Remote roles are the new golden ticket, and it’s not just the technologically gifted who are cashing in. There’s a lucrative, six-figure gig that’s topping the charts, and it’s not in the tech industry.
Meet the unsung heroes of the remote workforce: accountants. They’re raking in over $100,000 a year, and if you’re a number whiz with a knack for tax returns and financial data, this might just be the dream ticket for you.
FlexJobs’ latest ranking of the hottest remote jobs in the U.S. reveals that accountants are currently the most sought-after remote workers.
The job site analyzed the job postings of over 60,000 companies between Jan. 1, 2023, and Dec. 31, 2023, to compile its 2024 list.
Perhaps surprisingly, many of the other in-demand remote roles aren’t specifically tech-focused either, including roles like executive assistants and writers.
The top 10 remote job postings
- Accountant
- Executive Assistant
- Financial Analyst
- Product Manager
- Customer Service Representative
- Software Engineer
- Customer Success Manager
- Accounting Manager
- Product Designer
- Writer
Accountants are hot right now
The demand for accounts has partly been driven by retiring baby boomers. More than 300,000 accountants and auditors have left their jobs in the past two years, marking a 17% decline.
At the same time, the number of students enrolling in accounting programs is declining, with just 67,000 people taking CPA (certified public accountant) exams in 2022—down from 72,000 in 2021 and short of the institute’s forecast of 74,000.
To make matters worse, young accountants have been quitting the profession in droves since 2019, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
It’s why companies are now resorting to offering generous pay packets and remote work to entice the shrinking pool of accountants remaining to work for them.
On ZipRecruiter, the share of open accountant roles that were remote jumped from about 8% in 2019 to nearly 20% in 2023, according to data shared with CNBC Make It.
With the huge gap between companies that need accountants and trained professionals available, the BLS expects job openings in the sector to grow by 4% over the decade—about 126,500 openings each year.
On FlexJobs, there are around 865 remote accountant roles listed right now, with some of the top companies hiring including Kforce, Supporting Strategies, and Lee Hecht Harrison (LHH).
Many of the job descriptions expect would-be new hires to analyze invoices, prepare month-end reports, and manage payroll matters.
Meanwhile, most accounting jobs require a bachelor’s degree or a CPA license, according to the BLS.
In exchange for your efforts, accountants can expect to earn an average salary of $78,000, but the top 25% of earners are taking home over $101,150, with those in California, New York, and Washington, D.C., earning the most.