as well as analyzing and interpreting various data management systems for each location.

13. Ledgers

Here's how accounting technicians use ledgers:
  • Maintain assigned subsidiary ledgers for Accounts Payable/Receivable and classifies erroneous conditions referring complex errors/problems to supervisor for well over 100 vendors.
  • Researched and reconciled balances on discrepancies between subsidiary ledgers/general ledgers, and determined appropriate corrective actions and made necessary adjustments.

14. Financial Data

Here's how accounting technicians use financial data:
  • Prepared the required documents for yearly budget preparation process by ensuring accurate financial data is reported on the income statement.
  • Interpreted computer reports and other financial data for program review and analysis for administrative officers and other financial staff.

15. Credit Card

A type of card issued by banks and other financial institutions, that enable users to manage and borrow their finances is called a credit card. The funds borrowed from a financial institution through a credit card are meant to be paid back along with certain amounts of interest imposed by the bank.

Here's how accounting technicians use credit card:
  • Prepared daily credit card reconciliation worksheets by division identifying individual discrepancies, and recorded discrepancies in the general ledger.
  • Review all daily activity records advising Facility Manager of cash and credit card discrepancies.
top-skills

What skills help Accounting Technicians find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on accounting technician resumes?

Curtis Nicholls Ph.D.Curtis Nicholls Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Associate Professor of Accounting, Co-director of the Student Managed Investment Fund, Bucknell University

The obvious trends are going to become more pronounced: coding and technology-related skills. I think we are going to see an elevation in the coding expectations. In the future, I expect employers to begin providing coding assessments to potential candidates. This is a common feature of engineering and finance jobs, and I think we will see it with respect to claims about coding prowess.

Data skills will also continue to become more prevalent across all business disciplines. Employers are looking for experience with large data sets, data visualization software (e.g. Tableau, PowerBI, Alteryx, etc.) and statistical analysis. Data has become a major currency, and employees' ability to utilize data for decision making will be critical to success in the employment marketplace.

Beyond the obvious, I think the pandemic has also shifted focus to skills surrounding resilience and motivation. I've heard employers during the pandemic express surprise at the disparity of responses to the pandemic: some employees made the pivot to remote work seamlessly, others required significantly more support. Skills that demonstrate resilience, such as group work, honors programs, etc. will become more important.
I would encourage job seekers to highlight skills learned during the pandemic. I would anticipate a regular interview question inquiring about how the job seeker used their extra time during the pandemic. The most common answers will likely include lots of Queen's Gambit and Tiger King, but employers will look for answers surrounding the development of new skills or acquired certifications. Imagine the employer's thoughts when you suggest that you used the extra time to pursue a lifelong dream such as learning to play the piano or guitar. If you missed the early pandemic window of opportunity, take advantage now!

This line of questions may precede a dangerous trend for employers to look for indications of mental strength. I find this possibility disheartening as we could see employers screening employees with mental health challenges at a time when the solidarity of a job could provide much needed structure.

What hard/technical skills are most important for accounting technicians?

Frank Longo

Assistant Professor of Business, Centenary University

Proficiency with emerging technology is an attention-getter. We should note that the Certified Public Accountants Exam will contain three sections by 2024, including Data Analytics, Tax Compliance and Planning, and Information System and Controls. A basic knowledge will be required in each of these, and the CPA candidate will identify one area of the above for more detailed testing. This change in knowledge requirements reflects the skills employers see as most important to hire. Using technology in any of these areas can move a candidate to the top of the hiring list. We should emphasize that the job candidate does not need to be an expert in each area, but the ability to effectively use technology in one area is important. Employers are looking for the ability to use technology in information security, business processes, information systems, IT audits, data analytics, and tax planning but not all of them.

Keep in mind that successful firms performed audits, prepared tax returns, advised clients on data security, and much more during the pandemic, and they often did so remotely. This can be expected to continue into the future.

What soft skills should all accounting technicians possess?

Frank Longo

Assistant Professor of Business, Centenary University

The skills listed above in question number one are soft skills. They are the skills that truly differentiate the candidate. All candidates are expected to possess hard skills such as excel proficiency. It is the soft skills that get the job done. The ability to solve problems and to lead a team are the top requirements. Recent studies conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers consistently arrived at this conclusion, as did a recent Centenary University survey that included New Jersey and New York employers. These skills can be demonstrated through work experience, internships, and extra-curricular activities, including clubs and sports, which can serve as examples.

What technical skills for an accounting technician stand out to employers?

Jodi OlsonJodi Olson LinkedIn profile

Assistant Accounting Professor, Winona State University

Accountants serve many industries and sectors, so a broad range of technical skills is required to be ready to meet the needs of employers. Graduates must be technically competent in areas such as accounting information systems, tax preparation, auditing, managerial/cost accounting, financial reporting, and financial statement analysis. Also, graduates are expected to have general business acumen in areas such as management information systems, business law, operations, strategic management, and ethics. All these skills are important for graduates, but the pandemic has made the accounting systems and management information systems skills operative in allowing graduates to deliver their other areas of technical expertise.

List of accounting technician skills to add to your resume

Accounting technician skills

The most important skills for an accounting technician resume and required skills for an accounting technician to have include:

  • Customer Service
  • Financial Reports
  • Payroll
  • Purchase Orders
  • Data Entry
  • Reconciliations
  • Journal Entries
  • General Ledger Accounts
  • Travel Vouchers
  • Financial Transactions
  • Financial Statements
  • Management System
  • Ledgers
  • Financial Data
  • Credit Card
  • Corrective Action
  • Account Balances
  • Bank Statements
  • Bank Deposits
  • Expense Reports
  • GAAP
  • Journal Vouchers
  • Process Invoices
  • Subsidiary Accounts
  • PeopleSoft
  • Process Payments
  • Financial Systems
  • Double Entry
  • DFAS
  • Accounts Receivables
  • DOD
  • Payment Vouchers
  • Computer System
  • IRS
  • Vendor Invoices
  • ACH
  • Fixed Assets
  • Vendor Payments
  • Bank Reconciliations
  • Accounts Payables
  • Bank Accounts
  • Vendor Statements
  • Medicaid
  • Delinquent Accounts
  • Automated Financial
  • Medicare
  • Customer Accounts
  • Mathematical Accuracy
  • Defense Finance

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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