FollowSeveral careers available with an Associate’s in Accounting degree require just two years of post-secondary education. Getting an associate’s degree from an accredited community or junior college is the fastest route to professional accounting careers. Associate’s in Accounting degrees introduce students to basic accounting, taxation, financial analysis, and technology skills for entry-level jobs. Attending community college not only makes you career-ready quicker, but it also saves you money. The College Board estimates that the average annual tuition at public two-year, in-district schools is $3,435. That’s considerably lower than the $9,410 at in-state public and $32,405 at private four-year colleges. Investing in an associate’s in accounting degree unlocks the following careers to begin building your professional resume.
Bookkeeper
Bookkeepers are clerks with associate’s degrees in accounting who are responsible for organizing a company’s general ledger. Bookkeepers carefully review all corporate transactions to post details about costs and credits to financial accounts. In retail or wholesale trade, bookkeepers may compile cash, vouchers, and checks from cashiers to send payments to the bank. It’s their job to produce financial statements that managers use to determine the organization’s monetary health. PayScale reports that bookkeepers earn a median yearly salary of $39,510.
Payroll Clerk
Ensuring that an organization’s workforce gets paid accurately falls on the shoulders of the payroll clerks. Most payroll clerks are educated at the associate’s degree level to compile the data utilized in printing employee paychecks. Also called timekeeping clerks, they’ll record the attendance, hours worked, benefits, and tax deductions for every employee. Payroll clerks also create finalized reports for calculating total compensation costs in each pay period. The median annual salary for payroll clerks is $35,616 according to PayScale.
Auditing Clerk
Auditing clerks are responsible for verifying that their company’s financial records are calculated and coded in accordance to industry regulations. As investigators, auditing clerks comb through accounting databases in search of errors they must fix. They’ll scrutinize expense accounts, ledgers, bank records, inventory levels, sales tickets, loans, and other statements. Auditing clerks typically have an associate’s degree in accounting with great mathematical, analytical, and problem-solving skills, according to US News and World Report. PayScale states that auditing clerks in the United States earn a median yearly wage of $42,817.
Accounting Clerk
Larger organizations often hire accounting clerks with an associate’s degree to handle specialized financial tasks. Accounts receivable clerks create statements showing how much money is due to the company from buyers. Accounts payable clerks organize statements that indicate how much money the organization owes to creditors. Entry-level accounting clerks will keep transaction records, sum up accounts, figure interest charges, and make certain payments are filed promptly. According to PayScale, accounting clerks bring home a median salary of $35,580 each year.
Related Resource: Accounting Clerk
Having an associate’s degree in accounting can translate to several entry-level job opportunities in the financial services market. Yet, keep in mind that the employment of accounting and auditing clerks is poised to decline by eight percent through 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Accounting software is beginning to automate many of the tasks delegated to these clerks. An accredited four-year bachelor’s degree remains the minimal preparation required for staff accountants. Although there are careers available with an Associate’s in Accounting degree, earning a bachelor’s can expand your job opportunities and nearly double your salary potential.
