- You can become an accountant by combining formal education, certification, and hands-on experience.
- Choosing the right qualification, such as CPA or ACCA, shapes your career path and earning potential.
- Practical skills like Excel and accounting software matter as much as theory for day-to-day work.
- Networking, targeted job search, and continuous learning speed up your move from entry level to senior roles.
If you want to learn how to become a accountant, this guide walks you through each practical step from zero experience to your first paid role. You will get clear actions on education, certification, real-world practice, and job search so you can plan a realistic path and start today.
Step-by-Step Guide
Understand the role, how to become a accountant
Start by learning what accountants do and which path fits your goals, because accounting includes roles in tax, audit, management accounting, and finance. Read three job descriptions for roles you might want, note required skills and common tasks, and compare daily responsibilities to your interests and strengths.
Expect some overlap across roles, and avoid assuming all accounting jobs look the same; choose the area that matches your strengths and future plans.
- Read job ads from three different companies and highlight recurring skills and qualifications.
- Talk to one accountant in a field you’re curious about and ask what a typical week looks like.
- If you like numbers and systems, consider audit or tax; if you prefer planning, look at management accounting.
Get the right education
Most accounting careers start with a relevant degree, because employers often list a bachelor’s in accounting or finance as a minimum requirement. If you don’t have a degree, consider an accredited diploma or a conversion program that covers financial accounting, managerial accounting, and basic taxation, and take foundational online courses in bookkeeping and accounting principles.
Avoid skipping core accounting subjects, because gaps in fundamentals make certifications and job interviews harder later.
- Choose courses that include financial statements, bookkeeping, and introductory tax rules.
- If cost is a concern, look for government-funded diplomas or employer-sponsored training programs.
- Keep course transcripts and project work to show concrete examples in interviews.
Pursue certification, how to become a accountant with qualifications
Select the professional qualification that matches your region and career goals, because certifications like CPA, ACCA, CMA, or local chartered credentials open more senior roles. Research entry requirements, exam structure, and required work experience, then map out a study schedule that fits your current job or studies, aiming for consistent short study sessions rather than last-minute cramming.
Expect exams to take months or years depending on the route, and avoid trying to pass everything at once; plan milestones and allow time for practical experience.
- Compare CPA and ACCA requirements in your country before committing to a program.
- Join a study group or local chapter to keep motivation and accountability up.
- Schedule exams spaced by at least two months so you can balance study and work.
Build practical experience
Hands-on work is what employers value most, so seek internships, part-time bookkeeping jobs, or volunteer roles that let you handle real transactions and financial statements. Start with simple bookkeeping tasks, then take on reconciliations, payroll entry, and preparing trial balances, and document each responsibility so you can show results on your resume.
Avoid listing vague duties, and instead quantify what you did, for example showing how you reduced reconciliation time or corrected recurring errors.
- Offer to help a small nonprofit or local business with bookkeeping to gain live experience.
- Track the software and tasks you perform so you can cite specific tools and outcomes in interviews.
- Aim to complete at least one full month-end close cycle to demonstrate end-to-end understanding.
Learn practical tools and technical skills
Develop the software and technical skills used in daily accounting work, because proficiency in Excel and common accounting packages is often a hiring filter. Learn Excel functions like VLOOKUP, INDEX-MATCH, pivot tables, and basic macros, and get hands-on with at least one accounting system such as QuickBooks, Xero, Sage, or an ERP used in your target industry.
Expect employers to test these skills, so practice with sample files and real datasets, and avoid claiming expertise you cannot demonstrate in a short skills test.
- Complete a project file in Excel that shows reconciliations and a simple financial dashboard.
- Use vendor tutorials to set up a sample company in QuickBooks or Xero and record common transactions.
- Keep screenshots or short videos of your work to share when asked about tool experience.
Apply, network, and plan career progress, how to become a accountant in the job market
Prepare a targeted job-search plan that includes a tailored resume, concise cover letter, and a list of companies you want to work for, because focused applications yield better responses than mass submissions. Network with alumni, join accounting groups on LinkedIn, attend local meetups or industry events, and ask for informational interviews to learn hiring needs and hiring managers’ priorities.
When you get interviews, be ready to explain specific tasks you handled, the software you used, and the outcomes you produced, and avoid generic answers that do not show your direct contribution.
- Use a simple tracking spreadsheet for each application, recording dates, contacts, and follow-up actions.
- Prepare two resume versions: one for public accounting and one for industry roles.
- Practice concise STAR examples that show your process and measurable impact.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Pro Tips from Experts
Create a one-page project portfolio with screenshots of reconciliations, a sample P&L you prepared, and a brief summary of problems you solved to share in interviews.
Set up a recurring two-hour study block each week for certification prep and treat it like a paid shift to keep consistent progress.
When starting out, price your freelance bookkeeping services competitively and request testimonials you can add to your LinkedIn profile.
Learn core tax deadlines and basic payroll rules for your country, because small employers often need that combined knowledge and it makes you more hireable.
Becoming an accountant is a step-by-step process that combines education, certification, hands-on experience, and practical tool skills. Start with one clear action today, whether that is enrolling in a course, signing up for an accounting package trial, or applying for an internship, and build momentum from there.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Become an Accountant
1.
