Staff Accountant Job at Accounting Education in Village of Newark

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).

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.

1. Earn a bachelor’s or associate degree in accounting
   Staff accountants need some formal education before entering the workforce. However, unlike other careers in accounting—such as a tax or forensic accountant—staff accounting positions don’t always require a four-year bachelor’s degree. Some staff accountant positions only require a two-year associate degree or a bookkeeping certification.
2. Consider a master’s degree in accounting
   Some staff accountants specialize in certain areas, like tax or business management. If you want to pursue management positions or set yourself apart from other talent, having a master’s degree on your resume can be beneficial.
3. Pursue CPA licensure
   Some staff accountants will pursue a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license after completing their degrees. Licensure requirements differ by state; however, most states require 150 credit hours of education.
4. Sit for the CPA exam
   After you are eligible to take the CPA exam, it’s time to complete the exams. The CPA exam tests many different areas of accounting.
5. Complete continuing education requirements
   If you complete the CPA exam, you will be required to earn 80 credit hours of continuing education every two years.

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 $79,880 per year or $38 per hour.

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

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.

Where you’ll work

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

• 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

Frequently asked questions

Is there career growth potential for a staff accountant?
Yes, staff accountants can unlock career growth, such as by working toward management positions.

Do staff accountants need a degree?
Yes, most staff accountants need a degree. However, staff accountants don’t always need a four-year bachelor’s degree. An associate’s degree or accounting certification might be sufficient.

Is a staff accountant higher than an accountant?
Staff accountants and accountants generally reference the same job duties.