What is the average salary for an accountant in Australia?
The salary range for accountants in Australia is between $39,403 and $81,510.
Career options for accountants
The path of your career could take you in many exciting directions with a qualification in accounting. Potential jobs include: accountant, accounting manager, auditor, bookkeeper, chief financial officer, financial analyst, payroll manager and tax specialist.
What kind of people are suited to a career in accounting?
Accountancy obviously involves a lot of maths and working with figures. Accountants should enjoy and understand numbers. Accountants should also have analytical minds, be able think critically and have an aptitude for problem solving. Good accountants will also need to have good organisation and communication skills.
Types of accounting courses available in Australia
There are many different accountancy courses available all over Australia for people of all different levels. You might be just starting out your career in accountancy and want a full-time undergraduate degree, or be an experienced accountant looking to study their postgraduate degree part-time. There are also short and long accounting courses you can study online. Read the following options and decide which is best for you:
Short accounting courses
These courses usually last for a few weeks, and are a great way to learn basic accounting skills for your small business, or to decide if you want to commit to a longer accounting course.
Certificate III
This TAFE level/vocational course is recognised nationally, and can help you get a job in accounts administration. Pre-requisites are minimal, and you could work in the fields of payroll, accounts payable, accounts receivable or as an assistant accountant.
Certificate IV
Another vocational/TAFE course, this course covers the core parts of accounting in Australia. Students learn how to maintain accounting systems, report on business performance, and prepare financial statements, budgets, BAS statements and more. It may lead to a career in the fields of accounts clerk, accounts payable/receivable, BAS agent, payroll clerk and more.
Diploma
This TAFE/vocational accounting course usually takes one or two years to complete, and goes more in depth into more specialised areas of accounting. Graduates will be able to prepare detailed financial statements and business performance reports, as well as prepare comprehensive tax statements. They will be eligible for jobs such as accounts office managers, tax agents or senior financial clerks.
Bachelor of Accounting or Bachelor of Business (Accounting)
These undergraduate degrees usually take around three years to complete, although some institutions will recognise prior learning with a Diploma in Accounting. Often this accounting degree can be completed online or part time, so that students can complete work commitments. This degree helps you to obtain well paying jobs such as as a professional accountant, financial planner or funds manager.
Postgraduate accounting degree
These in-depth degrees lets you explore how accounting works with business fields such as operations, banking, finance, or specialised accounting practices. You could get a Graduate Certificate, Gradual Diploma or a Masters in Accounting.
