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Head accountant skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

Quoted experts

Dr. Richard Hale,

Dr. Jennifer Thayer

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical head accountant skills. We ranked the top skills for head accountants based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 31.6% of head accountant resumes contained account management as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a head accountant needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 head accountant skills for your resume and career

1. Account Management

The process of strengthening the relationship between a company and client is called account management. Effective account management has two key objectives, one is to retain loyal customers and the second one is to help the company grow by creating connections with new customers.

Here's how head accountants use account management:

Reorganized Account Management to include levels of authority and advancement opportunities resulting in retained talent of highly experienced professionals.
Managed all Account Management operations in creative digital agency.

2. Client Relationships

Here's how head accountants use client relationships:

Developed and sustained high-level client relationships and served as a trusted consultant to optimize clients through strategy, service and technology.
Managed client relationships to ensure the highest levels of customer satisfaction were achieved.

3. Business Development

Business development is the ideas or initiatives that work to make business work better. Selling, advertising, product development, supply chain management, and vendor management are only a few of the divisions involved with it. There is still a lot of networking, negotiating, forming alliances, and trying to save money. The goals set for business development guide and coordinate with all of these various operations and sectors.

Here's how head accountants use business development:

Partner with IT and system development to unsure constant review and development of our business development soft ware ERP.
Directed all operations for start-up company, including sales / business development and portfolio management.

4. National Accounts

Here's how head accountants use national accounts:

Developed a new business-to-business distribution strategy in an effort to expand revenue and earnings for National Accounts.
Developed and implemented strategic distribution model for 400 national accounts.

5. General Ledger

Here's how head accountants use general ledger:

Prepared general ledger reconciliations and analyzed financial statements for CEO.
Manage payroll general ledger accounts and personal budgetary balances.

6. Financial Reports

Here's how head accountants use financial reports:

Produced accurate financial reports on company activity to specific deadlines for top management to measure and track performance.
Reported to head office monthly financial reports, budgets and miscellaneous financial analysis.

7. Financial Analysis

Here's how head accountants use financial analysis:

Conducted economic financial analysis for hundreds of clients.
Perform pro-forma financial analysis in order to quantify potential results for future signings.

8. Americas

Here's how head accountants use americas:

Structure and implementation of Global KAM among Sales Teams in North America, Latin America, EMEA, India and APAC.
Reported directly to the VP of Americas on all sales based initiatives.

9. Balance Sheet

Here's how head accountants use balance sheet:

Developed monthly, quarterly and annual profit and loss statements along with balance sheets.
Performed complex general accounting functions, including preparation of journalentries, account analysis and balance sheet reconciliations.

10. Account Executives

Account executives help build good relationships with new and existing clients. They interact with brand teams and clients, making them the point of contact. A sales development representative responsibilities entail facilitating sales, generating potential leads, and referring customers to the best salesperson. To succeed in this job post, you need to have the best customer service, math, analytical, interpersonal, and communication skills. A bachelor's degree in business marketing, sales, or a similar field fits this role.

Here's how head accountants use account executives:

Supervised account executives and graphic teams, keeping them on budget, on time, and on vision.
Led a team of 4 Account Executives.

11. Medicare

Medicare is a federal government insurance program that offers health care coverage to people who are 65 and above. In some cases, younger people with disabilities whose status is identified by the SSA can also avail the insurance program. Medicare covers the health expenses of people who are not able to afford it plus it protects the payee from rising health care costs.

Here's how head accountants use medicare:

Supervised Medicare and Medicaid submissions and receipts of weekly payments.
Completed third party billing for Medicaid and Medicare claims.

12. Journal Entries

Journal entries can be defined as an act of keeping or making records of any transactions either economic or non-economic. The journal entries are made in the accounting systems of an organization. The entries are filled with two main fields; debit and credit. The debit and credit must be equal at the end of a journal entry else it is not considered correct. The journal entries also keep the date of transactions and the names of the accounts that were affected by the transactions.

Here's how head accountants use journal entries:

Prepared standard and periodic month-end journal entries including accruals and amortizations.
Prepared monthly inventory reports, stock status reports, journal entries, and financial statements.

13. Expense Reports

Here's how head accountants use expense reports:

Implemented new Travel & Expense Report Policies as well as book travel and review all expense reports.
Make travel arrangements and prepare expense reports for travel expenses.

14. Customer Accounts

Here's how head accountants use customer accounts:

Post wire transfer payments to customer accounts.
Processed and posted daily cash receipts and monitored and addressed delinquent customer accounts.

