Getting into accounting with no experience might sound intimidating on the surface. But many pull it off, building a small, practical skill set long before they have a polished resume or formal training.
It doesn’t matter if you’re changing careers or don’t have a college degree. What matters is showing that you can work with numbers and use the same tools employers rely on every day. Once you have that foundation, entry-level roles open up—bookkeeping assistant, accounts payable clerk, payroll support, and other starter positions that help you grow into the field.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to get an accounting job with no experience. We’ll explore what to study, which certifications can help, and how to get real-world practice.
Key Points
- You can get an accounting job without experience by first learning core skills, like basic finance concepts and software platforms, through free or low-cost courses.
- Short, stackable credentials in bookkeeping or tax prep help you stand out because they show you’ve completed real training and can apply the material.
- Once you’ve built core skills, start applying for entry-level roles, like bookkeeper, accounting clerk, accounts payable/accounts receivable (AP/AR) clerk, payroll assistant, or junior tax preparer.
- Use internships or volunteer work as real accounting experience on your resume. Class projects may count, too.
- Past jobs often translate more than you expect. Skills like cash handling and customer service, for example, can support an accounting application. They’re even more powerful if you pair them with active learning and consistent practice.
Why Accounting is a Great Career to Start Without Experience
Accounting can be an approachable career field for beginners. Businesses of all sizes need people who can track money coming in and going out. That means entry-level accounting and bookkeeping roles show up across industries, from retail and restaurants to nonprofits and technology. And it opens the door for people who are learning the basics and can show they’re dependable.
For career changers and early-career workers, accounting also offers a clear path to grow. You could start in roles like accounting assistant or junior bookkeeper and build toward staff accountant or analyst positions over time. The skills you build by organizing financial data and understanding how decisions affect a business carry into finance, operations, and even entrepreneurial work if your goals shift later.
Best of all, you don’t need to quit your job or go back to school full-time to get started. Online learning platforms, including Intuit Academy, let you build accounting fundamentals at your own pace, often for little to no cost.
Each course or credential you add becomes something concrete you can point to when employers want to see what you can do.
Step 1: Build Your Accounting Fundamentals
If you’re getting into accounting with no experience, your first move is to learn the core language of accounting. Employers want to know you understand basics like how financial statements fit together, even if you’ve never held an accounting title.
Online learning is one of the quickest ways to build that foundation. Self-paced courses let you study around work or school, and many solid beginner options cost little or nothing. With the right structure, you can move from “I’m comfortable with numbers” to “I can record transactions and read a balance sheet.”
Start with classes that teach practical bookkeeping skills, spreadsheet work, and the software used in most entry-level roles. Intuit Academy’s free courses, for example, fit this stage well by offering step-by-step lessons that build confidence.
Step 2: Get Certified to Stand Out
Once you’ve got the basics down, a certification can help you stand out. A credential signals to hiring managers that you’ve put in structured effort and can apply core skills on the job.
It makes sense to start with beginner-friendly options that match the kind of job you want. A bookkeeping certification, for example, demonstrates your ability to record transactions, reconcile accounts, and work with financial statements. A tax prep course signals that you can work with common forms and support clients during tax season. And payroll training builds the skills needed for roles that handle paychecks and benefits.
If you’re shifting into accounting or just getting started in your working life, these credentials act as a bridge between “no experience” and “ready for an entry-level accounting job.”
Step 3: Apply for Entry-Level Jobs
Once you have some foundational skills (and maybe a certification or two), it’s time to start applying. Entry-level accounting roles are built for beginners, so a lighter resume isn’t a dealbreaker. These roles are meant for people who are learning their way into the field, whether you’re coming from another industry or taking your first step into office work.
Common Entry-Level Accounting Jobs
Here are some beginner-friendly roles worth watching for as you start your search. Salary figures are drawn from US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data.
Bookkeeper (Average salary: $49,580)
- Records day-to-day transactions
- Reconciles bank accounts
- Helps keep financial statements and reporting organized
- Great for building core accounting skills
Accounting Assistant or Clerk (Average salary: $49,580)
- Performs basic accounting data and spreadsheet tasks
- Helps staff accountants with filing
- Assists with basic financial reports
- Perfect for on-the-job experience while you’re still learning
Accounts Payable or Receivable Clerk (Average salary: $49,580)
- Processes incoming and outgoing payments
- Creates invoices for clients and vendors
- Prepares management reports and financial statements
- A great role to sharpen your attention to detail and comfort with numbers
Payroll Assistant (Average salary: $54,690)
- Ensures accurate payroll data for employees and the company
- Troubleshoots employee payroll inquiries
- Assist with any necessary year-end reporting
- A great opportunity for building both technical and confidentiality skills
Junior Staff Accountant or Tax Preparer (Average salary: $58,160)
- Assists with financial statements or tax returns
- Track cash flow, monitor payments, and ensure organizations can cover expenses
- Uphold any industry-specific data management compliance standards
- A great way to launch your career while learning directly from more experienced professionals
Where to Find Entry-Level Opportunities
If you’re starting your search, job boards like LinkedIn and ZipRecruiter can be helpful places to look. You might try looking for terms such as “entry-level accounting,” “accounting clerk,” or “junior bookkeeper.”
