Do you want to attract top-tier talent for your staff accountant position?
One of the things you must have is a compelling and comprehensive staff accountant job description that showcases what you can offer.
In this blog post, I share my insights about the job and the best staff accountant description template that will help you captivate the top candidates.
Let’s get into it!
Table of Contents
- The Strategy for a Good Staff Accountant Job Description
- What Does a Staff Accountant Do?
- Key Responsibilities of a Staff Accountant
- Education and Required Qualifications for Staff Accountants
- The Staff Accountant Job Description Template
- The Staff Accountant Job Description Example
The Strategy for a Good Staff Accountant Job Description
You’re here because you want to hire a staff accountant who is a cut above the rest – someone who brings exceptional skills and expertise to your operations.
Yes, you will get a template for your staff accountant job description and an overview of the role in this article, but before I give this, I want to talk strategy with you.
Hiring the best candidate available won’t be easy, as other accounting firms and companies are actively seeking to acquire top talent from the job market as well.
To give you a sense of the difficulty of finding good talent, just look at this recent survey by the AICPA asking firms what their top challenges are:
As you can see, practically all firms ranked finding qualified staff as one of their top issues.
Considering these rankings, it becomes imperative to invest additional effort in your recruitment process.
The candidates’ first encounter is typically your job posting, where they often come across similar posts. Thus, the initial sentences of your staff accountant job description are vital for creating a strong first impression.
Regardless of how well-crafted your interview questions or the selection process may be, a limited pool of candidates can significantly impact your chances of finding the best fit for the position.
To avoid such circumstances, my recommendation is to transform your recruitment process into a sales process, and it all begins with your job posting.
For example, take a look at these actual postings I come across on LinkedIn, where the latter fetched 4x as many applicants for the same position in the same area posted at the same time:
The former is bland and generic whereas the latter is far more exciting.
The more exciting and unique, the more applicants you’ll receive.
As an example, check out the success that one of our Future Firm Accelerate students saw by sprucing up their job posting:
Overall, selling your firm in your job postings can be the difference-maker in attracting top talent and securing the best candidates for your team.
What Does a Staff Accountant Do?
A staff accountant primarily serves as a key financial advisor and strategist, overseeing crucial aspects of financial management and various accounting procedures.
Their duties usually revolve around:
- Preparing financial statements
- Reconciling accounts
- Filing tax returns
- Assisting with budgeting and forecasting
- Ensuring adherence to generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP)
- Processing other financial transactions
Staff accountants are also expected to maintain accurate financial records and provide valuable support for informed financial decision-making.
Key Responsibilities of a Staff Accountant
Below are key duties to consider when drafting a staff accountant job description:
Month-End Financial Management: Handling month-end financial management tasks, such as:
- Recording journal entries
- Maintaining balance sheet schedules
- Preparing financial reports, such as income statements
- Overseeing accounts payable
- Managing general ledger accounts
This scope of work ensures accurate financial data and provides valuable insights into your firm’s financial position and accounting system, which is critical for informed decision-making.
Bank Account Reconciliation: Staff accountants maintain accurate bank account records by diligently reconciling financial records with bank statements, promptly detecting and addressing discrepancies.
Streamlining Finance Communications: A staff accountant can handle communications for your firm, promptly addressing queries from suppliers, customers, and employees.
Assisting with Budgeting and Forecasting: Collaborate with a staff accountant to help with budgeting and forecasting processes. They provide insights based on financial analysis and data interpretation, helping you make informed decisions aligned with your firm’s goals.
Managing Client Invoicing: Delegate client invoicing tasks to a staff accountant who will generate and deliver invoices on schedule. This ensures professionalism and efficiency in your financial interactions with clients.
Education and Required Qualifications for Staff Accountants
When it comes to hiring staff accountants for public accounting firms, their education and qualifications should be thoroughly evaluated.
Here are my recommendations of the things you need to look out for:
1. Academic Background
- A bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or a related field.
- Advanced degrees and designations such as a Master’s in Accounting, CPA, or an MBA can give candidates an edge.
- Those who participate in continuing education courses and additional certifications, such as CMA
2. Experience
- Seek candidates with practical experience in accounting or finance roles.
- Specify the desired number of years of experience and any specific areas such as financial reporting or tax preparation.
3. Knowledge of Accounting Principles and Regulations
- A comprehensive understanding of accounting principles such as GAAP or IFRS is crucial.
