How to Get a Business Accounting Job without a Degree

Thinking of starting a career in business and accounting, but don’t want to invest years in a degree? Well, great news! You can build yourself to get an accounting job without a degree. 

All you need to do is get proper training, get your fundamentals right, and upskill as you gain experience. 

In this step-by-step guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know to get a job in this field without a bachelor’s degree. 

Step 1: Education and Training

While you may be able to skip getting a formal degree for such roles, you cannot skip education and training. Also, it should be noted that all the jobs require at least a high school diploma or equivalent GED. However, you need to be a little more specific with your coursework.

It is highly recommended that you consider taking courses in mathematics (statistics), economics, and business to build a foundation for future roles. 

After that, you have two options:

1. You can focus on specific courses like bookkeeping on online platforms if you’re already familiar with the accounting basics. 
2. Enroll in a certified business accountant course to ensure you gain essential knowledge and skills for the accounting roles. 

NOTE: Even if you don’t have a background in accounting, you can gain vital knowledge in training courses, as these are designed to cater to career switchers. Not to mention, most of the accounting training courses are online.

Step 2: Skills 

This goes without saying, but much like any other career, business accounting also requires a particular mix of both technical and soft skills. 

Technical Skills

• Accounting Principles: You must be familiar with concepts like accounts payable/receivable, inventory management, financial statements, and industry reporting standards. 
• Accounting Software Proficiency: While this will vary from employer to employer, you should be skilled in programs like QuickBooks, Xero, and Microsoft Office.  
• Data Entry: It is a huge part of business accounting, so proficiency in data entry is a must. 
• Additional Skills: Ability to analyze financial reports and match internal records with bank statements. 

Soft Skills

• Organizational Skills: Since you’ll be working with a lot of data, you need to have the ability to manage multiple tasks, documents, and deadlines. 
• Communication Skills: Clear verbal and especially written communication is essential. 
• Critical Thinking & Problem Solving: You will encounter discrepancies and will be required to respond promptly.
• Time Management: As mentioned above, tight deadlines are very real in accounting, so you’d be required to manage time efficiently.

Step 3: Certification

Upon completion of your training course, it is highly recommended that you get certified, as these credentials will endorse your skills. While there are many certificates, the following are the industry-standard:

• Certified Bookkeeper (CB): Provided by the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers (AIPB), this certificate endorses your bookkeeping skills.
• Enrolled Agent (EA): This credential is offered by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and enables you to represent taxpayers before the IRS.
• QuickBooks Certification: It validates your proficiency in the QuickBooks accounting software. 

Step 4: Experience

While you can always show your training program as valid experience on your resume, certain employers do demand experience. So, how do you gain experience? With the following:

• Internships: By working under licensed CPAs, you can gain industry experience before joining the workforce officially. 
• Volunteering: You can help non-profit organizations with creating invoices and managing financial records. 

NOTE: Volunteering is not just reserved for freshers; experienced accountants can also gain valuable experience with this approach. 

Step 5: Build a Strong Resume

Once you have gained knowledge, credentials, and experience, it’s time to craft a strong resume that appeals to both recruiters and ATS. A business accounting resume should include:

• Clear Contact Information: Full name, email address, and phone number.
• Emphasis on Skills: List both technical and soft skills, but make sure to tailor them for each employer. 
• Credentials: Add all the certifications, like QuickBooks.
• Experience: List your internships and volunteer work with measurable results. 

Step 6: Apply For Jobs

Once you’ve a strong resume, you can start applying for jobs. Aim for entry-level roles like bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks. Not to mention the average salary for these roles is great for entry-level positions that don’t require a degree. Additionally, you can also land a virtual job in this niche easily. 

And how’s the pay? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for such roles is $49,210.

Final Words

So, is it possible to get a business accounting job without a degree? Absolutely!

With the right approach, you can easily get a job in business accounting. Moreover, you can springboard to high-paying roles like accountants and auditors.