Gain Hands-on Skills With Accounts Assistant Training

Hands-On Skills You’ll Gain from Our Accounts Assistant Training

If you’ve ever considered a career in accounting, you’ll know it’s a profession that demands accuracy, attention to detail, and a solid understanding of financial processes. But in today’s competitive job market, qualifications alone aren’t always enough. Employers increasingly want candidates who can hit the ground running.

Introduction

Hands-on skills for an Accounts Assistant make all the difference. They allow you to confidently manage day-to-day financial tasks, contribute to the success of an accounting team, and demonstrate real value from your very first day on the job.

At PC Training, we understand the challenges facing job seekers and career changers alike. Our Accounts Assistant Training Course bridges the gap between classroom learning and professional practice. By training under qualified accountants and working with genuine company financial records, you’ll gain the kind of experience employers want to see on a CV. Over just a few weeks, you’ll transform from someone with theoretical knowledge to someone who can genuinely perform in a finance department.

In the sections that follow, we’ll explore why an Accounts Assistant career is such a strong option, what makes our training unique, the exact skills you’ll gain, and how those skills can lead to long-term career success.

Why Choose an Accounts Assistant Career?

Accounting is one of the few professions that remain stable across industries. Every company, whether it’s a start-up or a global corporation, needs people to manage finances, prepare reports, and ensure compliance with ever-changing regulations. This universal need means that Accounts Assistants are always in demand.

In March 2025 alone, thousands of Accounts Assistant vacancies were advertised on job boards such as Indeed, Reed, and Totaljobs. These figures highlight just how many opportunities are available for people with the right training. As businesses expand and financial regulations become more complex, the need for skilled professionals is only expected to grow further.

Salary Prospects and Career Progression

One of the biggest attractions of this career path is the earning potential. Accounts Assistants typically earn between £25,000 and £38,000 per year. With experience, you could quickly progress into roles such as Finance Assistant or Accounts Payable Specialist, where salaries rise to £42,000.

Career progression doesn’t stop there. Many Accounts Assistants go on to become Junior Accountants or Assistant Accountants, earning up to £45,000 annually. For those who choose to pursue professional qualifications such as AAT, ACCA, or CIMA, the ceiling is even higher, opening doors to senior and management-level positions.

A Stepping Stone to Higher Roles

While some people remain in Accounts Assistant roles long term, many use it as a stepping stone to bigger opportunities. The skills you gain in this position form the foundation of accounting and finance. By learning to manage transactions, reconcile accounts, and prepare reports, you set yourself up to handle more complex tasks in the future.

With the right training, this role can be the launchpad for an entire career in accounting, whether you aspire to work in industry, practice, or even run your own firm one day.

Overview of Our Accounts Assistant Training

At PC Training, we’ve developed a course that is practical, flexible, and career-focused. Unlike traditional classroom programmes, our training ensures that every skill you learn is directly applicable to real-world accounting.

The course takes between two and four weeks to complete, with around 100 hours of training in total. Because flexibility matters, we allow you to set your own schedule, making it possible to study around work, family, or other commitments.

What makes our course stand out is the teaching approach. All sessions are led by qualified accountants who bring years of industry knowledge to the table. You’ll not only learn what to do but also why it’s important, and how it applies in practice.

Crucially, you’ll be working with real company financial data. This experience is invaluable because it mirrors the challenges you’ll face in the workplace. From day one, you’ll be learning in the same way you’ll be expected to work, building confidence and competence simultaneously.

At the end of the training, you’ll receive a CPD-approved certificate to strengthen your CV. Beyond the certificate, we also provide recruitment support, including guidance on CV preparation, interview techniques, and even job applications. Many of our trainees secure employment within weeks of completing the programme.

Core Hands-On Skills You’ll Gain For A Career As An Accounts Assistant

Core Accounting & Financial Skills

An Accounts Assistant is the backbone of any finance department, handling the essential day-to-day tasks that keep everything running smoothly. During the course, you’ll learn to:

  • Process invoices and expenses with precision.
  • Reconcile control accounts and resolve discrepancies.
  • Prepare year-end journals from source documents.
  • Calculate depreciation using methods such as straight-line and reducing balance.
  • Correctly record accruals and prepayments.

These may sound like technical processes, but in practice, they are the building blocks of financial accuracy. For example, reconciling control accounts ensures that recorded transactions match bank statements, preventing errors from snowballing into major issues. By mastering these tasks, you’ll prove to employers that you can be trusted with vital financial responsibilities.

