ULTIMATE GUIDE to Remote Accounting Jobs: How To Find, Apply, & Get Hired in 2020

If you want to skip straight to checking out jobs, I built a job board featuring (🇺🇸 US based) remote accounting jobs.

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Life is too short to spend your career stuck in a cubicle at a boring accounting job.

When I was in search of more freedom and flexibility in my accounting career, working in a cubicle was getting in the way of that.

Reading The 4-Hour Workweek opened my eyes to the possibility of working remotely, traveling, and living my ideal lifestyle.

And ever since I was able to achieve my ideal #accountantlife, I've been advocating for accountants to break the shackles of their office jobs and gain more freedom by working remotely.

Can Accountants Work Remotely?

The traditional accounting profession is coming into the digital age and more and more opportunities are becoming available to work remotely and ditch the 9-5.

While I was working remotely from Thailand, I had the pleasure of chatting with YouTuber, Chris the Freelancer.

We talked about how accountants can work remotely and become location independent.

 
 

Through all the years of frustration, research, and energy sorting through all the junk out there that I’ve personally endured, I put together this Ultimate Guide to help you find remote accounting jobs, faster.

So you can finally ditch the boring cubicle job, join me in the remote working revolution, and enjoy living your best life.

Here are the best ways to find remote accounting jobs in 2020:

Introducing: The Remote Accounting Jobs Board

My latest project has been building a niche job board, AccountantList, exclusively for remote accounting jobs.

Here’s a very quick video below, where I give you a basic overview of what the job board looks like.

(Update: I’ve since updated the domain name and other visual elements in case you notice it looks a bit different.)

 
 

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Hottest Markets Hiring For Remote Accounting & Finance Jobs in 2020

When searching for remote accounting jobs, you'll have more luck finding opportunities in less than a handful of markets.

So if you want to fast track your job search, I'd highly recommend looking into these 4 hottest markets.

What makes these the hottest markets?

They're typically easier to find remote work because many of them are based online, in remote-only or remote-first environments, therefore, are comfortable hiring remote workers or at least offer remote working options.

These markets also offer the most growth potential for your career because of the in-demand accounting technology skills you'll acquire.

Here are the 4 hottest markets hiring remote accounting and finance professionals in 2020:

1. Cloud Accounting

Accounting firms embracing cloud-based accounting apps are taking the next logical step and hiring remote workers to tap into the national talent pool.

And a job seeker, it's a lot easier to break into a cloud accounting firm than it is the other markets listed below.

With a cloud accounting job, you'll use cloud-based accounting systems like Quickbooks Online, Xero, and Intacct in addition to add-on software such as Gusto, Bill.com, Expensify, and many more.

I list this as the hottest market simply because there are more cloud accounting firms hiring remotely (outsourced accounting) than in-house at companies.

Getting a cloud accounting job at an accounting firm will be can give you exposure and the ability to service firm clients in the markets below (in-house).

While not all cloud accounting firms hire remotely, many of them hire locally and have remote flexibility allowing you to work from home at least a couple days a week.

2. SaaS (Software as a Service) / Tech

I believe the SaaS (software as a service) market to be the second best source of remote jobs aside from cloud accounting mentioned above.

With the rise of the subscription economy, there are so many SaaS companies popping up worldwide meaning more remote opportunities for accountants. 

The problem with many of these SaaS companies is that they're super competitive because they usually offer the best perks and competitive salaries.

These companies can typically demand top talent and because of this and/or require candidates with Bachelor's and and active CPA licenses.

3. eCommerce

Aside from SaaS/Software/Tech companies, eCommerce is another hot market.

Consumers are increasingly buying their stuff online and many online retailers don't even have physical offices with accounting staff in them.

Even if they do have offices, many eCommerce companies have distributed workforces because they don't need accounting done onsite.

If you want to work for an eCommerce company, you'll want to get skilled in apps like Shopify, Stripe. For eCommerce companies dealing with sales tax, it helps to know apps like Avalara, TaxJar.

4. Startups

While 'startups' are more generic of a market than those listed above, companies that label themselves as startups are typically more remote-friendly than more established businesses who are stuck in their 'traditional office workplace' ways.

Many early stage startups are comfortable hiring remote accounting pros because they might only need one person to handle all financial activities remotely.

