The Different Entry Level Accounting Jobs (6 Differences)

When I think of entry level accounting jobs these three main roles come to mind. And although there are a bunch of other entry-level jobs In the accounting field such as audit tax etc. usually these three jobs that we will talk about today are the ones that are often compared to each other for someone who is looking to break into the world of accounting.
So in this video I want to talk about 6 main differences that separate these three jobs from each other. As well as let you in on a couple of strategic points such as how to land a job that requires experience even though you have non.
This is especially helpful if you or someone close to you is planning to have a career in accounting.
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All views expressed on my channel are mine alone. Not intended as financial or professional advice

[@Viper4ever05]

I'm currently a "staff accountant", but feel like an overpaid bookkeeper, I handle all the AP related work and answer emails from staff and vendors. I have some closing responsibilities namely reconciliations and updating spreadsheets related to tracking prepaids, fixed assets, sales tax and accruals. My senior does all the adjusting entries and the Controller does all the analysis with us at the closing meeting before he sends it to Finance. Every company has their specific needs and may ask different things of you. For any new accountants out there.

[@candyluna2929]

That's a good.problem to have: to feel overpaid

[@juicylyricstv1640]

I am on the same page as you! I recommend to work at a firm, you will learn different companies!

[@Viper4ever05]

@@candyluna2929 sure was ended up getting laid off though.

[@Vibehaiprabhu]

Right What's the exact job position of your senior ? By what role he/she is called ? Wanted to know who stays below controller since I need to choose that as my next step. 😊

[@Viper4ever05]

@@Vibehaiprabhu his title was accounting Manager. But a lot of companies have a “senior accountant” below the manager level role which is equivalent to a supervisor. The managers either report directly to the controller or an assistant controller. Small organizations don’t need too many levels.

[@charlessmith3314]

As a finance major and accounting minor, I am SO glad that I found your channel. It's hard to decide on a specific major without real world experience, so these videos are extremely insightful, especially for us college students. I've shared quite a few of your videos with friends also considering accounting/finance. So please please please, keep up the great work! You are much appreciated!!

[@TheFinancialController]

Welcome aboard!

[@eddiewright5921]

Mr. Hanna this video was extremely helpful! All of my life I've just been taking classes and jumping from job to job with no direction. Yes. I have the bachelor in finance. Yes I have a master in accounting. Yes I even have a law degree! But for the last ten years I've been swimming in ap clerk, ar clerk, and staff accountant land. I just made it to Accounting supervisor. Now I see why I've been stuck. I've I had no idea of the "end game." I need to get my CPA! I have the potential to do and achieve so much more! I just been taking classes and getting degrees just to be getting degrees and taking classes. Thank you for your focus and help!

[@TheFinancialController]

Go for it Eddie, and please update me in a few years

[@UrbanEconomist5]

I went from being a Billing Analyst to PMP Billing Project Accountant… great info!

[@energy19831985]

You are one in a million. Thank you for great work 👏👏👏👏

[@randomdude6240]

Thank you for all this content. Best accounting related channel bar none!

[@TheFinancialController]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@mohammedosman88]

Bill, I have been an AP Associate for 3 years now and never thought I would love to progress in Accounting before your videos. This channel is an amazing find - thank you & Happy New Year from Ontario, Canada.

[@TheFinancialController]

Fantastic! Thanks for watching!

[@DaveySharp]

This video answered so many questions for my strategic plans. I am transitioning out of the army with a the CMA & CPA exams passed but I didn’t know which entry level jobs to apply for. This brought so much value to my personal situation. Thanks mate!

[@TheFinancialController]

Awesome good luck!

[@DaveySharp]

I’m your experience, are any of these three positions available via remote? Or at the very least, part-time availability? I was thinking of doing one of these positions part-time or fully remote to satisfy the 1-2 year of experience requirement while in the military. When I transition out of the military in 2025, I would be able to use the CPA designation along with some relevant accounting experience. Do you think this would be a realistic goal?

[@Ghaida-qf5uo]

This content is good to watch! Maybe next time you could explain about accountant who works on startup company, and what do you think about start a career between startup company and corporate/big company? 😀

[@jessicam522]

Thank you very much for this detailed video. You are appreciated.

