Lateral entry into this field of work is a very good opportunity for people who come from a different profession. You do not need to have a degree in accounting or tax law.
As a career changer, it is important that you have a certain affinity for numbers and can work conscientiously and accurately.
You should also keep up to date with the legal requirements and changes in tax law so that you are always up-to-date.
Those who successfully enter this field have good job opportunities and can work in various sectors, as almost every company needs workers in this field.
As an accountant, you are responsible for the financial accounting of a company.
He is responsible for recording all financial transactions such as purchases, sales, salaries and taxes and documenting them in the company's accounting system.
You are responsible for ensuring that all entries are correctly categorised and booked to ensure that the company can meet its financial obligations. This requires an in-depth knowledge of current tax regulations and financial standards.
With retraining in this area of work, you can then take over the complete financial accounting of a company or be responsible for sub-areas such as accounts receivable or accounts payable, along with payment management and dunning.
Job profile of an accountant and requirements
Digitisation is now common practice in accounting.
By using specialised accounting software, numerous work steps can be automated, such as the recording of receipts or the creation of invoices. The automatic processing of data from the bank account or other systems is now also standard.
This can significantly reduce the time and labour required for processing.
"What do you earn in this profession? " is a common question and cannot be answered in general terms.
Depending on your experience, training and region, you can earn a gross salary of 2,500 to 4,500 euros per month.
The Starting salary is around 2,000 euros gross, but can vary depending on the company, size and industry.
Those who work here have a good chance of a salary increase through additional qualifications or promotions. A higher qualification as an accountant or controller can significantly increase your income.
Those who take on management responsibility and lead a team usually earn more.
Overall, it can be said that this is a future-proof profession with good earning potential.
There are different job profiles, some of which overlap or complement each other in their tasks and are therefore often confused in the job title.
Accountant are responsible for recording all business transactions in a company and form the basis for preparing the annual financial statements.
In an additional training programme, you can become a Accountant further training. They are responsible for preparing the annual financial statements and balance sheets and are responsible for the tax and legal accuracy of these documents.
Tax clerk (apprenticeship), on the other hand, provide support primarily in the preparation of tax returns and payroll accounting as well as in correspondence with tax offices and other authorities.
In contrast to accountants and bookkeepers, tax clerks specialise in applying tax law know-how and advising on tax issues.
If you have not completed an accounting training programme, there are a few options to learn the basics of accounting.
Accounting is not an apprenticeship, but you can attend numerous training courses at private educational institutions. Adult education centres also offer bookkeeping courses where you can learn the basic principles and techniques. These courses are often inexpensive and teach you the necessary skills in a short space of time.
The basics of accounting include topics such as bookkeeping, annual financial statements and taxes.
In addition, participants gain knowledge of the software and technical aids.
A retraining programme can take different lengths of time depending on the scope and provider. It often also depends on whether you can devote yourself to the training full-time or acquire the knowledge part-time alongside your work.
There are both Classic classroom training educational institutions as well as Online-based further training.
Face-to-face training gives you the opportunity to interact directly with lecturers and learn on a fixed schedule.
Online courses, on the other hand, can be completed completely independently and also offer webinars in which you learn with other participants and a lecturer.
As a rule, the courses offer a combination of theoretical content and practical experience to provide participants with the necessary knowledge and skills.
The duration can range from a few weeks to several months, depending on how intensively you learn and how the course programme is designed.
The cost of retraining as an accountant can vary depending on the educational institution, duration and course content.
A classic part-time retraining programme usually lasts between 6 and 12 months and costs an average of 1,000 to 5,000 euros.
However, there are also state-subsidised retraining courses (job centres, pension insurance) that are offered free of charge or at a reduced price for jobseekers or people returning to work.
Adult education centres generally offer courses at lower prices and also at reduced rates (pupils, students, job seekers).
As there is a very high demand for labour in the field of accounting, many employers finance part or all of the training costs.
The current situation for jobseekers is very, very good.
Employers are desperately looking for employees in companies and tax consultancies. There are many vacancies in the field of finance / accounting.
Although digitalisation has led to changes in some areas, accounting staff remain an indispensable part of companies. Due to the increasing complexity and growth of many companies, demand will continue to rise in the coming years.
In terms of figures, the labour market for accountants appears to be stable:
The Unemployment rate for this occupational group in Germany is currently less than two per cent.
Specialists in this field therefore have good opportunities on the labour market and can look forward to attractive job offers.
As an accountant, there are various ways to expand your professional skills and keep up to date.
These include courses at the Adult education centres (VHS) or at private educational institutions.
The VHS offers courses in various areas of accounting, including bookkeeping, accounting or cost and performance accounting.
Private training providers often offer seminars that specialise in specific software solutions or specialist areas of accounting.
Another important contact point for further training opportunities is the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK). Seminars and courses on further training topics can be completed here, which can also be concluded with an examination and certificate.
Targeted further training in accounting can significantly improve career opportunities and lead to a specialist or management position in the company.
After a few years of experience, you can become a Accountant qualify. This increases the scope for organisation, responsibility within the company and also earnings. In principle, nothing stands in the way of later training as a tax consultant. Training as an accountant is the first step towards this!
In any case !
This field of work also has good career opportunities in the future. It will always be needed to monitor and manage the financial environment in companies and organisations.
The knowledge and skills of accountants are important for the economic growth of a company and for successful business management. In addition, advancing technology is also an important factor for the future development of accountancy professions.
Accountants need to prepare for the use of digital tools, platforms and programmes to work more efficiently and effectively. Accountants also need to be able to analyse data and provide insights into current trends to add value to the business.
In short, full-time or part-time accounting is a profession with a future that offers solid job opportunities for those who have the necessary knowledge and skills.
If you want to switch to a completely new area of work in the foreseeable future, you will have a tough time in the field of accounting. Retraining to accountant comparatively light. Training time and costs are manageabler. No state-recognised vocational training or even a degree is required.
After completing your training, you can easily find jobs and vacancies in finance and accounting and can earn a New professional foothold build up.
In this article, we discussed the various options and alternatives for establishing a new foothold in this area. In cooperation with the Treptow-Köpenick adult education centre, we offer a comprehensive online training course. More about this in the Main menu.