While startups grow and build out their accounting/finance/operations teams, they typically hire for bookkeepers, accountants, controllers, and CFOs.

While these are just a few of hottest markets hiring remote accounting and finance pros right now, there are certainly other, less common markets hiring in 2020 you might want to check out.

You can search all the new Remote Accounting & Finance Jobs here.

Top Remote-friendly Companies Hiring for Accounting Jobs in 2020

I've compiled a database of 200+ remote-friendly companies hiring in accounting and finance jobs in 2020.

The Remote-friendly Companies Hiring For Remote Accounting Jobs database includes the best websites (without the scams) I could find for each of the following categories:

Accounting, Bookkeeping, & Tax Firms (Outsourced Accounting/Finance)

It's hard to tell which accounting, bookkeeping, and tax firms are remote or offer work from home opportunities. I've searched all over to find the firms known to be fully remote or offer partial remote opportunities.

Here’s a short list of some remote-friendly accounting, bookkeeping, and tax firms providing outsourced services to clients:

In-House Accounting/Finance Departments

If you don't want to work at a remote accounting, bookkeeping or tax firm, doing outsourced work for multiple clients, you can work in-house at a company in their accounting/finance department.

These types of companies include startups and more established remote-friendly companies.

While these companies will likely have less accountants on staff compared to accounting firms, these are companies that have exciting growth potential in different industries.

In addition to remote working options, many tech companies offer competitive pay and benefits including company retreats, co-working allowance, company equity, and equipment allowances to outfit your home with the best gear.

Here are some of the top remote-friendly companies hiring in-house accounting and finance professionals in 2020:

GitLab

  • What they do: GitLab helps the world build better software.

  • How they are remote-friendly:

"Fully distributed: We're a fully remote and completely distributed team, so we can work wherever we're happiest."

  • Recent remote accounting and finance jobs: Billing Specialist, Accounting and External Reporting Manager, Accountant, Accounting Manager, Accounts Payable Administrator, Chief Financial Officer, Technical Accounting Manager, Payroll Specialist, Accounts Payable Specialist, Internal Audit Manager

  • Browse jobs at GitLab >>

InVision

  • What they do: InVision changes the way digital products are designed.

  • How they are remote-friendly:

"We know there's great talent all over the place and we are a completely distributed company. Do great work from an environment that you're comfortable in."

  • Recent remote accounting and finance jobs: Finance Manager, Compensation Analyst, Senior Manager Technical Accounting, Accounting Manager, Global Payroll Manager, Revenue Operations Associate, Staff Accountant, Accounts Receivable Supervisor, Accounts Payable Manager, Revenue Operations Coordinator

  • Browse jobs at InVision >>

Elastic

  • What they do: Elastic helps people around the world do great things with their data.

  • How they are remote-friendly:

"Some roles let you work from wherever: home, coffee shop, or a wifi-enabled Himalayan hut. Other jobs are better in an office where we tailor the work to clients and communities in specific regions. And many positions are suited to both. There’s flexibility."

  • Recent remote accounting and finance jobs: Senior Business Analyst, Senior Accounting Manager, Junior Accountant, Accounting Manager, Senior Accountant, Tax Senior, Tax Manager

  • Browse jobs at Elastic >>

Automattic

  • What they do: Automattic is the company behind WordPress and more. They believe in making the web a better place.

  • How they are remote-friendly:

"We’re a distributed company with 864 Automatticians in 68 countries speaking 84 different languages. Our common goal is to democratize publishing so that anyone with a story can tell it, regardless of income, gender, politics, language, or where they live in the world."

Zapier

  • What they do: Zapier moves info between your web apps automatically, so you can focus on your most important work.

  • How they are remote-friendly:

"All 150-plus of us work wherever we’d like—reliable internet access is our only requirement. Spread across 15 time zones in 17 countries, we sign into Slack and open up our work tools on the schedule that fits our lives best."

  • Recent remote accounting and finance jobs: Tax Accountant, Finance Analyst, Controller, Accounting Manager, Payroll Manager

  • Browse jobs at Zapier >>

Buffer

  • What they do: Buffer helps people build their businesses on social media.

  • How they are remote-friendly:

"Buffer is a fully remote team, spread across the whole planet. We have Bufferoos in 15 countries, 11 timezones and 42 cities (and counting!). As a member of our team, you will be invited to work wherever you're happiest and most productive."