[@TheFinancialController]

Glad it was helpful!

[@In-no]

I am always grateful for your videos

[@UrsusHorribilis]

Great content as always! I'm looking forward to going back top school for accounting this fall. Question, if you obtain your CPA could you open up your own accounting firm?

[@TheFinancialController]

Yes given you gather 5-10 years experience

[@celir6659]

This was so helpful. Thank you!

[@TheFinancialController]

Glad it was helpful!

[@BGB17]

Thank you for this video. About to graduate with a AAS in accounting and will be entering the field.

[@davidgarza995]

Associates? And entering the field whaaat

[@rowanwood5397]

Thank you very much for your videos. May I ask you a question? I have a bachelor's from UCLA in the arts. Now I'm studying accounting at community college. I'm thinking about doing an MSA. Would an MSA be equivalent to a bachelor's degree in accounting in addition to an associates degree considering my background? I would really appreciate your advice. Thank you very much.

[@roseballerine4395]

I’m a chartered accountant but always in finance reporting & FP&A and have no idea how to be accountant 🤷‍♀️

[@magnoliagomez3450]

Fantastic video. Thank you very much!!!

[@TheFinancialController]

Glad you liked it!

[@boleslawkrzywousty7945]

This was very helpful thank you.

[@TheFinancialController]

So glad!

[@john.10347]

Great video!

[@shankare2286]

Wooow! Very informative. I'm on the AP track as of now

[@TheFinancialController]

Great!

[@mickmeadows]

Brilliant video, thank you!

[@TheFinancialController]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@jimmy4747]

You are super helpful KZbinr. What you are doing is very knowledgeable, helpful, just awesome. Thanks

[@TheFinancialController]

Thanks Jimmy!

[@teemoney9860]

Any chance you could do a video on starting out with Tax in public accounting? I know you've explained how audit leads to Controller/CFO in a previous video. I just graduated and got an internship in Tax at a public firm, but I have no idea if I'm choosing the better path between Tax vs Audit. Thanks for the help.

[@yosairysrichiez2957]

Great info as always. :)

[@TheFinancialController]

Thank you so much!

[@michellegarcia269]

Hello, I just came across your KZbin channel. I was wondering if you had any advice for me. Im 26 and would like to begin a career in accounting. Any suggestions on how I should move forward?

[@user-tj5sh3dg1s]

Habit is formed bit by bit. If we fail to pay attention to the formation of our habits, we may act unwisely in critical moments.

[@jocelynhenriquez1490]

I’m an accountant for pension and welfare fund (Union) and my current position is accounts receivable.I handle all the Billings and invoices to the employers. Assist in audits and lots of other responsibilities. I mainly work hand in hand with the bookkeepers, CFO, controllers, account managers etc of the companies represented by the union. Recently, the CFO of one the employers we represent offered me a job as an accountant manager and within a year get promoted to controller and assist him with financial statements etc. I’m not sure about taking the job because I don’t have any experience with financial statements. Any advice?

[@georgemoatshe9459]

thats good, continuously learning u will get there

[@wombat0433]

Any advice I have been a staff for five years and every time I have a staff evaluation no one mentions promotion or anything I have been stuck at an entry-level for more than five years and I'm honestly going crazy now and I work from home so I don't know about searching for a real job because I got anxiety attack

[@Deimian676]

Hey i have a question. is having experience in Power BI necessary in accounting?

[@richardroberts2782]

I graduated in 2016 with an online M. S. degree in accounting from Strayer University. I ended up getting my CDL in 2020 and became a truck driver because I couldn't get a job in my field to save my life. Unless I get a straightforward, paint by numbers process to go from where I'm at now to having an accounting job commensurate with my level of education, I'll stick with trucking... because I'm not playing this game of guessing what accounting employers want that I don't have. I'm not going to read a bunch of articles on how to tweak my resume and LinkedIn profile to appeal to prospective employers. Lay a straightforward process at my feet, or I'll stick with trucking, which pays as well as a Masters degree without all the time in school, without the student loan debt, and without the frustrating job search that for me has been nothing but bullshit hassle.