- •How: Compare degree vs. certification routes (Associate, Bachelor’s, CPA, CMA, ACCA). Check state CPA education rules — most require 150 semester hours.
- •Pitfall: Picking a program without confirming CPA eligibility.
- •Success indicator: A clear list of required credits and timeline for your state or country.
2.
- •How: Take core classes in financial accounting, managerial accounting, tax, and auditing. Aim for 60 credits minimum for an associate, 120 for a bachelor’s.
- •Pitfall: Skipping intermediate accounting — it’s heavily tested on exams.
- •Success indicator: 3.0+ GPA in accounting courses and completed prerequisites for certification exams.
3.
- •How: Complete projects using Excel (VLOOKUP, pivot tables, INDEX/MATCH), plus one major package (QuickBooks or Xero). Create a small portfolio of reconciliations and month-end close examples.
- •Pitfall: Learning tools only from videos without practical files.
- •Success indicator: Ability to complete a trial-balance-to-financial-statement workflow in under 2 hours.
4.
- •How: Secure an internship at a local CPA firm or corporate accounting department. Volunteer to prepare reconciliations, journal entries, and simple tax returns.
- •Pitfall: Doing only admin tasks — ask for actual accounting work.
- •Success indicator: Documented list of month-end tasks you performed and sample deliverables.
5.
- •How: Use a review course, take timed practice exams, and schedule exam dates. Break study into 12–15 hour weekly blocks.
- •Pitfall: Underestimating pass rates; many CPA sections have 40–60% pass rates per sitting.
- •Success indicator: Consistent 75%+ on full-length practice tests.
6.
- •How: Log required supervised hours (often 12–24 months) and complete any ethics course required by your board.
- •Pitfall: Not tracking hours with supervisor sign-off.
- •Success indicator: Signed verification form from employer accepted by the board.
7.
- •How: Target roles by industry (public accounting, corporate, nonprofit) and build a resume highlighting reconciliations, audits, and tax returns completed. Use LinkedIn and accounting job boards.
- •Pitfall: Generic resumes; tailor each application to the job description.
- •Success indicator: Interviews and at least one job offer within 6 months.
8.
- •How: Complete 20–40 CPE hours annually, attend workshops, and follow tax law updates. Consider specialties like forensic accounting or international tax.
- •Pitfall: Letting CPE lapse — can jeopardize license renewal.
- •Success indicator: Maintained license in good standing and at least one specialty credential within 3–5 years.
Actionable takeaway: Map a 3-year plan today with specific semester courses, internship targets, and exam dates; update it quarterly.
Expert Tips from Experienced Accountants
1. Start Excel mastery early: Spend 30 minutes daily learning pivot tables and INDEX/MATCH — they trim reconciliation time by 40% in practice.
Build a reusable template for month-end reconciliations.
2. Use timed practice exams: Simulate CPA or CMA sections under exam conditions; aim to finish with 10–15 minutes to spare to review answers.
3. Network strategically: Send a short value message to 10 alumni or local CPAs monthly; offer to help with a small task (e.
g. , review a spreadsheet) to demonstrate capability.
4. Track billable/non-billable tasks: Record time for every activity for 3 months; data will reveal tasks that can be automated or delegated, improving productivity by ~20%.
5. Learn tax cycles seasonally: Run a fake year-end close and a tax-prep cycle on sample data to understand quarterly vs.
annual timelines.
6. Keep a war chest of templates: Maintain standardized journal entry, close checklist, and variance analysis templates — they save 2–3 hours per month.
7. Choose one ERP early: Familiarity with one enterprise resource planning system (e.
g. , NetSuite) can increase hiring chances by 15% for mid-size firms.
8. Study ethics with scenarios: Memorize common conflict scenarios and your responses; ethics exams often test judgment, not rules.
9. Use cloud sandboxes: Practice on free QuickBooks/Xero trial accounts and upload anonymized CSVs to simulate real client work safely.
10. Specialize based on demand: If you live in a manufacturing hub, learn cost accounting and inventory modules; that specialization can raise starting salary by an estimated 10–20%.
Actionable takeaway: Pick two tips to implement this month (e. g.
, start a reconciliation template and schedule one timed practice exam).
Common Challenges and How to Overcome Them
1.
- •Why: Full-time jobs leave limited study hours.
- •Recognize: Missed study goals for 3 consecutive weeks.
- •Solution: Block 10–15 hours weekly in the calendar (two 90-minute evening sessions + 3 hours on weekends), use 25/5 Pomodoro sprints, and measure progress with weekly practice test scores.
- •Preventive measure: Start studying 6–9 months before exam windows rather than 3.
2.
- •Why: Employers don’t always provide supervised accounting tasks.
- •Recognize: Job duties are mostly clerical without sign-off opportunities.
- •Solution: Request specific supervised projects, document tasks daily, and get supervisor signatures monthly.
- •Preventive measure: Choose internships or roles at firms that list CPA supervision in the job description.
3.
- •Why: Universities may teach theory, not software workflows.