  • Recent remote accounting and finance jobs: Accountant, Accounts Receivable Specialist, Director of Finance

  • Browse jobs at Buffer >>

Articulate

  • What they do: Articulate builds the world's best e-learning apps.

  • How they are remote-friendly:

"Work where, when, and how you want. There's no corporate office, no corporate B.S. Nothing between you and your best work."

  • Recent remote accounting and finance jobs: Senior Staff Accountant, Accounting Manager, FP&A Senior Analyst, Revenue Accountant

  • Browse jobs at Articulate >>

While these are just a few of the most popular tech companies, there are tons of other tech companies growing and hiring remote accounting and finance professionals in 2020. You can search new companies as they are added using the button below:

The Most In-Demand Technology Skills for Accounting Professionals in 2020

Having analyzed hundreds of remote accounting job listings, I’ve identified the most in-demand technology skills for accounting professionals to land remote opportunities in 2020:

Accounting/Bookkeeping Software

  • QuickBooks Online (QBO) / QuickBooks

  • Xero

  • NetSuite

  • Intacct

Add-on Software

  • ReceiptBank

  • Hubdoc

  • Gusto

  • Expensify

  • Bill.com

  • Avalara

  • TaxJar

Collaboration Software

  • Gmail

  • Slack

  • Zoom / Skype

  • Asana

Spreadsheet Software

  • Microsoft Excel

  • Google Sheets

BONUS: To gain some insights from key decision makers in accounting, I asked my LinkedIn network this question so you’ll have a better idea of what stills they are looking for:

Where to find remote accounting jobs if you live outside the United States?

Given that I live in the U.S., my primary focus is on researching and curating remote accounting jobs here. The U.S. also is the main place for remote-friendly companies based on my research.

However, I’m occasionally asked “Are there any remote accounting jobs in [X country]?”

Here’s the thing, if you live outside the U.S., you’re not going to have many options when it comes to finding remote work unless you want to resort to an online freelance marketplace.

Besides the U.S., the top countries that I’ve seen have some remote accounting jobs in the past are:

I’ve noticed this is highly dependent on where “cloud” accounting software like QuickBooks Online and Xero are most widely adopted.

The rest of the world has been slower to adopt cloud based accounting software, therefore, remote jobs are going to be slower to pop up in those countries.

If you live outside North America, your best bet for finding a remote accounting jobs is simply Googling “Your Country + Remote Accounting Jobs” and seeing what pops up in the search.

Other Job Boards with Remote-friendly Accounting & Finance Jobs

It’s worth mentioning a few of my favorite job boards (aside from my own of course) for finding remote accounting jobs:

  • Accountingfly: Cloud Accounting Jobs & Remote Accounting Jobs

  • AngelList: Accounting Tech & Startup Jobs; select ‘Remote’ filter

  • Indeed: Work Remotely Accounting Jobs

  • Remote.co: Remote Accounting & Finance Jobs

  • SkipTheDrive: Telecommuting and remote jobs: search ‘accounting’

  • We Work Remotely: Category: Finance & Legal Jobs

  • ZipRecruiter: See AccountantList for remote jobs powered by ZipRecruiter

Search the Remote Accounting & Tax Jobs Directory

Keep your remote accounting job search organized

Gain an advantage over the competition and keep your job search organized with your all your applications with: The Ultimate Job Application Tracking Tool For Accountants

I created this spreadsheet to help you keep your remote job search organized.

It probably has more columns of information than you really need but it's editable so you can personalize it to your own needs.

I built it through a cool database app, Airtable so if you haven't used it before (I think you might love it) you'll have to create a new free account.

If you use my invitation link first before you download it, I will get a referral credit which I can put to future projects, and I'd really appreciate it.

To get started:

Hopefully this can help you with staying organized with your remote job search.

And remember: stay patient, stay focus and most of all, stay persistent.

 
 

Coming Soon…Remote Accounting Jobs Weekly Podcast

 
 

Bottom Line

Now have some good places to start when searching for your remote accounting job.

I hope I’ve made it a whole lot easier for you to FIND the best remote accounting jobs from around the world, but LANDING them is a whole ‘nother story.

Best of luck with your job hunt!

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Originally published Nov 1, 2016, last updated December 2019.

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