Financial Statements & Reporting

Once you’ve mastered transactional tasks, the next step is understanding how those transactions contribute to bigger financial pictures. That’s where financial statements come in. You’ll learn how to prepare trial balances, profit and loss accounts, and balance sheets, as well as understand the principles of double-entry bookkeeping.

This isn’t just about filling in numbers, it’s about seeing how day-to-day activity influences overall performance. You’ll also gain experience with more complex reporting requirements, such as the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS), which is critical in sectors like construction and real estate.

Advanced Excel & Data Analysis

In the modern workplace, Excel is indispensable. Employers expect more than basic spreadsheet knowledge, which is why we cover advanced techniques. You’ll become confident using formulas such as VLOOKUP, SUMIFS, and IFERROR to extract and manipulate data efficiently.

You’ll also create pivot tables and pivot charts, which allow you to analyse and visualise large datasets quickly. This is a particularly valuable skill, as managers often rely on Accounts Assistants to present data in a clear, digestible way.

To prepare you for more complex tasks, you’ll also explore loan amortisation and financial forecasting. By the end of the course, Excel will no longer feel intimidating, it will feel like a tool you can use to add real value.

Practical Software Training

Alongside Excel, you’ll train with Xero, one of the UK’s most widely used accounting systems. You’ll learn to customise charts of accounts, maintain supplier and customer records, and track receipts and payments.

Working with Xero during training means that when you enter the workplace, you won’t need extensive onboarding, you’ll already know how to navigate the software confidently. This kind of practical software experience can make you stand out in job interviews and help you settle quickly into new roles.

Industry Applications of These Skills

One of the best aspects of accounting is its universality. The skills you learn aren’t confined to one sector, they apply across almost every industry.

For example, in e-commerce and retail, you may be tasked with managing high volumes of transactions and returns. In construction, you could be handling CIS compliance and project-based financial tracking. In manufacturing, you’ll focus on monitoring supplier costs and production expenses, while in healthcare, regulatory requirements make accurate reporting vital.

Even in industries you might not immediately think of, such as fashion, automotive, or hospitality, skilled Accounts Assistants are needed to ensure financial stability. No matter your personal interests, the training equips you with transferable skills that will remain in demand.

Career Pathways After Training

The opportunities after completing this course are wide-ranging. Most trainees begin with roles such as Accounts Assistant, Accounts Clerk, or Finance Assistant. Salaries in these positions range from £25,000 to £42,000 depending on the role and sector.

With a little experience, you can specialise in areas such as Accounts Payable or Accounts Receivable, or move into more advanced positions like Junior Accountant. Those looking for long-term progression can use the skills gained as a foundation for further study, working towards professional qualifications that open the door to senior finance roles.

In other words, this training doesn’t just prepare you for a single job, it sets you up for an entire career path.

Who Should Enrol in This Training?

Our Accounts Assistant Training is suitable for a wide variety of learners. If you’re struggling to break into accounting without experience, this course provides the practical skills employers demand. If you’re considering a career change, it offers a structured and supportive entry into a stable profession.

University and college students pursuing finance-related degrees often find it boosts their employability, while existing professionals use it to upskill and move into higher-paying positions. Even aspiring Chartered Accountants use it to reinforce their understanding of practical processes before tackling professional exams.

Why Choose Our Accounts Assistant Training?

With so many training providers available, why choose PC Training? The answer lies in our focus on practicality and employability. Everything about our course is designed to prepare you for real-world work. You won’t just listen to lectures or memorise definitions, you’ll practise the exact tasks you’ll be expected to perform in a job.

We also offer one-to-one mentorship, flexible learning options, CPD certification, and guaranteed recruitment support. These features ensure you not only gain skills but also have the backing you need to turn those skills into employment. And with a free demo session available, you can see the value for yourself before committing.

Summary

A successful career in accounting starts with the right training. By enrolling in our Accounts Assistant Training Course, you’ll develop the hands-on skills employers value most. From mastering Excel and Xero to preparing financial statements and managing reconciliations, every skill you gain is immediately applicable in the workplace.

The demand for skilled Accounts Assistants is high, salaries are competitive, and progression opportunities are abundant. Whether you’re entering the field for the first time, changing careers, or aiming to advance further, this training provides the solid foundation you need.

Take the next step today. Book your free demo session with PC Training and start building a career that offers stability, growth, and long-term success.