Accountant

You could progress from Payroll Officer to Accounts Officer to Accountant, into higher roles such as Finance Manager, and Chief Financial Officer.

Great for people who enjoy

• Applying maths to real life
• Gathering and summarising information
• Being thorough and accurate
• Shouldering responsibility
• Crossing tasks off a to-do list
• Helping other people follow the rules
• Explaining data to people who aren’t ‘into numbers’

Pathways to work

So, you know you want to be an Accountant. How do you get started? And what’s next?

Qualifications and experience

You’ll need a tertiary qualification in business, finance, commerce, economics or accounting to become an Accountant.

Study options:

• Advanced Diploma of Accounting
• Bachelor of Accounting
• Master of Professional Accounting

Training and apprenticeships

You might be able to earn a diploma through a traineeship. Some training may be subsidised, which means the government would pay part or all of the course cost.

Next steps:

• Visit Accountant (TAFE SA) for more information.
• Search My Training (Skills SA) for subsidised courses.
• Use our job search to find councils offering traineeships.
• Ask your local council if they run a cadetship or graduate program.

Still at school?

Check Student Pathways for school-based opportunities or talk to your VET Coordinator.

Industry information

Gain accreditation by becoming either a:

• Certified Practising Accountant
• Chartered Accountant.

The Australian Finance Industry Association is a professional body that offers career development, networking, resources and events.