- Applicants who stay up-to-date with accounting regulations, tax laws, and industry-specific compliance should be given more priority
4. Technical Skills
- Proficiency in common accounting software like QuickBooks or Xero is essential.
- Advanced skills in Microsoft Excel for data analysis and financial modeling are highly valued.
5. Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills
- Seek candidates with strong analytical skills and attention to detail.
- Look for problem-solving abilities to identify discrepancies and provide valuable financial insights.
6. Communication and Teamwork
- Effective communication skills, both written and verbal, are necessary for interacting with stakeholders.
- Consider candidates who can collaborate well with colleagues from different departments.
The Staff Accountant Job Description Template
I know I have covered a lot of topics earlier, but I think it’s essential to discuss the importance of highlighting key topics and aspects of hiring a staff accountant job first.
With that out of the way, here is the template:
[Insert Job Title]
About [your firm’s name]
Our [mission/vision – use one of those terms] is to [insert your why statement (ie. mission) or your 10-year target (ie. vision), whichever you feel is more interesting and inspiring].
We [include some big wins your firm has achieved or unique parts of your company that candidates would be interested in].
About the Role
As a [insert job title], you [insert positive impact that a candidate will make in the firm or in the lives of others].
You’ll be responsible for [insert a summary of the duties required for the role].
What Your Day to Day Will Look Like
- [insert required tasks and job responsibilities as bullet points]
What You Need to Succeed
- [insert required skills, experience and qualifications as bullet points]
Why Join Us?
- [insert perks, benefits and anything else candidates would find interesting about working at your firm as bullets]
Our Values
- [insert your firm’s core values as bullets]
Our Recruitment Process
[insert your firm’s recruitment process]
The Staff Accountant Job Description Example
Using this template, check out this staff accountant job description example:
Staff Accountant
About Strategic Accounting Solutions
Our mission at Strategic Accounting Solutions is to empower financial success and drive growth for our clients. We have helped 1,000+ small business owners grow their wealth and improve their well-being so that they can spend more quality time with their families.
We have won our local Employment Office of the Year award among many other prestigious awards thanks to our flexible work culture and our amazing team. We need more smart people like you to take our business to the next level.
About the Role
As a Staff Accountant, you will play a vital role in supporting our clients’ financial operations and ensuring accurate and timely reporting. You will have the opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of our clients by providing valuable insights, maintaining financial records, and assisting in financial analysis.
Your Day-to-Day Responsibilities
- Prepare and analyze financial reports such as profit and loss statements, ensuring accuracy and compliance with accounting principles.
- Assist in month-end and year-end close processes, including reconciliations and journal entries.
- Handle accounts payable and accounts receivable functions, including invoice processing and collections.
- Conduct regular financial analysis, identify trends, and provide recommendations for improvement.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support financial planning and decision-making.
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of financial transactions.
What You Need to Succeed
To excel in this role, you should possess:
- A bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
- Strong knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).
- Proficiency in accounting software and MS Excel.
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Attention to detail and strong organizational abilities.
Why Join Us?
By joining our team at Strategic Accounting Solutions, you can benefit from:
- A 4-day workweek.
- Semi-annual team retreats to some very interesting destinations.
- An annual budget for upskilling.
- 4 weeks of paid vacation.
- Competitive compensation and benefits package.
- Mentoring from highly skilled accountants.
- Collaboration with clients in a multitude of different industries.
Our Values
At Strategic Accounting Solutions, we uphold the following values:
- Integrity: We maintain the highest ethical standards in our work and relationships.
- Client Focus: We prioritize our clients’ success and provide personalized solutions.
- Innovation: We embrace technological advancements and drive innovation in accounting practices.
- Collaboration: We foster a collaborative culture that values teamwork and shared success.
Our Recruitment Process
Our recruitment process at Strategic Accounting Solutions involves a comprehensive evaluation of candidates’ qualifications, including resume screening, interviews, and possibly a skills assessment or case study. We strive to ensure a fair and inclusive selection process that matches the best candidates with our firm’s values and requirements.
We look forward to receiving your application and the opportunity to welcome a talented Staff Accountant to our team.
This template is not just applicable to the staff accountant job description but pretty much any entry-level position and beyond.
Ready to Level-Up Your Staff Accountant Job Description?
I hope this guide has provided you with valuable insights and strategies to enhance your staff accountant job description.
By implementing the right strategy, you can attract more top-tier candidates.
If I missed anything, feel free to share by dropping a comment below!
