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Accounting > Accountant

Salary National Average

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55330.0000 68770.0000 85560.0000

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+4%

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Candidate Supply: 11,043 Job Openings: 228,302

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Short Description:

An accountant is responsible for managing financial records, preparing and analyzing financial statements, and ensuring compliance with relevant laws and regulations. They play a crucial role in budgeting, forecasting, and identifying cost-saving opportunities for an organization. Additionally, accountants collaborate with internal teams and external auditors to provide accurate and timely financial information, contributing to informed decision-making by stakeholders. Strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and proficiency in accounting software are essential qualities for success in this role.

Duties / Responsibilities:

  • Prepare, examine, or analyze accounting records, financial statements, or other financial reports to assess accuracy, completeness, and conformance to reporting and procedural standards.
  • Report to management regarding the finances of the establishment.
  • Establish tables of accounts and assign entries to proper accounts.
  • Develop, implement, modify, and document recordkeeping and accounting systems using current computer technology.
  • Compute taxes owed and prepare tax returns, ensuring compliance with payment, reporting, or other tax requirements.
  • Maintain or examine the records of government agencies.
  • Advise clients in compensation, employee health care benefits, accounting or data processing systems, or long-range tax or estate plans.
  • Develop, maintain, and analyze budgets, preparing periodic reports comparing budgeted costs to actual costs.
  • Provide internal and external auditing services for businesses or individuals.
  • Analyze business operations, trends, costs, revenues, financial commitments, and obligations to project future revenues and expenses or to provide advice.

Skills / Requirements / Qualifications

  • Economics and Accounting: Knowledge of accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
  • Law and Government: Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
  • Clerical: Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
  • Mathematics: Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
  • Accounting Software: Accurate NXG; Blackbaud The Financial Edge; FlexiLedger software; Intuit Quicken software
  • Compliance Software: Corporate Responsibility System Technologies Limited CRSTL Compliance Positioning System; FLS eDP.Payroll tax; Intrax ProcedureNet; Paisley Cardmap
  • Document Management Software: Accutrac software; Document management system software; OmniRIM software; Records management software
  • Financial Analysis Software: AuditWare software; MethodWare ProAudit Advisor; Paisley AutoAudit; RSM McGladrey Auditor Assistant
  • Project Management Software: HCSS HeavyBid; HCSS HeavyJob; Sage Master Builder

Job Zones

  • Title: Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
  • Education: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not. 
  • Related Experience: A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. 
  • Job Training: Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
  • Job Zone Examples: Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. 
  • Specific Vocational Preparation in years: 2-4 years preparation (7.0 to < 8.0)

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