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Administrative Support Personnel, Bookkeeper, Office Personnel
In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.
The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used.
Here is how this occupation has been classified over time.
2006 NOC
2006 NOC-S
2011 NOC
2016 NOC
2021 NOC
2023 OaSIS
In small organizations, accounting technicians may perform some or all of the following duties:
In large organizations, duties often are divided among several employees with different titles, such as payroll clerk or cost clerk.
Accounting technicians usually work regular weekday hours in an office environment. Overtime may happen during peak business periods. Standard hours may be different in the service industry.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2006 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
Interest in compiling information to complete and submit tax remittance forms, workers' compensation forms, pension contribution forms and government documents
Interest in keeping records of accounts and in verifying financial recording procedures by operating manual and computerized bookkeeping systems
Interest in preparing tax returns and providing other personal bookkeeping services
To identify or change your interest codes, complete the Interests Exercise in CAREERinsite.
The interest code helps you figure out if you’d like to work in a particular occupation.
It’s based on the Canadian Work Preference Inventory (CWPI), which measures 5 occupational interests: Directive, Innovative, Methodical, Objective, and Social.
Each set of 3 interest codes for this NOC group is listed in order of importance.
A code in capital letters means it’s a strong fit for the occupation.
A code in all lowercase letters means the fit is weaker.
To fill in or change the values for your abilities, complete the Abilities Exercise in CAREERinsite.
A Quick Guide
You are born with abilities that help you process certain types of information and turn it into action. These abilities influence which skills you can learn more easily.
The abilities or aptitudes shown for this NOC group come from the General Aptitude Test Battery (GATB). The GATB measures 9 aptitudes. It groups them into 3 categories: mental, visual, and physical.
The abilities scores range from 1 to 5, with 5 being stronger.
Accounting technicians need:
They should enjoy having clear rules and organized methods for their work. They also should enjoy balancing financial records and business transactions. They should be comfortable operating computerized systems and office equipment.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
This chart shows which job skills are currently in highest demand for this occupational group. It was created using this occupation's 1328 most recent Alberta job postings, collected between Apr 15, 2024 and Apr 19, 2024.
Review these skills to learn:
| Tasks: Keep financial records and establish, maintain and balance various accounts using manual and computerized bookkeeping systems | 1278 |
|---|---|
| Tasks: Maintain general ledgers and financial statements | 1231 |
| Tasks: Post journal entries | 1182 |
| Tasks: Prepare trial balance of books | 1168 |
| Tasks: Calculate and prepare cheques for payroll | 1040 |
| Tasks: Prepare other statistical, financial and accounting reports | 985 |
| Tasks: Reconcile accounts | 980 |
| Tasks: Prepare tax returns | 955 |
| Tasks: Calculate fixed assets and depreciation | 875 |
| Experience: 1 year to less than 2 years | 773 |
Accounting technicians need an understanding of business documents. This could include receipts, till tapes, purchase orders, credit and sales slips, bank statements, financial statements and invoices.
Educational requirements for accounting and bookkeeping positions vary greatly from one employer to another. They also depend on the scope and responsibility of the position. Most companies do electronic bookkeeping and expect their employees to have related training or experience. They may require up to 2 years of on-the-job training or a related post-secondary certificate or diploma. Employers may prefer to hire candidates who are working toward a professional accounting designation (see the Accountant occupational profile).
Most employers prefer to hire candidates who have taken related courses and programs from colleges, technical institutes or private vocational schools.
The following schools offer programs or courses that are related to this occupation but are not required to enter the field.
To expand or narrow your search for programs related to this occupation, visit Post-Secondary Programs.
Completing a program does not guarantee entrance into an occupation. Before enrolling in an education program, prospective students should look into various sources for education options and employment possibilities. For example, contact associations and employers in this field.
There is currently no provincial legislation regulating this occupation in Alberta.
Source: 2019-2023 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook
Accounting technicians work in organizations ranging from retail companies and manufacturing firms to agencies that provide health, education or social services. Some positions are part time.
Advancement most often depends on the technician’s willingness to take further education. Some accounting technicians move into related positions in data management.
This section shows the industries where the majority of people in this occupation work. The data is based on the 2016 Census.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.
In the 1311: Accounting technicians and bookkeepers occupational group, 75.0% of people work in:
Employment outlook is influenced by a wide variety of factors including:
In Alberta, the 1311: Accounting technicians and bookkeepers occupational group is expected to have a below-average annual growth of 1.8% from 2019 to 2023. In addition to job openings created by employment turnover, 502 new positions are forecasted to be created within this occupational group each year.
Note
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For example, only some of the new positions to be created will be for this occupation. It also applies to other data for the NOC group such as number of people employed.
Source: 2019-2023 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook
Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.
Accounting technicians with little experience may start at salaries not much higher than minimum wage. Starting salaries are higher for graduates of related post-secondary programs.
As of June 26, 2019, the minimum wage in Alberta is $15.00 per hour for most workers. For more information, see Minimum Wage.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
Unless otherwise noted, the data shown here is for all industries and all regions in Alberta.
All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production), and other forms of compensation.
To see the full survey data for this NOC group, visit the wage profile.
Other wage sources
To make an informed wage and salary decision, research other wage sources [pdf] to supplement this data.
High Reliability, represents a CV of less than or equal to 6.00% and 30 survey observations and/or represents 50% or more of all estimated employment for the occupation.
| Wages* | Low (5th percentile) | High (95th percentile) | Average | Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting | $16.00 | $36.76 | $24.14 | $23.00 |
| Overall | $19.25 | $42.44 | $28.95 | $27.93 |
| Top | $20.58 | $53.60 | $33.45 | $31.75 |
Swipe left and right to view all data. Scroll left and right to view all data.
* All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production) and other forms of compensation.
Pay brackets for hourly wages
| ALL INDUSTRIES | $50,885 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture | $51,294 |
| Oil & Gas Extraction | $59,915 |
| Utilities | $63,130 |
| Construction | $52,848 |
| Manufacturing | $55,000 |
| Wholesale Trade | $52,240 |
| Retail Trade | $43,716 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | $48,808 |
| Information, Culture, Recreation | $51,477 |
| Finance, Insurance, Real Estate, Leasing | $55,190 |
| Professional, Scientific & Technical Services | $52,710 |
| Business, Building and Other Support Services | $49,623 |
| Educational Services | $51,258 |
| Health Care & Social Assistance | $30,411 |
| Accommodation & Food Services | $35,669 |
| Other Services (Repair, Personal Services and Related) | $41,976 |
| Public Administration | $77,542 |
Updated Mar 31, 2020. The information contained in this profile is current as of the dates shown. Salary, employment outlook, and educational program information may change without notice. It is advised that you confirm this information before making any career decisions.
