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Home › Accounting Careers › Staff Accountant

Learn how to become a staff accountant

If you like working with financial data and want to pursue a career in accounting but don’t want to work crazy hours during tax season, one option may be to pursue a career as a staff accountant.

A staff accountant performs the routine financial and accounting tasks of an organization, including maintaining the general ledger, reconciling accounts, preparing internal financial statements and monitoring compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).

A staff accountant performs the routine financial and accounting tasks of an organization…

In this article, we’ll go through the fundamentals of a career as a staff accountant, helping you determine if this career path is right for you.

Is staff accounting for me?

Staff accountants appreciate the stability, structure, and defined roles of their jobs. They have the opportunity to develop analytical skills and make meaningful contributions to their company. This is why it’s no surprise that accountants rank second in a recent satisfaction study, with a score of  72.2 out of 100 points. Job security is another beneficial aspect of a career as a staff accountant. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the industry to grow by 4.6% through 2034, which is faster than the national average for all job fields combined.

If you enjoy working with numbers, completing financial reconciliations and solving problems involving data, and even if you have no formal accounting education or experience, you can pivot and pursue a career in accounting by working toward an accounting degree and earning different certifications.

Steps to become a staff accountant

Pursuing a career as a staff accountant requires a mix of education, credentials and experience. Let’s go through the five steps required to become a staff accountant.

What are salaries like for staff accountants?

Staff accountant careers not only unlock growth opportunities but may also pay well. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the median pay for accountants is $81,680 per year or $39 per hour.

There are many different roles a staff accountant can take on, meaning the pay can vary. Staff accountants who focus on general administrative or bookkeeping tasks may earn less than those who offer tax services or have a CPA license. Take a look at median annual salaries for accountants and auditors as reported by the BLS:

How do staff accountants compare to other accounting and similar finance careers?

Here’s how accountant careers compare to other finance-related career fields:

The highest paying cities for staff accountants also mimic cities with a higher cost of living. Here are the top five highest paying cities for staff accountants as reported by the BLS:

What staff accountants do and where they work

Staff accountants take on different responsibilities and tasks in an organization. Here are a few of the main job duties:

• Monitor accounts payable and accounts receivable ledgers
• Prepare monthly bank reconciliations
• Make adjusting entries
• Prepare internal reports
• Enter data and clear transactions
• Process invoices
• Monitor and create budgets

Each staff accountant will have a different focus. For example, one staff accountant might focus on accounts payable, while another might handle accounts receivable in an organization. Here’s what a typical day might look like:

• Respond to emails
• Clear transactions
• Check budget progress
• Reconcile general ledger accounts
• Forecast upcoming spending needs
• Create internal financial reports for review

Staff accountants work a standard 9 to 5 workday. Unlike other accounting careers—a tax accountant, for instance—the hours of a staff accountant remain consistent throughout the year. However, more work might be needed at the end of the month when accounts need to be reconciled or bills paid.

The skills (and competencies) you’ll need

Staff accountants rely on their educational background to complete various tasks on a daily basis. This includes knowledge of GAAP and an understanding of how to maintain ledgers. Outside of technical skills, soft skills are also required, such as effective communication, critical thinking skills and time management.

With technological advancements, staff accountants have countless resources to help them complete their job duties. For one, most of your daily transactions and financial management will be housed in accounting software. An understanding of these programs is important alongside basic programs like Excel.  

Where you’ll work

Staff accountants are an essential position in both public and private companies:

Job titles

• Bookkeeper: A bookkeeper handles basic transaction management.
• Staff accountant: Staff accountants are one step above bookkeepers, handling more complex transactions and tasks.
• Senior staff accountant: After a few years as a staff accountant, a senior staff accountant is the next stop.
• Manager: Senior staff accountants will then move into a management position.
• Senior manager: After you’ve held a manager position for a few years, you will become a senior manager.
• Partner: Partner is generally the highest job title for a staff accountant.

Work environments

There are two main environments for staff accountants: public and private.

• Private: Private staff accountants work for individual companies, managing the transactions only related to the organization.
• Public: Public staff accountants work for an accounting firm, handling the transactions and accounting tasks of numerous organizations.  

How to make yourself stand out as a candidate

Whether you are looking for your first position as a staff accountant or want to pivot into a new position, it’s important to make yourself stand out from other talent. Here are some top tips:

• Use connections from your professional network
• Define your goals and find positions that fit your criteria
• Pursue a higher education degree or certification, like a master’s or CPA license
• Develop your soft skills, like communication or time management
• Highlight your work ethic and commitment to learning

Professional organizations to join along the way

Professional organizations are beneficial for building your network and staying informed on the latest changes. Here are some organizations you can join as a staff accountant:

• American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
• National Society of Accountants
• National Association of Tax Professionals

Most states also have a private organization for professionals licensed in the state.

Frequently asked questions

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