You can also check company career pages for internships and trainee roles. Additionally, it may be worth looking into small local businesses that may need part-time help.
Online learning platforms, including Intuit Academy, sometimes highlight early-career opportunities or point you toward the skills employers look for. You can also explore early-career opportunities on Intuit’s career site. Even if you’re early in your journey, scanning open roles gives you a clearer picture of how entry-level accounting and tax positions are available at large companies.
Step 4: Gain Experience Through Internships and Volunteer Work
Focus on getting hands-on practice, even if it’s part-time or unpaid, to bridge the gap between “no experience” and your first accounting job. Internships and volunteer roles let you apply what you’ve learned in real situations and collect concrete examples you can share in applications and interviews.
Internships with small businesses or local firms can be especially helpful. Many need extra support with bookkeeping or tax prep during busy periods and are open to beginners who show initiative and a willingness to learn.
Volunteer work can build the same skills. Community tax clinics and student or community organizations often need help recording transactions or organizing financial records. If you’re taking Intuit Academy’s free tax preparation classes, you can use those skills to contribute in these settings and build a portfolio of real work.
Every project (paid or unpaid) adds to your practical experience and gives employers something concrete to evaluate.
Step 5: Highlight Transferrable Skills
Even if you’ve never had “accounting” in your job title, you may have experience that employers care about. Customer service and operations roles could involve handling cash, using spreadsheets, following procedures, and meeting deadlines—all highly relevant to accounting.
On your resume, translate what you’ve done into accounting language. For example, instead of “worked the register,” you might say “processed daily sales and helped reconcile cash drawer variances.” If you’ve used Excel, mention tasks like tracking budgets or creating simple reports.
This kind of reframing helps hiring managers see how your past roles prepared you for bookkeeping or entry-level accounting positions, even if your path into the field looks nontraditional.
Step 6: Network and Connect with the Accounting Community
Skills and certifications help you get noticed, but connections often play a big role in getting into accounting.
A great place to start is by updating your LinkedIn profile to reflect your new direction: Add your accounting courses, certifications, software skills, and any internships or volunteer work. Use your headline and “About” section to say clearly that you’re pursuing entry-level accounting or bookkeeping roles.
From there, start connecting. Reach out to classmates or coworkers who work with numbers or in finance-adjacent roles. Join online accounting communities and attend virtual or local events. Something as simple as “I’m transitioning into accounting and would love to hear how you got started,” can spark helpful conversations.
Step 7: Keep Learning and Stay Consistent
Breaking into accounting without experience rarely happens overnight. The candidates who tend to stand out are those who continue to learn and remain committed to showing up. Set a simple weekly goal, such as practicing a few exercises in Excel or reviewing a set of practice questions. Each small step builds your skills and confidence.
Stay curious about the field. Follow accounting news and continually expand your toolkit with free or low-cost courses from providers like Intuit Academy. Even if you get rejections at first, your growing skills and hands-on practice are moving you closer to that first “yes.”
Take the First Step Toward an Accounting Career
You can get into accounting with no experience by stacking small wins, such as learning core skills, taking a course, or practicing with simple projects. Keep moving forward, one step at a time.
As you learn the fundamentals, try small projects or translate past work into accounting language; you’re building a story that employers can recognize. You’re showing them that you’re committed and capable.
If you don’t know where to start, Intuit Academy’s free, self-paced accounting and bookkeeping courses are great options to get you started. Joining today and completing your first module is a simple, low-stakes way to take that first step and gain real career momentum.
FAQs
How important is networking for beginners in accounting?
Networking matters a lot for beginners because many entry-level accounting jobs are filled through referrals or recommendations. Connecting with classmates and professionals on LinkedIn can help you learn about openings early and get your resume noticed.
How long does it take in general to land an accounting job when starting with no experience?
There’s no single timeline for getting into accounting with no experience. Some people move quickly once they start learning the basics and sending out applications, while others take longer depending on their schedule, location, and the types of roles they’re pursuing.
Are there specific courses beneficial for starting in accounting?
Yes. Courses that cover bookkeeping fundamentals and basic Excel or spreadsheet skills are very helpful for beginners. From there, you can add focused learning in areas like payroll or tax preparation to match the jobs you’re targeting.
