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Useful experience for accounts officers includes:

• accounting
• financial processing
• payroll
• office administration.

Accounts officers may do some or all of the following:

• arrange payment of bills and accounts
• issue customer invoices
• follow up outstanding payments
• process and keep records of financial transactions
• account reconciliation
• handle general accounts queries
• provide support to a wider financial or accounting team.

Accounts officers in demand

Accounts officers are in demand due to a steady growth in business services, forecasted to be the fastest-growing part of the job market. This growth in business services jobs is predicted to continue through to 2026.

Demand is best for experienced accounts payable and receivable officers who specialise in high-volume processing. The demand for bookkeepers is falling due to an increase in the use of online accounting software systems.

According to the Census, 19,359 accounts officers worked in New Zealand in 2018.

Types of employers varied

Most accounts officers work for:

• accounting firms
• large and small businesses
• government organisations
• payroll companies
• external accounts payable businesses.

Chartered Accountants Australia New Zealand (CA)

0800 469 422 - service@charteredaccountantsanz.com - www.charteredaccountantsanz.com/

Accounts officers may progress into payroll work or study to become an accountant.

• Payroll officer job information
• Accountant job information

Accounts officers may specialise in:

• accounts payable - organising the payment of invoices for an organisation
• accounts receivable - collecting and recording payments that come into an organisation.

Accounts officers need to be:

• able to adapt to new processes and systems
• accurate, with high attention to detail
• good at communicating
• proactive and show initiative
• well organised and have strong time management skills.