[@erikzamecnik4914]

How it is possible that company reports for example Accounts payable current 300k for Q1 and then in Q2 report they declare that Account payable current for Q1 was 400k? Could company legally adjust/manipulate past quarterly financial information in their new reports? Which values are valid for me as an investor? Is it a original value, or value from last financial report?

[@nahidch7625]

I'm looking for one!

[@first9299]

Hi Bill what would your advice be to an accounting student that got fine grades in intermediate 1&2 but didn't come out of the class with a deep understanding of accounting and did not enjoy those courses?

[@wombat0433]

My advice to you young and do not do accounting if you do not like it I have been in the industry and is not worth that I'm still making entry-level pay baby do something else with your life

[@TheFinancialController]

tricky one. I didn't enjoy accounting classes that much. But now mid career, I have a much higher appreciation for Accounting. I wouldn't make sudden knee-jerk moves here

[@cancan2k10]

What would be your advice for aomeone who started in accounting as Acoounts Receivable Clerk, switched careers to go into teaching math for 4 years, but now wants to go back into accounting. They have a bachelors in accounting but is a little afraid they may have forgotten important concepts etc. What would be your suggestion on maybe what kind of job they should aim for that will train them and get their foot back in the door of the accounting world?

[@ohyesohyes8804]

It's been a year but I'm curious what happened, did you switch back?

[@jessicam522]

In 2020 I decided to return to school to earn my AA in Business Administration and then transfer to a CSU to earn my BS in either accounting or finance. I have watched some of your videos today and I am freaking out. I am 33 years old and I’m starting to believe I may be too old to begin an accountant career 😣 it seems that accounting experience is needed and since I’ve only worked at offices as an administrative assistant most of my work life I thought it would make sense to go into this field. ☹️☹️

[@TheFinancialController]

Jessica I don’t think 33 is old at all to start now!

[@fittomakeup9890]

Jessica, go for it. Do not let age stigmas stop you. I am 39, finished my AS in business management, started a job as an accounts payable specialist for a construction company last November.

[@JJ-dw4lz]

It's never too late to go into any field regardless of what anyone says. I've seen people over 50 in tech and accounting starting their careers.

[@jessicam522]

Thank you!!! You have no idea how much you all made this stranger’s day 💖 I write this as I am doing school work. Much appreciated 👏🏼

[@renegadek9]

Definitely not to old at 33. I will be finishing up my BS in Accounting at 55/retiring from Law Enforcement when I enter the field.

[@josholivares8475]

as a hiring manager does AP experience look better post grad while getting the extra 30 units or you prefer a student with only intern experience? I am trying to transition to a firm, however don’t know where to start. I am almost complete with my additional units and been working in government accounting (for my local city) as a staff accountant

[@TheFinancialController]

not a big difference to me, both are good

[@josholivares8475]

@@TheFinancialController thank you replying. time to start applying to public accounting 🤞🏾

[@kemarblake1854]

What positions would you call mid level roles and which positions would you call senior roles?

[@blackamericanlesbianprofes4357]

Thank you for sharing. I am graduating with my MSc in Forensic Accounting degree in September 2022 and I have returned to University for a career change. So I wondering which direction to go for next career as a Forensic Accountant, I have heard to start in Audit. Do you have any suggestions? Date Stamp: 15june22

[@TheFinancialController]

Yes, starting in audit is a great starting point (perhaps the best)

[@blackamericanlesbianprofes4357]

@@TheFinancialController Thank you.

[@DopetyDope]

Have an opportunity for an entry role as staff accountant. Is this something that could help leverage me in say financial analyst role down the line or will I be stuck in accounting only roles.

[@TheFinancialController]

yes, you can leverage this to become a financial analyst

[@Oktaviii]

For career changers who already have a 4 year degree in a different field would you recommend to get a second bachelor’s in accounting or go for masters degree?

