Accountant Job Description

Want to build a career in accounting? Then you need a well-structured job description to help you craft a winning resume and get more interviews!

From this article, you will learn:

• Who is an accountant;
• What are the main accountant duties and responsibilities;
• How does a general description for accountant jobs look like;
• What skills are required to get employed.

Need more help? Get professional help with resume writing using our online resume writing services. And don’t forget to check our other articles to find relevant ATS software keywords and plenty of handy tips for your job search!

Accountant Job Description Example

One of the main reasons to tailor your applications to the job description is in order to get past the ATS system and, thus, boost your chances of winning a job.

Here you can see a free sample to help you get started:

Use this sample to make your job application stand out. Also, be sure to check out our accountant resume examples for inspiration and success!

What Does an Accountant Do?

Before you land a job or even apply for one, it’s vital to answer two questions - “what is a accountant” and “what does accountants do.” In a nutshell, people in this role are responsible for making sure that all financial statements and records are accurate and go in line with laws and accounting regulations.

Other accountant duties and responsibilities include documenting the organization’s financial transactions, preparing entries for accounts, etc.

Accountant Average Salary

According to the general accountant job description, most employers apply hourly-based salaries for the accountant role.

Working as a accountant, you can have an accountant average salary of $24.96, or between $23.14-$28.74.

Accountant Job Description

As was already mentioned, accountants deal with a lot of finance-related tasks. These typically include computing taxes and handling tax returns, keeping financial records, and making sure that all statements are accurate. They can work in-house, as well as on remote or contract grounding.

Given the wide array of tasks, the number of key skills and proficiencies listed in an accountant job description is also large. This includes math, analysis, tax laws, GAAP, etc.

One more thing job seekers should know about is that accountants usually fall into one of the following categories: management accountant, internal auditor, public accountant, and government accountant.

Depending on the category you fall in, your job responsibilities will differ. And the list of soft skills required for a particular job position will be unique too. All good cover letter examples include skills that align with the company’s requirements and match the job description.

Accountant Responsibilities

Looking at each particular job description for accountant from different employers, you can find that the accountant responsibilities may vary slightly. Yet, there is a number of general duties that remain unchanged.

Namely, as an employee in this role, you will be typically expected to perform the following key duties:

• Abiding all company, state, local, and federal laws and regulations applicable to accounting;
• Collecting, analyzing, and communicating financial data;
• Preparing regular reports, such as profit & loss statements, balance sheets, etc.;
• Presenting the obtained info to managers, investors, etc.;
• Keeping financial records and ensuring their accuracy;
• Conducting audits;
• Computing taxes;
• Staying updated on all applicable regulations, standards, and laws related to accounting and finance;
• Preparing financial forecasts and shaping budgets.

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Top Accountant Skills and Proficiencies [Accountant Requirements]

Working as a accountant requires having lots of job-related abilities.

The most sought-after accountant skills include:

• Financial statements
• Collections
• Payroll
• Asset management
• Account analysis
• Revenue projections
• State tax law
• Payroll taxes
• Tax compliance and returns
• General ledger
• Corporate tax
• Budget
• Profit and loss
• Invoices
• Income tax
• Paychecks
• Account reconciliation
• Regulatory filings

Wondering how to demonstrate your level of qualification right? See our accountant resume example to find ways to impress recruiters.

Accountant Resume Skills

When writing your resume, it’s crucial to tailor your accountant resume skills and experiences sections to the specific requirements stated by the recruiter in the job description. This way, you can ensure that your resume gets past the applicant tracking process and makes companies want to recruit you.

Some of the most common skills to be found on accountant resume examples include:

• Invoices
• General ledger
• Quickbooks (or other required tools/software)
• MS Office
• Collections
• Revenue forecasts
• Tax computing
• IT skills
• Asset management
• Financial statements
• Excellent knowledge of state tax law
• Payroll
• Budgeting
• Profit and loss
• Corporate tax
• Income tax
• Invoices
• Regulatory filing

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Accountant Job Skills

Though almost every accountant job description will focus mostly on hard skills, there is much more that you need to succeed in this role.

Thus, apart from the resume skills we’ve mentioned earlier, every professional also needs certain job accountant skills that are must-haves for performing the duties well. And, these job skills are mainly soft.

To help you grasp the idea, here are the main accountant job skills you will need to succeed:

• Solid mathematics skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication
• Critical thinking
• Organization and time management
• Attention to detail
• Thorough business knowledge
• Leadership skills
• Good understanding of relevant laws

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Wrapping Up

Now, you have everything you need to succeed.

In a conclusion, let’s look through the key takeaways you should have after reading this article:

• An accountant job description tells you everything you need to know about the job and also serves as the guide for writing a resume.
• The duties of a accountant include a wide range of finance-related tasks, such as tax computing, creating and maintaining financial statements, handling invoices, etc.
• Accountants play a huge role in every business and can work in the office, as well as on a contract or online job basis.

Using an accountant description for resume writing, one should pay special attention to the skills and tailor this resume section with the right keywords.

Don't forget to craft a cover letter once you're applying to a job. The main point is to introduce yourself and encourage the employer to read your résumé. With the support of a professional cover letter writing service, you'll do it on ease. Your resume and cover letter are on us!