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What does a General Ledger Accountant do?

Updated January 8, 2025
8 min read
Quoted Expert
Terri Walsh
What does a General Ledger Accountant do

A general ledger accountant is in charge of ensuring the accuracy of a company's overall accounting processes and information. It is their responsibility to communicate with different departments and officials to gather necessary data, conduct extensive audits, prepare documentation and reports, maintain financial data on the company ledger, and interpret financial information. Furthermore, like a general ledger accountant, it is essential to monitor the progress of accounting processes, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.

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General ledger accountant responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real general ledger accountant resumes:

  • Prepare internal financial reports for treasury manage accounts include in external compliance reports.
  • Perform account analysis, cost accruals, bank reconciliations, inventory reconciliation and analysis; research and recommend transaction corrections.
  • Maintain ERP general ledger and data in sub module, and perform the expenditure review according to budgeting.
  • Prepare monthly, reconciliations of subsidiary ledgers to general ledger control accounts.
  • Reconcile general ledger accounts which including preparing journal entries and accruals in preparation of consolidate financial reports.
  • Prepare various monthly journal entries to record prepay insurance amortization, payroll deduction liabilities and other liability accruals.
  • Work closely with various CPA firms on year end audits, also multiple housing authorities
  • Assist with implementation of a new (ERP) system, deploy transaction process improvements.
  • Prepare fiscal year end audit packages and tax packages for all properties submit to CPA firm.
  • Raise the asset purchase requisition base on requirements after ensuring they are approved in the CAPEX budget.
  • Track all construction in progress (CIP) invoices and review for appropriate recording base on the company's capitalization policies.
  • Perform monthly depreciation analysis and CapEx reporting.
  • Prepare quarterly inventory reports for approvals per SOX requirements.
  • Process system-generated edit reports, monthly depreciation and CIP reports.
  • Gather information request by auditors during quarterly reviews and SOX audits.

General ledger accountant skills and personality traits

We calculated that 15% of General Ledger Accountants are proficient in Reconciliations, GAAP, and Balance Sheet Accounts. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Detail oriented.

We break down the percentage of General Ledger Accountants that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Reconciliations, 15%

    Performed account analysis, cost accruals, bank reconciliations, inventory reconciliation and analysis; researched and recommended transaction corrections.

  • GAAP, 6%

    Compiled and analyzed financial information to prepare financial statements including monthly, quarterly and annual accounts following GAAP and IFRS reporting.

  • Balance Sheet Accounts, 6%

    Performed month-end and year-end close of General Ledger including generating financial statements, reconciling balance sheet accounts and preparing journal entries.

  • Payroll, 5%

    Communicated with field contracts, external payroll processing company and third party benefits administrators as well as banking representatives.

  • Accruals, 5%

    Prepared various monthly journal entries to record prepaid insurance amortization, payroll deduction liabilities and other liability accruals.

  • External Auditors, 4%

    Audited reconciliation procedures, policies regarding payment posting, general ledger procedures and provided support to internal and external auditors.

Most general ledger accountants use their skills in "reconciliations," "gaap," and "balance sheet accounts" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential general ledger accountant responsibilities here:

Communication skills. Another essential skill to perform general ledger accountant duties is communication skills. General ledger accountants responsibilities require that "accountants and auditors must be able to listen to and discuss facts and concerns from clients, managers, and other stakeholders." General ledger accountants also use communication skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "act as a liaison between other accounting and finance groups to ensure complete and accurate communication of financial data. "

Detail oriented. general ledger accountants are also known for detail oriented, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to general ledger accountant responsibilities, because "accountants and auditors must pay attention to detail when compiling and examining documents." A general ledger accountant resume example shows how detail oriented is used in the workplace: "reviewed trial balance and journal details and make necessary adjustments. "

Math skills. A big part of what general ledger accountants do relies on "math skills." You can see how essential it is to general ledger accountant responsibilities because "accountants and auditors must be able to analyze, compare, and interpret facts and figures." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical general ledger accountant tasks: "perform quantitative analyses for various types of financial data needed in planning, budgeting and forecast. "

Organizational skills. Another crucial skill for a general ledger accountant to carry out their responsibilities is "organizational skills." A big part of what general ledger accountants relies on this skill, since "strong organizational skills are important for accountants and auditors, who often work with a range of financial documents for a variety of clients." How this skill relates to general ledger accountant duties can be seen in an example from a general ledger accountant resume snippet: "created sox compliance guidelines with organizational flowcharts for general ledger duties. "

All general ledger accountant skills

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General Ledger Accountant Resume
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General Ledger Accountant Resume
General Ledger Accountant Resume

Compare different general ledger accountants

General ledger accountant vs. Accounting manager/controller

An accounting manager/controller is responsible for spearheading and overseeing the daily operations in a company's accounting department. They monitor the company's budgets, including its costs and expenditures, and produce financial reports. It is also their duty to establish objectives and guidelines, manage accounting staff, monitor financial activities, review and assess financial statements, approve expenditures, and resolve issues promptly and efficiently. Furthermore, as an accounting manager/controller, it is essential to lead and encourage the workforce to reach goals, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.

