From Accounts Payable or Bookkeeping to Accountant: How to Make the Step
Some of the best accountants I placed in 20 years of recruiting did not start as graduates. They started in accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll or bookkeeping. They learned how money actually moves through a business before they learned the theory behind it.
That background is a real strength. But making the step from transactional work into an Accountant role is not automatic. Many people get stuck. They do the same job for years, watch graduates come in above them and wonder what they are missing.
This article covers what usually stands between a transactional role and an Accountant role, and how to close the gap.
Why the step can feel hard
From the outside, the step looks small. You already work in finance. You know the systems. You understand the ledgers.
From an employer’s point of view, the roles are different. A transactional role is mostly about processing accurately and on time. An Accountant role is about understanding and explaining the numbers, owning parts of month end and making judgements about how things should be recorded.
Employers hiring an Accountant usually want to see:
A relevant qualification, or one in progress
Experience with journals, accruals and reconciliations
Some exposure to month end and reporting
An understanding of how the balance sheet and profit and loss fit together
The ability to explain numbers to non-finance people
If your resume only shows processing, employers will see you as a processor, however capable you are.
Step 1: Get the qualification moving
This is the single biggest factor for most people.
In Australia and New Zealand, most Accountant roles expect a degree in accounting or commerce, and many prefer progress towards CA or CPA. Without a degree, you are likely to be limited to smaller businesses or roles that grow out of your current one.
Options include:
A bachelor’s degree in accounting or commerce, often part time or online
A diploma or advanced diploma in accounting, which can be a stepping stone
A graduate diploma or master’s in professional accounting if you already have a degree in another field
Check with CA ANZ, CPA Australia or the IPA for the current entry requirements and pathways for each designation.
You do not need to finish before you apply for Accountant roles. Being well progressed and on track is often enough, especially with strong practical experience.
Step 2: Ask for more work where you are
The easiest way to get Accountant experience is often in your current job. Talk to your manager. Say you want to build your skills and ask whether you can take on:
Month end accruals and prepayments
Balance sheet reconciliations
Fixed asset register updates
Preparing the BAS or GST returns
Helping with the audit
Simple reporting or analysis
Many managers are glad to share the load. Offer to do it well, then ask for feedback.
Even a few months of this work changes what you can put on your resume. It also gives your manager something specific to say when they act as your referee.
Step 3: Build the right skills
Beyond the qualification, a few practical skills make a big difference:
Excel. Lookups, pivot tables and simple formulas are expected. Being quick and accurate in Excel is one of the fastest ways to stand out.
Understanding the full set of accounts. Learn how a transaction flows from an invoice to the general ledger to the financial statements. Ask your manager to walk you through the month end pack.
Explaining numbers. Practise telling a manager what a number means in plain words. “Freight costs went up $20,000 this month because we sent three urgent shipments by air” is the kind of explanation that gets noticed.
Systems. Experience with more than one accounting system helps. If your business is changing systems, volunteer to help.
Step 4: Rewrite your resume for the role you want
This is where many people miss the opportunity. They apply for Accountant roles with a resume written for their current job.
Your resume should lead with the work that looks like an Accountant’s job:
Put month end, reconciliations, journals and reporting at the top of your bullets
Add a profile that says where you are heading: “Accounts Payable Officer moving into an Accountant role. Completing CPA (three of six subjects). Prepares month end accruals and balance sheet reconciliations alongside a full payables workload.”
Show achievements, not just tasks
Make your qualification progress visible near the top
For guidance on what to include, see my accountant resume guide.
Step 5: Choose the right next role
Not every Accountant role is a good first step. Some work better than others for people coming from a transactional background:
Assistant Accountant in a small or mid-sized business. You will usually get broad exposure and the chance to grow quickly.
Accountant roles in businesses you know. If you have worked in an industry for years, your knowledge of how it runs is valuable. An Accountant role in the same industry plays to that strength.
Internal promotion. Often the easiest path. Your employer already trusts you.
Shared services and larger corporates. These can offer structured progression, but roles are sometimes narrower.
Be open to a sideways step if it gives you the experience you need. A role with a slightly lower title but much broader work can move your career faster than a title change alone.
How to talk about it in interviews
Interviewers will want to know why you want the move and whether you are ready.
Be clear and confident about your background. “I have spent four years in accounts payable, so I know how transactions work in detail. Over the past year, I have taken on month end accruals and reconciliations, and I am halfway through my CPA. I want to build on that in a full Accountant role.”
Have examples ready of the higher-level work you have done. Show you understand what the role involves and that you have already started doing it.
Questions you might hear
“Why do you want to move from payables into accounting?”
“Tell me about the month end work you have done.”
“How do you balance study with full-time work?”
“Walk me through how an invoice ends up in the financial statements.”
“Tell me about a time you found an error and fixed it.”
Prepare a short answer for each. For more on the questions at the next level, see Senior Accountant interview questions.
Do not undersell your background
People who come up through transactional roles often feel they are behind graduates. In many ways, you are ahead.
You know how suppliers behave. You know where errors come from. You understand how long things actually take. You have dealt with angry customers and late approvals. That practical knowledge makes you a better accountant, and later, a better manager.
Many Financial Controllers and Finance Managers I have worked with started exactly where you are. The Finance Manager career path shows how the rest of the ladder works.
How long does it take?
It depends on your study, the opportunities in your current role and the market. Many people make the move within one to three years of starting their qualification, especially if they take on extra responsibility along the way.
The people who move fastest tend to do three things at once: study steadily, ask for more work and keep their resume up to date.
Common mistakes
Waiting until the qualification is fully finished before applying
Applying with a resume that only shows processing
Not asking for more responsibility in the current role
Underselling practical experience in interviews
Only applying for roles with “Accountant” in the title, and missing good Assistant Accountant roles with broader scope
A sample resume profile for this step
Here is how the top of a resume might look for someone making this move:
“Accounts Payable Officer moving into an Accountant role. Four years in a $90 million distribution business, processing around 1,500 invoices a month in SAP. Since 2025, also prepares month end accruals, balance sheet reconciliations for payables and GST, and supports the external audit. Completing CPA (three of six subjects). Known for accuracy, process improvement and clear communication with suppliers and managers.”
It shows the past, the present and the direction in one paragraph.
Your next step
Book a 20-minute conversation with your manager this month. Ask which month end or reporting tasks you could take on in the next three months. Then make sure your resume reflects them as soon as you start.
If you want a resume that presents you for the role you want rather than the one you have, my resume writing for accountants is built for this step.
If you are not sure which qualification or path makes sense for you, book a complimentary Clarity Session.
