Is it possible to start a career in accounting with no experience? These days it’s common to switch careers, often into something that’s totally unrelated to what you were doing before. No experience is ever wasted, so even if your accounting experience is zero, you undoubtable have many transferable skills to build on that’ll help you get your new career started.

Accountant or Accounting Technician?

These are two recognised professional qualifications. While you may have heard the terms, it helps to understand the distinctions between the two.

Accountants

Responsibilities involve higher-level financial analysis, reporting and decision making. They’ll analyse trends, prepare financial statements and often give strategic financial advice. They could also be involved with budgeting, taxation or auditing. Usually holding a bachelor’s degree, professional qualifications (depending on your location) include Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) or Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). They are likely to hold leadership roles and take responsibility for higher-level financial decisions.

Accounting Technicians

Responsibilities are more routine, performing operational tasks withing the accounting process. They’ll take care of bookkeeping, data entry, reconciliations and basic financial reporting. Their work is important for supporting the overall financial management of a business or organisation by maintaining accurate financial records. It’s possible to train as an accounting technician without having a higher education degree. There are apprenticeships, diploma programmes and vocational training, all opening doors to career progression if your aim is to go higher.

Expand Your Knowledge and Education

Regardless of your end goal, whether you’re aiming for full accountancy qualifications or not, the quickest path into the profession is through some kind of training. Look for basic qualification courses that cover fundamental accounting principles and practices.

You don’t even have to attend live classes, which is great if you’re already holding down a job or have family commitments that limit your availability. Online accounting training can give you just as good a grounding if you have the discipline to maintain independent learning.

Look for courses that offer recognised qualifications. Some will also offer membership to professional organisations on completion of your course, as well as continuing professional development support to assist career progression.

Internships or entry-level positions are another option. They may not require prior accounting experience if you can demonstrate numeracy and some relevant transferable skills. Even if it’s a fairly short-term position it will offer valuable, hands-on experience.

Build Your Network

There’s nothing to stop you attending networking events or seminars, workshops or industry conferences to connect with professionals already in the field. Don’t forget your online network too, maybe connecting with new people in your chosen new profession on platforms such as LinkedIn.

As your coursework and knowledge expands and feel you’re gaining some insight into professional accounting, consider volunteering or freelancing. Offer your services to charities or non-profits or find a local business networking group to meet people who might welcome bookkeeping assistance.

Update Your Resume or CV

Even before you’re ready to enter the world of professional accounting, highlight and emphasise your skills that are relevant to accounting. Do you have strong analytical skills, good attention to detail and accuracy, are you familiar with spreadsheets or accounting software? Include everything that indicates your ability to work confidently with numbers. As you start applying for different positions in the future, tweak your resume each time you send it out so it addresses the particular skills the employer is looking for.

Continuing Education and Opportunities

As you gain more experience in accounting, you may find you’d like to specialise. Specialisms within accounting include, but are not limited to, corporate or commercial finance, auditing, forensic accounting, tax and risk management. There’s certainly plenty of opportunity to move beyond basic qualifications through advanced qualifications and higher-level certifications. Also, should you decide to set up on your own, there’s the potential to open your own accountancy firm, or work freelance offering professional accountancy to business owners.

Be Patient and Persistent

Whether you’re a career changer or a school leaver, learning a new skill takes time and dedication. If you feel your motivation flagging, remind yourself that everyone starts at the beginning and if you keep going you will get to where you want to be. When you feel ready, look for entry level positions with job titles like junior accountant or bookkeeping assistant, finance assistant or accounting assistant.

Be proactive, have faith in yourself and trust you can do it. Accountancy offers diverse career pathways with the potential for a satisfying and lucrative future, and these days it’s never too late to start.