- •Recognize: Longer completion times for reconciliation or reporting tasks.
- •Solution: Take online courses with hands-on exercises and build a practice file of 12 months of transactions to process from start to finish.
- •Preventive measure: Add a software course to your semester plan.
4.
- •Why: High-stakes nature of certification exams.
- •Recognize: Frequent blanking during timed practice tests.
- •Solution: Practice under timed conditions, use relaxation techniques (breathing, visualization), and schedule a mock exam day.
- •Preventive measure: Gradual exposure: start with 30-minute timed sections, then build to full-length tests.
5.
- •Why: Laws change annually; small errors have big costs.
- •Recognize: Confusion about current depreciation or payroll rules.
- •Solution: Subscribe to 2 trusted updates (state board newsletter and AICPA alerts) and allocate 30 minutes weekly to regulatory reading.
- •Preventive measure: Join a local CPA firm’s study group that discusses updates monthly.
6.
- •Why: Many candidates hold similar degrees/certifications.
- •Recognize: Few interview invitations despite applications.
- •Solution: Tailor resumes to keywords in job postings, add quantifiable achievements (reduced closing time by X%), and seek internships for experience.
- •Preventive measure: Build a visible portfolio on LinkedIn with sample reconciliations and dashboards.
Actionable takeaway: Pick the challenge most relevant to you and apply the step-by-step fix this week.
Real-World Examples: Paths to Success
Example 1 — New Grad to CPA in Public Accounting (Firm):
- •Situation: Maria graduated with a bachelor’s in accounting and a 3.5 GPA. She wanted public accounting but had no practical experience.
- •Approach: She completed two summer internships (3 months each) at a local CPA firm, logging specific month-end close tasks and audit sampling. After hiring, she followed a 9-month study plan for the CPA exam: 12–15 study hours weekly, weekly practice tests, and a Becker review course.
- •Challenges: She failed one CPA section on her first attempt. She adjusted by increasing weekly study to 18 hours and focusing on weak areas identified by practice test analytics.
- •Results: Passed all four sections within 14 months, completed 24 months of supervised experience, promoted to Senior Staff in year 3, and saw salary rise from $55,000 to $78,000 (a 42% increase).
Example 2 — Career Changer Using Night School (Corporate Accounting):
- •Situation: Jamal worked retail and wanted a stable career. He enrolled in an online associate degree while working nights.
- •Approach: He took two bookkeeping courses, then a part-time bookkeeping job managing payroll and AP for a small company. He used Xero and Excel to automate vendor payments and implemented a monthly close checklist.
- •Challenges: Limited time for hands-on learning and initial software unfamiliarity.
- •Results: Within 18 months he transitioned to a full-time junior accountant role with a 60% pay increase. His automation reduced vendor payment errors by 90% and cut AP processing time from 5 days to 2 days monthly.
Example 3 — Small-Firm Niche: Forensic Accounting Focus:
- •Situation: Priya worked at a mid-size firm and wanted to specialize in fraud examination.
- •Approach: She completed a fraud examination certificate, volunteered for internal investigation work, and built a case-study portfolio. She attended three industry conferences and published a short article on ledger anomaly detection.
- •Challenges: Few initial opportunities to lead investigations.
- •Results: After two years she earned a Forensic Accounting credential, led three investigations with recoveries totaling $120,000, and moved to a forensic-focused boutique with a 20% pay bump.
Actionable takeaway: Identify a concrete outcome you want (e. g.
, CPA in 18 months) and map the education, exam, and experience milestones needed.
Essential Tools and Resources
1.
- •What: Core tool for reconciliations, pivot tables, and financial modeling.
- •When to use: Daily for analysis and reporting.
- •Cost: Excel via Microsoft 365 ~ $70/year; Sheets is free with Google account.
- •Limitation: Large datasets may need Power Query or a database.
2.
- •What: Small-business accounting platforms for bookkeeping and invoicing.
- •When to use: Internships, small-company roles, and freelancing clients.
- •Cost: QuickBooks $20–60/month; Xero $13–70/month. Both offer trials.
3.
- •What: Structured exam prep with practice tests and study planners.
- •When to use: When preparing for professional exams.
- •Cost: $800–$3,000 depending on package; free trial content sometimes available.
- •Limitation: High cost — supplement with free practice questions from state boards when possible.
4.
- •What: Official rules, licensing requirements, CPE tracking, and tax alerts.
- •When to use: Verifying education/experience rules and ethics requirements.
- •Cost: Free to access; membership optional.
5.
- •What: Job search and professional networking.
- •When to use: Job hunting and building professional presence.
- •Cost: Free; premium job features paid.
6.
- •What: Ready-made templates to standardize work.
- •When to use: During internships or first jobs to speed onboarding.
- •Cost: Many free templates online; premium packs $20–100.
7.
- •What: Short courses on tax updates, Excel, auditing standards.
- •When to use: To meet CPE and skill gaps.
- •Cost: Free-to-$400 per course depending on provider.
Actionable takeaway: Start with Excel + one accounting package (QuickBooks/Xero) and subscribe to one exam review or CPE provider relevant to your goal.