What Does an Accountant Associate Do?
An accountant associate supports the accounting department by handling routine financial transactions, maintaining records, and assisting senior accountants with financial reporting and analysis.
Other Job Titles for This Work
Workers in this occupation report titles such as Account Clerk, Accounting Assistant, Accounting Associate, Accounting Clerk, Accounting Specialist, Accounting Technician, Accounts Payable Clerk, Accounts Payable Specialist.
Accountant Associate Duties and Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of an accountant associate include:
- Process daily financial transactions including accounts payable and receivable
- Maintain and update general ledger entries with accurate financial data
- Assist with month-end and year-end closing procedures
- Reconcile bank statements and resolve discrepancies
- Prepare invoices and manage billing processes
- Support senior accountants in preparing financial statements and reports
- Organize and maintain financial documents and filing systems
- Assist with internal and external audits by providing requested documentation
- Monitor and track expenses against budgets
- Process employee expense reports and reimbursements
Required Skills and Qualifications
To succeed as an accountant associate, you will need the following skills and qualifications:
- Proficiency in accounting software and Microsoft Excel
- Understanding of basic accounting principles and bookkeeping
- Strong attention to detail and numerical accuracy
- Organizational and time management skills
- Written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to handle confidential financial information
- Problem-solving skills for resolving discrepancies
- Familiarity with financial regulations and compliance requirements
Education and Training
An associate's or bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a related field. Some positions accept candidates with relevant certifications such as a Certified Bookkeeper (CB) designation.
Salary and Job Outlook
Typical pay: $43,520 - $61,470 per year, with a median of $50,670.
The range covers the middle half of earners nationwide. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks.
BLS projects employment of bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks to decline about 6 percent from 2025 to 2035, with about 144,100 openings a year. Accounting associate roles serve as an entry point into the accounting profession. With experience and further education, associates can advance to full accountant, senior accountant, or accounting manager positions.
Outlook source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks.
Accountant Associate Pay Range
| Earners | Annual pay |
|---|---|
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $36,000 |
| Bottom 25% earn less than | $43,520 |
| Median (half earn more, half less) | $50,670 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $61,470 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $74,550 |
Highest-Paying States for Accountant Associates
The states with the highest median pay for this occupation are District of Columbia ($65,180), Connecticut ($59,970), Massachusetts ($59,830), California ($59,230), Washington ($58,620). Pay is lowest in West Virginia ($42,890), Mississippi ($42,840), Arkansas ($42,840).
Median pay in all 51 states with BLS data
| State | Median annual pay |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $44,640 |
| Alaska | $56,430 |
| Arizona | $50,590 |
| Arkansas | $42,840 |
| California | $59,230 |
| Colorado | $54,000 |
| Connecticut | $59,970 |
| Delaware | $51,780 |
| District of Columbia | $65,180 |
| Florida | $49,330 |
| Georgia | $49,350 |
| Hawaii | $48,730 |
| Idaho | $48,310 |
| Illinois | $49,560 |
| Indiana | $47,820 |
| Iowa | $48,180 |
| Kansas | $47,290 |
| Kentucky | $46,550 |
| Louisiana | $44,890 |
| Maine | $50,510 |
| Maryland | $53,540 |
| Massachusetts | $59,830 |
| Michigan | $48,980 |
| Minnesota | $54,600 |
| Mississippi | $42,840 |
| Missouri | $47,990 |
| Montana | $47,270 |
| Nebraska | $47,110 |
| Nevada | $50,380 |
| New Hampshire | $52,450 |
| New Jersey | $58,300 |
| New Mexico | $48,080 |
| New York | $58,160 |
| North Carolina | $47,930 |
| North Dakota | $49,710 |
| Ohio | $48,810 |
| Oklahoma | $46,180 |
| Oregon | $54,060 |
| Pennsylvania | $48,440 |
| Rhode Island | $53,280 |
| South Carolina | $47,940 |
| South Dakota | $46,340 |
| Tennessee | $48,180 |
| Texas | $48,910 |
| Utah | $49,440 |
| Vermont | $54,720 |
| Virginia | $51,620 |
| Washington | $58,620 |
| West Virginia | $42,890 |
| Wisconsin | $50,340 |
| Wyoming | $47,910 |
What the Work Is Like
O*NET surveys people who work as bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks about their daily conditions. Of those surveyed:
- 95% work indoors in a climate-controlled space every day
- 94% use email every day
- 91% spend more than half the workday sitting
- 91% say being exact and accurate is very or extremely important
- 86% are on the phone every day
- 69% say teamwork is very or extremely important in their job
- 54% use their hands on tools, objects or controls for more than half the day
Education Workers Say the Job Needs
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or GED | 41% |
| Post-secondary certificate | 21% |
| Bachelor's degree | 12% |
| Associate's degree | 9% |
Tools and Software Accountant Associates Use
Tools and equipment
Software
Is This Job a Good Fit for You?
People who do well in this job tend to enjoy organized work with data, records and clear procedures as well as leading, persuading and making business decisions.
Skills O*NET rates most important: Mathematics, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Writing, Speaking.
Knowledge areas used most: Customer and Personal Service, Administrative, Mathematics, English Language, Economics and Accounting.
Preparation: O*NET places this occupation in Job Zone 3 of 5, which means medium preparation.
Related Careers
These jobs use similar skills, according to O*NET's related-occupation data:
Applying for an Accountant Associate Job
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Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035.
- O*NET 30.1 Database, occupation 43-3031.00 (Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks). View on O*NET OnLine.
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. The Job Explorer has modified some of the information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these changes.