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How to get a job as an entry level accountant / book keeping / accounts payable etc

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  • Dec 28th, 2017 7:43 am
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Nov 7th, 2017 8:50 pm
kingofkingz [OP]
Jr. Member
Jul 20, 2013
195 posts
74 upvotes

Nov 7th, 2017 8:50 pm

How to get a job as an entry level accountant / book keeping / accounts payable etc

a little back story:
- have a useless arts degree that got me no where in life.
- currently working FT and doing an accounting program FT
- job is there just to pay bills and is not related to my degree and is a dead end as in no chance of promotion, raise, or moving up
- planning to do a masters in Accounting after finishing my accounting program and apply for CPA.
- just turned 30

I am looking to quit my job for the reasons above and focus solely on finishing my accounting program and applying for the masters, but i also want to get experience as an accountant so better increase my prospects once i am fully certified. I have searched websites and jobs online and they all want accounting experience, which i have none. I don't really about working min.wage cause i'm thinking long term. What kind of terms/skill should I put on my resume to show that i am serious in getting hired in this field. I have lots of sales/customer service experience as well as experience working office jobs.
26 replies
Nov 7th, 2017 9:24 pm
raichu1
Deal Addict
Oct 16, 2013
2409 posts
765 upvotes
New Brunswick

Nov 7th, 2017 9:24 pm

Apply to everything under the sun like Accounting Clerk. They put exp on the posting since they don't want thousands of application. Many want you to be done with school. Since you are in school why not do a Co-Op.

One good option is to go into fund accounting since they need bodies.

Plus realize that accounting is hyper competitive.
+1
Nov 8th, 2017 1:37 am
Jokkon
Sr. Member
May 24, 2007
563 posts
225 upvotes

Nov 8th, 2017 1:37 am

"planning to do a masters in Accounting after finishing my accounting program and apply for CPA"

"I am looking to quit my job for the reasons above and focus solely on finishing my accounting program and applying for the masters, but i also want to get experience as an accountant so better increase my prospects once i am fully certified"

Based on the two quotes above, it appears you are under the impression that you can apply for CPA straight out of school. See here: https://www.cpaontario.ca/become-a-cpa/ ... experience. In addition to completing all of your courses, you will also need to have 30 months relevant and progressive accounting work experience.
+1
Nov 8th, 2017 5:47 am
MasterBD
Member
Sep 16, 2017
447 posts
342 upvotes

Nov 8th, 2017 5:47 am

Go through an agency like robert half to help you out. apply apply apply, if your school has a career centre then apply through that.

Best bet is co-op though.

Good luck!
Nov 8th, 2017 8:53 am
blitzforce
Deal Addict
Nov 22, 2009
2807 posts
686 upvotes
Toronto

Nov 8th, 2017 8:53 am

You should be looking for volunteer work...not minimum wage since these tend to ask for experience also.
Nov 23rd, 2017 11:51 am
blitzforce
Deal Addict
Nov 22, 2009
2807 posts
686 upvotes
Toronto

Nov 23rd, 2017 11:51 am

kingofkingz wrote: ↑ I don't really about working min.wage cause i'm thinking long term. What kind of terms/skill should I put on my resume to show that i am serious in getting hired in this field. I have lots of sales/customer service experience as well as experience working office jobs.
Do you care if it's volunteer work? I volunteered during university on the weekends and it's because of this that got me my first entry position, and it's because of the entry position that got me an associate position, etc. Many of the "min wage" positions also require "some" experience because employers don't want to train you from zero.
Nov 23rd, 2017 2:50 pm
TotallyKiller
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User avatar
Mar 31, 2005
3354 posts
303 upvotes
Calgary

Nov 23rd, 2017 2:50 pm

Why are you planning on doing a masters? Will that benefit you for the specific position you want?

Doing your CPA takes a while and has an experience prerequisite (as Jokkon pointed out) so I'd make sure that the time and cost is going to be worth it to you.
Nov 24th, 2017 1:15 pm
BananaHunter
Deal Fanatic
Sep 23, 2007
5716 posts
2302 upvotes

Nov 24th, 2017 1:15 pm

at1212b wrote: ↑ If you're a male, your changes are lower.
I must be good looking Face With Tears Of Joy

But I have to agree. Asian females tend to get the edge in accounting when it comes to hiring. And all the so called "equal opportunity" policies really just means you are screwed if you are not female and a visible minority. So maybe consider the trades?

If you ARE dead serious about accounting, there's no secret. Just apply and don't be afraid to start low. I did data entry and cashier when I was in school. You just have to show that you have attention to details. The stuff you learn in school really don't do anything to prepare you for these jobs. A lot of it is just common sense. Most companies have a developed procedure and you just have to follow it. There will be occasional oddball situations that requires you to make a call to deal with a vendor or whatever. So I wouldn't bother with a masters. Once you get your foot in the door, the real learning starts. And if you have a CPA, people probably don't care about your masters.
Nov 24th, 2017 5:43 pm
Xfiles
Banned
Oct 14, 2015
264 posts
109 upvotes
Markham, ON

Nov 24th, 2017 5:43 pm

at1212b wrote: ↑ If you're a male, your changes are lower.
Because clients want to see more females who are easy on the eyes and generally with better people skills and there's too many males already and female are in demand and preferred by clients
Nov 25th, 2017 10:31 am
renoldman
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User avatar
Sep 23, 2009
7741 posts
6589 upvotes

Nov 25th, 2017 10:31 am

30 years old starting out.

