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 responsibilities
Below 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 requirements
These 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
Accountant skills & proficiencies
There are several hard and soft skills that are possibilities for an accountant job description. Hard skills are measurable talents learned through training and education. Soft skills are people skills that are generally acquired through experience and are difficult to measure.
Below, we break them down by category, though you'll typically find necessary hard and soft skills listed together in the job description.
Hard skills for an accountant job description
Accounting
Corporate Finance
Reporting Skills
Reporting Research Results
Financial Data Entry Management
Basic Math
Accuracy
Scheduling and Monitoring
Problem Analysis and Problem-Solving Skills
Active Learning
Clerical Knowledge
Proficiency in Microsoft Office
Risk Analysis
Tax Returns
Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
Accounting Software
General Ledger Functions
GAAP
Balance Sheets
Budgeting
Data Analysis
Bookkeeping
Sarbanes-Oxley Act
Financial Audits
Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)
Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)
Soft skills for an accountant job description
Attention to Detail