Remote Accounting Jobs in 2027 and How to Qualify for Them

Yes, some accounting work can be done from home. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) says most accountants and auditors work in offices, but some work from home. Whether you can depends on the employer and the role. Most of the work is software and records, so a lot of it could move out of the office, but not all of it does.

Are There Remote Accounting Jobs?

There are, but set your expectations by what BLS says. Accountants and auditors may also travel to their clients’ places of business.

So remote work exists in accounting, but it isn’t the default. Your chances depend on the employer, the role and your experience.

BLS counted about 1.6 million accountant and auditor jobs in 2025, so the field is big. Even a small share working from home adds up to a lot of positions.

A few things decide who gets those jobs:

• The type of work, like bookkeeping, tax, audit or financial reporting.
• Your employer’s policy, which can differ from team to team.
• Your experience, since many employers want to see you do the work well before they let you work from home.

Which Accounting Roles Fit Remote Work?

Look at what the job involves. BLS lists duties for bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerks that run on software. You’d use bookkeeping software, spreadsheets and databases, enter financial transactions into computer systems, and create balance sheets, income statements and account reports.

Accountants and auditors work out taxes, prepare returns, keep financial records and examine financial statements. You can do tax and records work on a screen.

Audit is different. BLS says accountants and auditors may travel to their clients’ places of business, so if a role depends on client visits, you may be on the road a lot.

Roles worth searching for include:

• Bookkeeper, which BLS tracks as bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerks.
• Tax preparer.
• Payroll specialist, tracked by BLS as payroll and timekeeping clerks.
• Staff accountant or accountant, tracked as accountants and auditors.
• Financial analyst or budget analyst, at companies that let finance staff work remotely.

Job titles vary, so read the posting and look at the duties instead of the label.

What Do These Jobs Pay?

BLS publishes wages by job, not by whether you work at home. These May 2025 national medians show how much the role matters:

A median covers everyone in the group, so half earn more and half earn less. The lowest 10 percent of accountants and auditors earned less than $56,020. The highest 10 percent earned more than $144,090.

These figures don’t split out remote workers. If a job post pays far above or below the median for its role, ask why.

What Education Do Employers Want?

For accountants and auditors, BLS says a bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related field is typically required. Some employers prefer a master’s degree, either in accounting or in business administration.

For bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerks, BLS says some college and no degree is typical. Some employers prefer candidates with college courses or an accounting degree, and others accept a high school diploma. You don’t need related work experience for entry-level jobs in that field.

That gap explains the pay gap above. A degree opens the higher-paid accountant roles. Clerk roles open up sooner and pay less. BLS also expects bookkeeping clerk jobs to shrink 6 percent from 2025 to 2035, while it projects 5 percent growth for accountants and auditors.

If a degree is your goal, a fully online program lets you study the way you may later work. Our lists include online, hybrid and on-campus programs, and 10 of the 150 are listed as asynchronous, so you won’t have scheduled class meetings. Take a look at our self-paced accounting degrees and cheapest accounting degrees.

What Does the Degree Cost?

If you plan to move from clerk work into an accountant role, tuition is your next big number. Our 100 bachelor’s programs have a median of $447 per credit. Prices run from $275.65 to $1,325, and the median total tuition is $54,360.

Our 50 master’s programs have a median of $930 per credit. Their median total tuition is $28,320. Prices vary by school, and fees come on top.

The range is wide, so compare programs on price before you apply. Of the 150 programs on our main bachelor’s and master’s rankings, 115 are at public schools. Our cheapest list sorts by the per-credit rate an out-of-state student pays.

How Should You Read a Remote Job Posting?

A few checks can save you an afternoon:

• Is the job fully remote, hybrid or in an office? Some posts say “remote” and then ask for visits.
• Which software does it name? Bookkeeping, tax and payroll posts usually list their tools.
• Does it require a degree or a license? Compare that with the BLS entry requirements above.
• Does it mention busy season or travel to clients?
• What does it pay, and how does that compare with the medians above?

If a post leaves out the pay, the duties or the employer’s name, move on.

“Data entry” and “account clerk” posts can be real entry points. They can also be thin. A good one gives you training and a path up, so ask in the interview what someone in the role does after a year.

What Does a Reasonable Plan Look Like?

Pick the role you want, check what it requires, and work backward. If you want to be a bookkeeper, you may need only some college and software skills. If you want an accountant role, plan for a bachelor’s degree. And if you’d like to sign audit reports someday, look at your state’s certified public accountant (CPA) rules.

Whatever you pick, start applying early, and ask whether the employer helps with tuition.

What Are the Downsides of Remote Accounting Work?

Busy season doesn’t move. BLS says you’ll work longer stretches at certain times of year, like quarterly audits or tax season. Expect long hours then, wherever you sit.

You might also miss out on learning by watching. If you’re new, ask whether the employer offers regular calls, review sessions and a named person who answers questions. A remote first job without that support can be a slow start.

Some roles are a poor fit. If most of the job is visiting clients, you won’t be home much.

And if a job post promises easy pay for remote bookkeeping, take a hard look. Check the employer’s name, the duties and the pay against the BLS medians above before you apply.

How Do You Get Started?

If you’ve got no experience, start with a path BLS describes as open. Bookkeeping and accounting clerk roles don’t require related work experience. They’re a way to learn the systems and build a record.

Then build toward a role with more responsibility:

1. Earn an accounting degree while you work.
2. Look for staff accountant, tax or payroll roles with employers that allow remote work.
3. Add a credential once you know your direction. Our CPA exam guide covers the license route, and our guide to entry-level accounting jobs lists the roles that tend to start careers.

Look at employers that already hire remote staff. Their job posts usually say so, and posts that don’t mention it often mean the role is in an office.

Finally, ask each employer how many people on the team work from home and how often they meet in person. A direct question gets you a direct answer.