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SOC 3533 Business and public service associate professionals

Financial and accounting technicians Salary

Median salary £53,265 per year (2025). Based on ONS ASHE data.

About this role

Financial and accounting technicians prepare accounts, process financial transactions and support qualified accountants with bookkeeping, tax computations and financial reporting. They apply technical accounting knowledge in practice, industry and public sector settings.

Key responsibilities

  • Preparing management accounts and financial statements
  • Processing transactions and maintaining ledgers
  • Preparing VAT returns and basic tax computations
  • Reconciling accounts and investigating discrepancies
  • Supporting audit preparation and year-end processes

Qualifications and entry routes

AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians) qualification is the standard route. Levels 2-4 cover bookkeeping through to professional diploma. Many progress to ACA, ACCA or CIMA from AAT.

Career outlook

Consistent demand. AAT qualification provides a stepping stone to chartered accountancy. Cloud accounting skills are increasingly expected.

Key skills

Bookkeeping Accounting software (Sage, Xero, QuickBooks) Financial reporting VAT compliance Attention to detail

Common industries

  • Accounting firms
  • SMEs
  • Public sector
  • Financial services
  • Charities

Data coverage

SOC code 3533
Data source ONS ASHE
Years available 2015–2025
Estimated jobs 29,000

Median Salary

£53,265

Mean Salary

£57,938

Jobs (000s)

29k

Data Years

11 years

Salary Range (2025)

P25: £33,617Median: £53,265P75: £73,894
P10: £23kP25: £34kMedian: £53kP75: £74kP90: --

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Entry Level

£23,251

0-2 years

Mid Level

£33,617

3-7 years

Senior

£73,894

8-15 years

Potential career growth: +218% from entry to leadership

Salary Trend (2015-2025)

Nominal growth: +64.9%Real growth: +19.3%

Gender Pay Comparison (2025)

Gender pay gap: -2.0%

Full-time vs All Employees (2025)

All Employees

£53,265

Full-time Only

£60,575

Full-time premium: +£7,310