To ensure financial accuracy, reporting, and tax compliance, hiring the best candidates for accounting positions is crucial for any business. The accounting job description should advertise the skills, qualifications, and mindset desired in candidates. Modifying a job description template can achieve this and improve the quality and quantity of candidates while filtering out unqualified applicants.
What Do Accounting Professionals Do?
It's important to include the accounting team's functions and their alignment with your organizational culture in your job descriptions. Your accounting firm or business must recruit the appropriate candidates to build a proficient and experienced team. They should be capable of handling diverse accounting tasks, meeting deadlines, providing top-notch customer service, and upholding your company's reputation and brand.
The scope of your financial department's responsibilities may vary depending on your business operations and could include:
- Creating financial statements and other related documents
- Conducting risk assessments
- Maintaining and updating financial records
- Preparing accounts and filing tax returns
- Developing financial strategies
- Managing budgets
- Investigating financial discrepancies
- Identifying investment prospects
- Consulting with and offering financial advice to individual clients.
Accounting Positions and Titles
A few of the accounting roles you may need a job description for, include:
- Management Accountants
- Accounting Technicians
- Qualified Accountant
- Certified Public Accountants
- Auditor
- Accounting Officer
- Credit Controller
- Tax Specialist
Accounting Responsibilities And Duties
Let's examine the different responsibilities and duties associated with accounting jobs.
Accountants are responsible for a wide range of duties that include:
- Monitoring accounting processes
- Reviewing financial information
- Conducting forensic accounting
- Preparing financial accounts and making financial forecasts
- Managing balance sheets and general ledger functions
- Conducting bank reconciliations and calculating taxes
- Resolving discrepancies and maintaining financial data
- Making capital account entries and filing tax returns
- Providing financial advice or conducting financial analysis
- Preparing financial statements and other reports
- Performing financial audits to ensure legal compliance
- Maintaining accounting systems and performing database backups
- Implementing accounting controls and determining the best accounting options
- Recording the financial actions of private clients
While these responsibilities may seem generic, it's important to note that the manner in which they are accomplished can vary greatly depending on the company and industry. To make these duties more engaging and meaningful, job descriptions can provide specific instructions for how responsibilities should be carried out, such as ensuring legal compliance by implementing financial policies and monitoring accounting procedures.
Essential Accounting Skills
Accountants are expected to possess a range of skills and personal traits, including:
- Analytical skills: the ability to examine data and draw insights from it
- Problem-solving skills: the ability to identify and address issues in financial records and processes
- Communication and interpersonal skills: the ability to work effectively with colleagues, clients, and other stakeholders
- Time management: the ability to prioritize tasks and manage deadlines
- Numeracy: strong mathematical skills
- Attention to detail: the ability to spot errors and discrepancies
- Trustworthiness: the ability to handle sensitive financial information with discretion and integrity
- Teamwork: the ability to collaborate with others towards common goals
- Politeness: treating others with respect and professionalism
- Active listening: the ability to hear and understand others' perspectives
- Target-driven: the ability to work towards goals and meet objectives
- Adaptability: the ability to adjust to changes in the work environment
- Leadership and motivational skills: the ability to inspire and guide others
- Presentation skills: the ability to communicate financial information in a clear and compelling manner
- Strategic thinking: the ability to think ahead and plan for the future
- Customer service skills: the ability to provide excellent service to clients
- Financial planning: the ability to develop and implement financial plans
- Ability to make financial decisions: the ability to make sound financial decisions based on available data
- Thorough knowledge of accounting policies and current legislation: a deep understanding of accounting rules and regulations
- Thorough knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles: a strong understanding of accounting best practices
- Coordination skills: the ability to coordinate activities and resources effectively
- Aptitude for collecting information: the ability to gather and analyze financial data
Accounting Education and Qualifications
In order to ensure that your company follows best practices, fulfills its legal obligations, and meets its targets and deadlines, it is important to hire individuals with the appropriate professional qualifications.
The professional qualifications required for candidates to carry out their accounting roles include:
- A degree in Finance or Accounting (Bachelor's or Master's)
- Attainment of Chartered Status through passing the CPA exam
- Accreditation from a Chartered Institute
- Specialization in specific areas such as forensic accounting or corporate finance
- Proficiency in accounting software
Accounting Training and Experience
Accounting professionals often gain experience and training through apprenticeships or previous work experience. Some school leavers may choose to complete the Professional Accountancy Technician Higher Apprenticeship or the Accountant and Taxation Professional Higher Apprenticeship to kickstart their careers. In addition, individuals may pursue further training and experience by obtaining certifications from professional bodies such as the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), the Institute of Financial Accountants (IFA), or the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants (ACCA).
Frequently Asked Questions About Accounting Job Descriptions
Here we answer your questions on accounting positions and job descriptions.