15. Bank Accounts

Here's how head accountants use bank accounts:

Reconciled and managed multiple bank accounts, lines of credit, deferred income accounts, and company credit cards.
Reconciled primary checking account, ACH account, merchant accounts, and all payroll bank accounts.

What skills help Head Accountants find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on head accountant resumes?

Dr. Richard Hale

Associate Professor of Accounting, Berea College

When we meet with practitioners, the most commonly requested skills are:
-The ability to think critically about situations
-Good communications skills in writing
-The ability to speak in public and present ideas
-Working well with others
-The ability to work independently

Notice that these skills are not dependent upon any particular technology or discipline.
An advantage we have at Berea College, a liberal arts college, is that we incorporate these foundational skills into all we do.
Indeed, we also have our students master working with spreadsheets, develop skills in data analytics, and study all aspects of the business from Management, Economics, Finance, and Marketing.
As accounting is the business language, our students have more excellent business knowledge than other studies.

A key distinction for Berea College students is that all students must work for the college while they attend.
These jobs may vary from raising livestock to working in Accounts Payable. But all Berea graduates have years of practical work experience.
A core component of a Berea College education is to value the labor experience. We believe they enter the post-collegiate workforce with a significant advantage over their peers.

What soft skills should all head accountants possess?

Dr. Jennifer Thayer

Assistant Professor of Accounting, Socrates Award for Excellence in Teaching Recipient, Clarksville Chamber of Commerce APSU Distinguished Faculty Award for Community Service Recipient, Accounting Society at Austin Peay Advisor, Austin Peay State University

From speaking with employers in the industry, the number one soft skill seems to be written and spoken communication. Many current students need to hone their written communication skills to avoid "text speak" when communicating with potential employers and/or clients. Other important soft skills include problem-solving, collaboration, adaptability, and willingness to deal with failure and/or criticism. Especially in the world of COVID and ever-changing work environments, the importance of adaptability and problem-solving have only been highlighted. Since most work environments involve people working in teams, effectively collaborating with others and accepting criticism are vital skills.

What hard/technical skills are most important for head accountants?

Dr. Jennifer Thayer

In addition to general accounting knowledge, critical thinking, data analytics, and advanced Microsoft Excel abilities are some of the most important skills. Clearly, having a solid foundation in general accounting knowledge is necessary to be a candidate for a job in the accounting field. However, possessing the ability to critically think and analyze data and use Microsoft Excel beyond the basics, such as pivot tables, will only improve a candidate's chances.

What head accountant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Stephen Moehrle Ph.D.

Professor and Chairman of Accounting, University of Missouri - St. Louis

In the spirit of continuing education I would recommend the following: First and foremost, successfully complete the cpa exam. This is a huge difference-maker in the marketplace. If the young professional has already accomplished that, I would consider developing expertise consistent with their long-term career goals. Potential areas of expertise include data analytics, information systems controls and security, taxation, SEC reporting, or management accounting. There are certificate programs in each of these skills at universities across the country. The internet is also replete with free or relatively inexpensive materials for self-starters.

What type of skills will young head accountants need?

Elizabeth Gordon

Chair and Professor, Temple University

Preparing accounting students for their future means focusing their education on developing their critical thinking, decision making, and judgment, and truly thinking like an accountant requires critical thinking skills to be able to make judgments, to create and to use the information to solve problems and make good decisions. After all, accounting is not about rote memorization or data processing - tasks that do not require a university education. A university accounting education should foster curious and adaptive problem solvers with strong analytical skills and technical knowledge of accounting.

Do you want to know more?

List of head accountant skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a head accountant resume and required skills for a head accountant to have include:

Account Management
Client Relationships
Business Development
National Accounts
General Ledger
Financial Reports
Financial Analysis
Americas
Balance Sheet
Account Executives
Medicare
Journal Entries
Expense Reports
Customer Accounts

Bank Accounts
QuickBooks
GAAP
Internal Controls
A/P
Tax Returns
Business Performance
Management Reports
Bank Statements
Fixed Assets
Bank Reconciliations
Payable Functions
VAT
Financial Data

Channel Marketing
Medicaid
Bank Deposits
Upselling
Computer System
Inventory Control
HR
Financial Transactions
B2C
Account Analysis
Financial Statements
Credit Card
CPA
ERP

Updated January 8, 2025

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.

Updated January 8, 2025

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