MightyRecruiterThe way the hiring process for a company accountant goes is determined by you and how you mold your job description. A poorly written, inaccurate or incomplete job description could lead to hours of frustration as you sort through the applications, resumes and cover letters of unqualified individuals. To give you a solid idea of what a well-written job description looks like (and improve your chances of finding the perfect candidate), you’ll want to take a look at a accountant job description sample that includes the most salient information regarding the position and your company.
Accountant Job Summary
It will be your job to examine and prepare company financial records once a month and ensure their accuracy. You’ll also be tasked with ensuring we remain compliant with all tax laws and regulations in addition to making sure all necessary accounting procedures are followed. When possible, you will also be asked to make recommendations on how the company can reduce costs, build revenues and boost profits.
Accountant Job Responsibilities and Duties
- Study financial operations and make best-practice recommendations for management.
- Maintain and organize financial records.
- Inspect existing accounting systems and books to ensure adherence to current accounting methodologies and overall efficiency.
- Prepare tax returns, determine taxes owed and make sure taxes are fully paid and paid on time.
- Explain your findings, when necessary, with written reports and during meetings.
- Check for mismanagement of company funds.
Accountant Skills and Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in accounting or a closely related field
● At least three years of experience working with a retail company
● Knowledge of the most recent tax laws and regulations
● Experience using enterprise resource planning software, specifically Oracle Hyperion software and Sage Platinum for Windows PFW
● Must be a Certified Management Accountant
● High attention to detail and organizational skills
● Familiar with working with current commercial accounting systems
Company Profile
Grace’s Green Garments was established in 2005 with the intention of providing men and women with unique fashions that make them look and feel their absolute best while adhering to the positive environmental practices as they relate to the clothing industry. Since its inception, the company has grown to thirteen store locations scattered across Nevada and California. Our company mission is to show the fashion industry and our customers the middle ground where high fashion and environmental consciousness meet.
Writing an Accountant Job Description Best Practice
Having an accountant job description sample is a great guide for writing your own, but there could be times where you simply don’t have guidelines in place for your unique situation. For this reason, it’s good to follow a few of the best practices for crafting a solid job description and attracting well-qualified applicants.
DO include bullet lists whenever possible to give your description a clean and easy-to-read appearance.
DO make sure it’s clear what candidates can expect as employees of your company and from you as an employer. As potential applicants are reading your job description, they should start to form a solid idea of what a regular workday looks like.
DO include elements of your company culture with the job description. While a candidate may be well-qualified for the accountant position, he or she may not be a good match for your workplace environment or company mission.
DO check to see that you include contact information for applicants who have questions as well as any guidelines that should be followed for submitting resumes, cover letters and any other information you’d like.
DON’T hesitate to include specific qualities or personalities you feel aren’t the best fit for your company. Doing so saves you and unqualified applicants time and starts the workplace relationship off on the right foot before the individual is even hired.
DON’T add information about salary or benefits if there are any company guidelines that prevent you from doing so, and be sure to let applicants know why you aren’t including salary and benefit details in the job description. This information can be saved for interviews.
While you may not be able to find a candidate who’s an absolutely perfect fit for your company, having a thorough and expertly composed job description sets a solid foundation upon which both you and your future accountant can start to build a prosperous and mutually beneficial rapport.
Accountant Job Responsibilities
The job responsibilities section of your description will be what draws in jobseekers. Therefore, it is essential that your accountant job description accurately imparts the expected day-to-day tasks and duties. By spending time creating a strong posting with detailed accountant job responsibilities, you will have fewer unqualified candidates through which to weed when looking for the right person.
As already discussed, it is best to incorporate bullet points to make it easy for jobseekers to skim the posting. Although it is beneficial to have a meaty accountant job description section, it does not need to be an exhaustive list. Instead, focus on the key duties and responsibilities the accountant would have. Finally, be sure to start each statement with an action verb to make it easier for your future employees to really imagine themselves in the position.
To get you started, here are some examples of accountant responsibilities:
- Prepare quarterly and annual federal and state tax returns according to the tax code
- Create financial reports detailing income and expenditures that include a future forecast
- Review financial statements, receipts, invoices and other documents for accuracy
- Communicate with department heads to discuss budgetary concerns
- Develop a user-friendly bookkeeping computer system for maintaining daily income and expenditures
Accountant Job Specifications
A strong accountant job description incorporates a “Job Qualifications and Skills” section. Although it is typically just a short list, it is one of the most important areas of the entire posting. In this section, it is key to outline the minimum requirements of the job so that unqualified candidates know not to apply.
Be sure to spend time considering what those requirements or qualifications actually are. If you don’t have to have someone with a BS degree, put the true amount of schooling you need that person to have. The more specific you are in this section, the less time you waste having to review resumes from candidates who do not have the most basic qualifications for the position.
One way to make sure you know what to include in this section of the accountant job description is through talking with someone who holds the position or is the direct supervisor of the accountant. Also ask which requirements are necessary and which are preferred. With this information, you can divide up the list so that jobseekers know when it is okay that they apply without a specific skill or education, and when it is time to pass on the opportunity.Below are some accountant job specifications that are beneficial to add to your job posting to help you find the best candidates for the position:
- Bachelor’s degree in accounting or related field; master’s degree preferred
- Extensive knowledge of federal and state tax codes
- 3-5 years of experience as an accountant
- CPA license or working towards the license
