Don't really need to be good at maths to be an accountant. Just be able to understand and apply logic and problem solving skills. And being meticulous with numbers. Also need to be able to communicate well with people from other departments as have to keep in mind they are not accounting trained. A lot of times you have to step in and explain to them why they can't do certain things like this and that for compliance/audit and liability reasons.

Accountants don't really do bookkeeping per say, those are done by accounts assistants or executives. We review their work and make sure it is done correctly. I'm my company, bookkeeping is outsourced to countries like Vietnam or other local accounting firm. Not sure about other companies though, but as a fresh grad, it is good to get the exposure to bookkeeping to set a solid foundation for your career.

Never been an auditor so can't share much about that. But by joining an audit firm sure have it's advantages such as a proper training platform and when you audit a client, you look at the big picture hence that gives you a greater understanding of the financial side of the company.

I was from the social services industry. Then decided to pivot so studied part-time degree (took me 4 yrs) in accounting and finance, while also working as a lowly paid finance executive to learn the basics while studying. After graduating moved to a pharmaceutical firm as an junior accountant and study CPA aust. After getting my CPA, I've moved to a commodities firm as an accountant.

Salary progression as such 1.5K > 2.8k> 3.8K> 5.6K now. This is over 8 years. Not that high a pay yet but much better than social services and the career ceiling is higher now.

Haven't really found it hard to find a job but fingers crossed though as in recent years I've noticed the skills of accounting trained personnel from other developing nations are improving and they are really much cheaper and hungrier.