Accounts Officer Kaituhi Kaute

Accounts officers are responsible for monitoring and managing financial accounts for their organisation.

Accounts officers may do some or all of the following:

  • arrange payment of bills and accounts
  • issue customer invoices
  • follow up outstanding payments
  • process and keep records of financial transactions
  • account reconciliation
  • handle general accounts queries
  • provide support to a wider financial or accounting team.

Useful Experience

Useful experience for accounts officers includes:

  • accounting
  • financial processing
  • payroll
  • office administration.

Personal Qualities

Accounts officers need to be:

  • able to adapt to new processes and systems
  • accurate, with high attention to detail
  • good at communicating
  • proactive and show initiative
  • well organised and have strong time management skills.

Skills

Accounts officers need to have:

  • an understanding of basic accounting principles
  • basic maths skills
  • knowledge of computer and accounting software.

Conditions

Accounts officers:

  • usually work regular hours, but may work weekends or evenings to meet deadlines
  • work in offices, but may travel to visit clients.

Subject Recommendations

There are no specific secondary education requirements to become an accounts officer. However, NCEA Level 3 maths, accounting and digital technologies are useful.

Accounts Officers can earn around $48K-$82K per year.

Pay rates for accounts officers vary depending on the type of work they do.

  • Accounts officers usually earn between minimum wage and $61,000 a year.
  • Accounts payable officers usually earn between $48,000 and $80,000.
  • Accounts receivable officers usually earn between $51,000 and $77,000.
  • Bookkeepers usually earn between $56,000 and $82,000.

Source: Hays, 'FY 2020/21 Salary Guide', 2020.

Accounts officers may progress into payroll work or study to become an accountant.

Accounts officers may specialise in:

  • accounts payable - organising the payment of invoices for an organisation
  • accounts receivable - collecting and recording payments that come into an organisation.

Years Of Training

There are no specific requirements to become an accounts officer as you gain skills on the job. However, a business or accounting qualification may be useful.

Accounts Officer