[@JillyMae89]

If you took basic accounting classes as part of your bachelor's you can probably get away with just going right to masters

[@randomdude6240]

I recently graduated w/ a Bachelors in accounting and landed an accounts payable specialist role (no previous exp or internships). I find it repetitive and a position where it can become stagnant. Should I pass a couple of the cpa exams and then jump into public accounting to fastrack my career or risk it and stick it out in industry

[@randomdude6240]

Update, there was a staff accountant position open shortly after og comment, and I got it, thank you for your interview videos, helped a ton, basically memorized it and with the work ethic I showed in that 1 month I was blessed with this opportunity! Next step is cpa

[@MikeJones-co9fv]

I have a MBA and work as a Sr. Accountant

[@user-rr3gt1hh2y]

I’m trying to find a entry level job while finishing my degree and it’s so hard to get one

[@orangepiranha7225]

Hello! I have a bachelors in economics and I completed an internship with a big 4 company. l have also completed a master's in accountancy. I have my CPA and have one year of accounting work experience for a big 4 company. I am 24 years old. Do you think it is possible for me to become a financial controller in the next few years? My goal is to make 150k plus as a financial controller.

[@TheFinancialController]

Love the cpa and big 4 experience. Yes, let’s try to get 5-7 more years experience. For sure.

[@gagehorton6110]

Thank you sir!

[@voidtremors5814]

Am a staff accountant in a top 10 public accounting firm’s outsourcing division. I get exposed to different clients accounts. Is it still as good as audit and can I progress despite not doing audit?

[@TheFinancialController]

Yes!

[@Jimmyhndrx]

I have a question, if you guys can help me , i would really appreciate it. I graduated 4 year business program 3.5gpa with most elective courses being accounting related and did my MBA and since almost 2 years working in a grocery store as manager (cos of immigration processes), in some part of my job is I code invoices in excell by seperating them debit,credit or expense, stamping and confirming the invoices and scan them to accounting department on IMS software. also any invoice issues, i am the one dealing with it. I want a career change (since accounting was my dream job and literally studied it for over 6-7 years). my question is, can i say in my resume that i have accounts payable experience? (never worked in accounting department or accounting environment)? Thanks.

[@TheFinancialController]

Yes you can say this

[@Jimmyhndrx]

@@TheFinancialController that made me happy! Thanks for ur reply!

[@arslanmughal2024]

Please answer. I'm working in a small division of a big MNC under supervision of financial controller, I'm management accountant ( only 2 members in Finance) My manager is happy with my work but don't keep me in CC when sending work emails with head office, secondly he avoids me to participate in meetings and meeting other departments seniors, he only wants me to solely report to him, why? He has given me few important tasks and most of major Reporting and queries he has kept with himself. Please advise me what should I do. Thanks

[@wombat0433]

Any advice I have been a staff for five years and every time I have a staff evaluation no one mentions promotion or anything I have been stuck at an entry-level for more than five years and I'm honestly going crazy now and I work from home so I don't know about searching for a real job because I got anxiety attack

[@Viper4ever05]

@@wombat0433 Why are you looking for a promotion? that's not how it works anymore, you have to find another job and get a higher position at another company and repeat this process until you're at the top. Staying at one company for 5 years won't help you. Company's value experience from different jobs. Quit and find a better position immediately.

[@Viper4ever05]

Quit and find a better place that values your contribution. Do not waste time trying to understand your managers. Find another job asap.

[@arslanmughal2024]

@@Viper4ever05 that sounds much better, I think 2 years are enough with a company to stay.

[@Viper4ever05]

@@arslanmughal2024 keep moving every 2 to 3 years to find something better. Especially if they don’t promote you.

[@counterleo]

Damn, and I though staff accountant was about payroll because of the word staff. So it's basically like GL accountant? Good advice but a bit US centric.

[@ramizabdulahad8419]

"Cannot pass again" 😂. If I ever pass the cpa exam I will dance and drink so hard that I'll get kicked out of night clubs. Great video thank you.

[@WendyOryen]

I’m 30, is it too late to start my career?

[@babblesp1367]

No

[@TheFinancialController]

No

[@Viper4ever05]

I started at 32. It's not too late

[@roxymax8917]

Sadly and practical answer yes. Why company gonna hire you @ 30, where there are young talented fresh graduate are available for entry level job

[@Viper4ever05]

@@roxymax8917 not true…I started mine at 32. A few other people I know also started late as well. Age isn’t the problem it’s your ability to ace the interview and show your competence.

[@kavorkaa]

😯😴😴😴😴😴😴😴