If we compare the average general ledger accountant annual salary with that of an accounting manager/controller, we find that accounting managers/controller typically earn a $33,939 higher salary than general ledger accountants make annually.While their salaries may differ, the common ground between general ledger accountants and accounting managers/controller are a few of the skills required in each roleacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities. In both careers, employee duties involve skills like reconciliations, gaap, and balance sheet accounts.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, general ledger accountant responsibilities require skills like "payroll," "accruals," "strong analytical," and "asset system." Meanwhile a typical accounting manager/controller has skills in areas such as "payroll taxes," "journal entries," "oversight," and "account reconciliations." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

Accounting managers/controller tend to make the most money working in the technology industry, where they earn an average salary of $89,839. In contrast, general ledger accountants make the biggest average salary, $68,134, in the technology industry.On average, accounting managers/controller reach similar levels of education than general ledger accountants. Accounting managers/controller are 2.4% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

General ledger accountant vs. Account leader

Account leaders are assigned to work on specific client accounts and assist these clients with their needs. They should treat their clients as partners. This would help them forge a better working relationship with clients. Account leaders should have high business acumen and a strong grasp of the current industry landscape. They should be familiar with the company's products and services and which product or service best fits the clients' needs. Account leaders should also know how to retain clients and maintain the client base. They may do this by regularly checking up on clients, making clients feel valued, and mitigating any challenges that may arise.

On average, account leaders earn a $48,809 higher salary than general ledger accountants a year.While the salary may differ for these jobs, they share a few skills needed to perform their duties. Based on resume data, both general ledger accountants and account leaders have skills such as "reconciliations," "gaap," and "balance sheet accounts. "

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that general ledger accountant responsibilities requires skills like "asset system," "erp," "pivot tables," and "income statement." But an account leader might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "account management," "customer service," "client facing," and "business development."

On average, account leaders earn a higher salary than general ledger accountants. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, account leaders earn the most pay in the professional industry with an average salary of $124,638. Whereas general ledger accountants have higher pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $68,134.account leaders earn similar levels of education than general ledger accountants in general. They're 0.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for General Ledger Accountants in the next 3-5 years?

Terri WalshTerri Walsh LinkedIn Profile

Professor/Program Manager, Accounting, Seminole State College of Florida

I think EXCEL is a must for all business graduates, especially for accounting graduates, but often they have not been exposed to much of it in their degree. Besides, with technology continually changing, a dual major in accounting and information technology will be sought after, so I recommend a bachelor's degree accounting major NOT pursue an MBA, but an information technology degree or programming data. The rise of Big Data and issues surrounding cybersecurity risks will require the accounting profession, and accounting roles, to rely more on students with strong computer skills and logic/analytical thinking. As mentioned before, they will need to master EXCEL, as spreadsheets are widely used in accounting and are the foundation for more advanced software. We are already seeing TABLEAU being used in accounting books, even in the foundational courses which have EXCEL already. There is powerful interrogation software, such as IDEA and ACL, which can pull data from multiple sources; and knowing these tools or their capabilities will be required in the future. Also, strong technological skills need to be communicated once data is retrieved, and this will require persuasive writing and verbal skills.

General ledger accountant vs. Accounting manager

An accounting manager is responsible for supervising and monitoring the overall accounting department operations. Duties of an accounting manager include reviewing account information and account statements, processing invoices, analyzing financial data, performing account reconciliations, assisting with tax processing and audit reports, and generating financial reports for presentation with the board. An accounting manager must have excellent knowledge of the accounting principles and legislation to assist the team with the company's financial goals. Accounting managers must have the outstanding analytical, critical thinking, and decision-making skills to develop the best competitive financial strategies.

On average scale, accounting managers bring in higher salaries than general ledger accountants. In fact, they earn a $24,417 higher salary per year.By looking over several general ledger accountants and accounting managers resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "reconciliations," "gaap," and "balance sheet accounts." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, general ledger accountants are more likely to have skills like "payroll," "asset system," "pivot tables," and "income statement." But a accounting manager is more likely to have skills like "customer service," "payroll processing," "account reconciliations," and "process improvement."

Accounting managers earn the best pay in the finance industry, where they command an average salary of $99,773. General ledger accountants earn the highest pay from the technology industry, with an average salary of $68,134.When it comes to education, accounting managers tend to earn similar degree levels compared to general ledger accountants. In fact, they're 0.5% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

General ledger accountant vs. Accountant/consultant

Accountants/consultants perform accounting tasks for organizations or companies. The accountants improve accounting practices and prepare financial statements at the end of every year. They analyze financial data and offer advice on regulatory compliance issues to the finance department. It is their job to make sure that the online system is secure. Most of the day, they organize invoices, prepare statements, and supervising systems. They should be equipped with analytical skills, industry knowledge, critical thinking, and interpersonal communication.

Accountant/consultants average a higher salary than the annual salary of general ledger accountants. The difference is about $4,264 per year.While their salaries may vary, general ledger accountants and accountant/consultants both use similar skills to perform their duties. Resumes from both professions include skills like "reconciliations," "gaap," and "balance sheet accounts. "

Even though a few skill sets overlap between general ledger accountants and accountant/consultants, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a general ledger accountant might have more use for skills like "accruals," "external auditors," "asset system," and "sox." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of accountant/consultants require skills like "account management," "product knowledge," "leveraged," and "customer service. "

In general, accountant/consultants earn the most working in the finance industry, with an average salary of $68,479. The highest-paying industry for a general ledger accountant is the technology industry.The average resume of accountant/consultants showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to general ledger accountants. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 0.5% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.2%.

Types of general ledger accountant

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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