Accountant Job Description
[Intro Paragraph] Start with two to three sentences describing the role and the main responsibilities. This will help candidates decide if they are excited about the role and want to keep reading.
About Our Workplace: Use this section of your accountant job description to share why your company is a great place to work. For example, you could describe the company culture, mission, and values.
Accountant Duties and Responsibilities: This is where you’ll share a list of the main job responsibilities. Customize this list based on your hiring needs so candidates understand the day-to-day work and can determine whether they want to apply and have the necessary skills and experience. Here are some common accounting responsibilities to get you started:
- Provides financial information to management by researching and analyzing accounting data and preparing reports.
- Prepares asset, liability, and capital account entries by compiling and analyzing account information.
- Documents financial transactions by entering account information.
- Recommends financial actions by analyzing accounting options.
- Summarizes the current financial status by collecting information and preparing balance sheets profit and loss statements and other reports.
- Substantiates financial transactions by auditing documents.
- Maintains accounting controls by preparing and recommending policies and procedures.
- Guides accounting clerical staff by coordinating activities and answering questions.
- Reconciles financial discrepancies by collecting and analyzing account information.
- Secures financial information by completing database backups.
- Maintains financial security by following internal controls.
- Prepares payments by verifying documentation, and requesting disbursem*nts.
- Answers accounting procedure questions by researching and interpreting accounting policy and regulations.
- Complies with federal, state, and local financial legal requirements by studying existing and new legislation, enforcing adherence to requirements, and advising management on needed actions.
- Prepares special financial reports by collecting, analyzing, and summarizing account information and trends.
- Maintains customer confidence and protects operations by keeping financial information confidential.
Work Hours and Benefits: This is where you’ll share the the work hours. Note if your firm works non-traditional hours — like 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. — or has a flexible work policy. Next, note the benefits you offer for the role, such as paid time off, paid parental leave, a 401(k) with matching, and health insurance. You can also use this section to share the salary range for the role and any perks like the ability to work remotely.
Accountant Job Qualifications and Skills: Use these sections of your accounting job description to mention the skills and experience that make someone an ideal candidate. Keep in mind that some people will only apply to a job if they meet all the qualifications. It’s beneficial to note what is preferred versus required.
- Follows Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)
- Exhibits strong technical accounting knowledge
- Knows how to use popular accounting software
- Demonstrates strong written and verbal communication skills
Education, Experience, and Licensing Requirements:
- A bachelor’s degree in accounting, economics, finance, or a similar major is required
- A master’s degree is preferred
- Must be a certified public accountant (CPA)
- A minimum of five years’ experience in accounting/finance is required
Call to Action: The most effective accountant job descriptions include a strong call to action, turning job seekers into actual applicants. Let prospective employees know how to apply.
Hire Your Next Accountant With Confidence
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FAQs
An accountant is a trained professional who records business transactions on behalf of a company or organization, reports on company performance to management, and issues financial statements. So, they are mainly responsible for the process of preparing and examining financial records.
What are the five roles of an accountant? ›
Listed below are the top five roles and responsibilities of an accountant.
- Role 1: Financial Statement Preparation and Analysis.
- Role 2: Budgeting and Forecasting.
- Role 3: Tax Planning and Compliance.
- Role 4: Internal controls and risk management.
- Role 5: Financial advisory and decision support.
- The Bottom Line.
Accountant job description example
Prepare balance sheets, profit and loss statements, and other financial reports. Accountant duties and responsibilities also include analyzing trends, costs, revenues, financial commitments, and obligations incurred to predict future revenues and expenses.
What are the responsibilities of the accounting profession? ›
Recording expenses and preparing financial reports. Working with external auditors. Ensuring the accuracy of bookkeeping and that the bookkeeping is compliant with state and federal laws. Recording disbursem*nts and payments.
What is the basic function of accountant? ›
An accountant is a business professional responsible for processing and tracking financial data within a company. Accountants store and analyze financial information. They actively track all funds entering and exiting a company, making sure everything is documented and accurate.
What does an accountant do on a daily basis? ›
Creating and improve accounting processes. Examining financial statements for accuracy. Organizing and maintain financial records. Providing best-practice financial recommendations and advice.
What are the primary responsibilities of an accountant? ›
What does an Accountant do? An Accountant takes care of all financial matters within a company, like keeping and interpreting financial records. They may oversee responsibilities like reconciling bank statements and calculating payroll to keep their company in strong financial standing.
What are the three golden rules of accounting? ›
The three golden rules of accounting are (1) debit all expenses and losses, credit all incomes and gains, (2) debit the receiver, credit the giver, and (3) debit what comes in, credit what goes out. These rules are the basis of double-entry accounting, first attributed to Luca Pacioli.
How to explain accounting on a resume? ›
Accounting skills in a resume work experience section
- Recorded financial transactions and reconciled accounts in accounting software to generate financial statements in accordance with GAAP.
- Analyzed and visualized financial data to create and deliver presentations reporting financial performance for senior leadership.
This skill set includes knowing how to read financial statements, compile the data needed to create new statements, and convey the information. The most important financial statements accountants create and analyze include cash flow statements, income statements, and balance sheets.
Accounting is the process of keeping track of all financial transactions within a business, such as any money coming in and money going out. It's not only important for businesses in terms of record keeping and general business management, but also for legal reasons and tax purposes.
What are the job responsibilities of an accountant? ›
The main role of an accountant is to collect, analyse, record and report the financial data of a company or an individual. They ensure that a company complies with all the government rules and regulations. An accountant also helps analyse financial data to make data-driven business decisions.
What different roles do accountants have? ›
With a unique set of skills including technical financial expertise, adaptive thinking, leadership, and communication, qualified accountants can easily transition into other financial management, general managerial, financial planning, financial services, business services and business advisory roles.
What is the highest paying accountant job? ›
High Paying Accounting Jobs
- CFO. Salary range: $141,000-$400,000 per year. ...
- Audit Partner. Salary range: $215,000-$360,000 per year. ...
- Paymaster. Salary range: $31,000-$350,000 per year. ...
- Chief Accounting Officer. Salary range: $131,000-$278,000 per year. ...
- Vice President of Finance. ...
- Fund Controller. ...
- Finance Manager. ...
- Chief Accountant.
Accounting plays a critical role in the functioning of the economy. It provides the information needed to make informed decisions about investment, resource allocation, and economic policy. Accounting helps ensure that financial markets are efficient and transparent, essential for economic growth and stability.
What is the description of accounting? ›
What Is Accounting? Accounting is the process of recording financial transactions pertaining to a business. The accounting process includes summarizing, analyzing, and reporting these transactions to oversight agencies, regulators, and tax collection entities.