Don't do it.

The fact that you need experience to get an entry level minimum wage job should tell you to back away.

There is far too much competition and many people are willing to do something for next to nothing in hopes that it leads somewhere.

When there is only you doing something for next to nothing, it can work. When most people are doing it, you should do something else with your time.

Here is something for you to consider:

http://www.senecacollege.ca/stats/2014.html

Look at Accounting and Accounting and Finance. Only 61% of Accounting grads and 70% of Accounting Finance grads found a job 1 year later. This doesn't even indicate the quality of employment either - perhaps their job has nothing to do with what they studied.

There is no breakdown of stats for later years because schools want to hide the failures. Much better to think that 75% of grads found employment (that's Seneca) versus 60% of those who graduated from your program. Apparently, people don't go to College to get employment.
Nov 27th, 2017 10:13 am
blitzforce
Deal Addict
Nov 22, 2009
2807 posts
686 upvotes
Toronto

Nov 27th, 2017 10:13 am

renoldman wrote: ↑ 30 years old starting out.

Don't do it.

The fact that you need experience to get an entry level minimum wage job should tell you to back away.

There is far too much competition and many people are willing to do something for next to nothing in hopes that it leads somewhere.

When there is only you doing something for next to nothing, it can work. When most people are doing it, you should do something else with your time.

Here is something for you to consider:

http://www.senecacollege.ca/stats/2014.html

Look at Accounting and Accounting and Finance. Only 61% of Accounting grads and 70% of Accounting Finance grads found a job 1 year later. This doesn't even indicate the quality of employment either - perhaps their job has nothing to do with what they studied.

There is no breakdown of stats for later years because schools want to hide the failures. Much better to think that 75% of grads found employment (that's Seneca) versus 60% of those who graduated from your program. Apparently, people don't go to College to get employment.
I feel like accounting/finance is one of those areas where you either make decent coin or you make next to nothing. One group of people I know in accounting/finance make $13/hour, while another group all make $80k+ salary (non management).
Nov 27th, 2017 10:51 am
mjt20mik
Jr. Member
Oct 5, 2014
172 posts
75 upvotes
Toronto, ON

Nov 27th, 2017 10:51 am

Some words of advice:

-Make sure the courses you are doing is accredited for your CPA
-I would do a masters only if you are sure the master's program you are doing allows you to skip everything until Capstone 2. Otherwise it isn't worth it.
-Apply for any accounting related role. They way I started my career was through contract opportunities.
Nov 27th, 2017 11:38 am
blitzforce
Deal Addict
Nov 22, 2009
2807 posts
686 upvotes
Toronto

Nov 27th, 2017 11:38 am

mjt20mik wrote: ↑ Some words of advice:

-Make sure the courses you are doing is accredited for your CPA
-I would do a masters only if you are sure the master's program you are doing allows you to skip everything until Capstone 2. Otherwise it isn't worth it.
-Apply for any accounting related role. They way I started my career was through contract opportunities.
I would suggest not even start doing any additional programs until you've found a decent entry level position with growth potential.
Nov 27th, 2017 11:55 am
mjt20mik
Jr. Member
Oct 5, 2014
172 posts
75 upvotes
Toronto, ON

Nov 27th, 2017 11:55 am

blitzforce wrote: ↑ I would suggest not even start doing any additional programs until you've found a decent entry level position with growth potential.
It becomes hard in our job market IMO.

Employers want to see that you are enrolled in a CPA program (for accounting roles), or that you even have progressed through some exams. I found contract roles a bit more lenient for those who lack experience in the field.
Nov 27th, 2017 12:03 pm
blitzforce
Deal Addict
Nov 22, 2009
2807 posts
686 upvotes
Toronto

Nov 27th, 2017 12:03 pm

mjt20mik wrote: ↑ It becomes hard in our job market IMO.

Employers want to see that you are enrolled in a CPA program (for accounting roles), or that you even have progressed through some exams. I found contract roles a bit more lenient for those who lack experience in the field.
Then I would take your advice and start on contract roles for now. I was one of those that was willing to volunteer a bit during my early university years, then I ended up getting some clerk position during my later university years. Upon graduation, it took 2 weeks for me to get an entry position ($20 > $25 > almost $30/hr 2 years after graduation). I guess it's up to OP if he's willing to do whatever it takes for some experience. A friend of mine is at $35/hr now (volunteered during university) while another is struggling to break $16/hr because he thought it's BS to work for free (volunteer).

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