Accountant

Accountant Job Description

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.

Reports organization's finances to management and offers suggestions about resource utilization, tax strategies, and assumptions underlying budget forecasts.

Accounting candidates must be familiar with standard concepts, practices, and procedures within the [field of focus]. Astute at relying on experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals. Performs a variety of additional tasks as assigned. A certain degree of creativity and latitude is required.

Works under general supervision. This position will report to [title of supervisor or manager].

Requires a bachelor's degree in accounting or a similar area of specialty and two to four years of experience in the field or in a related area. An associate's degree in accounting might be acceptable.

Accountant responsibilitiesBelow the general job description summary, like the example above, you'll typically see a list of responsibilities, requirements, and necessary skills, as outlined in this section and the next two.

Here are some of the accountant job description responsibilities you might find listed:

• Prepare asset, liability, and capital account entries by compiling and analyzing account information
• Document financial transactions by entering account information
• Recommend financial actions by analyzing accounting options
• Summarize current financial status by collecting information; preparing balance sheet, profit and loss statement, and other reports
• Substantiate financial transactions by auditing documents
• Maintain accounting controls by preparing and recommending policies and procedures
• Guide accounting clerical staff by coordinating activities and answering questions
• Reconcile financial discrepancies by collecting and analyzing account information
• Secure financial information by completing database backups
• Verify, allocate, post, and reconcile transactions
• Produce error-free accounting reports and present their results
• Analyze financial information and summarize financial status
• Provide technical support and advice on management
• Review and recommend modifications to accounting systems and generally accepted accounting procedures
• Participate in financial standards setting and forecast process
• Provide input into department's goal-setting process
• Prepare financial statements and produce budget according to schedule
• Direct internal and external audits to ensure compliance
• Plan, assign, and review staff's work
• Support month-end and year-end close process
• Develop and document business processes and accounting policies to maintain and strengthen internal controls
• Communicate effectively with clients
• Contribute to a strong client relationship through positive interactions with client personnel
• Communicate with Manager and/or Director on work status and client issues that arise

Accountant requirementsThese are just a few of the job requirements you may see in an accountant job description:

• Thorough knowledge of basic accounting procedures and principles, including the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)
• Awareness of business trends
• Experience with creating financial statements
• Experience with general ledger functions and the month-end/year-end close process
• Excellent accounting software user and administration skills
• Accuracy and attention to detail
• Aptitude for numbers and quantitative skills
• Bachelor's Degree or Master's Degree in appropriate field of study or equivalent work experience
• Intermediate understanding of accounting and reporting standards, gaining experience in researching as it relates to accounting issues
• Experience with accounting software is a plus