What does a senior accountant do?
A senior accountant is responsible for organizing financial reports, analyzing cost estimates, reviewing budget goals regularly, and making adjustments with the company's account statements as necessary. Senior accountants' duties also include managing account reconciliations, preparing tax documents, maintaining audit records and balance sheets, generating invoices, and providing recommendations to minimize possible financial loss. A senior accountant must have excellent analytical and critical-thinking skills and extensive knowledge of accounting and financial principles.
Senior accountant responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real senior accountant resumes:
- Manage complex pricing structure and maintain SalesForce CRM funnel for forecasting accuracy.
- Prepare internal financial reports for treasury manage accounts include in external compliance reports.
- Manage the review, enhancement, and creation of department policy and procedure documentation require for Sarbanes-Oxley auditing and compliance.
- Compile and analyze financial information to prepare monthly accruals, payroll journal, general journal and bank reconciliations.
- Research and develop policies around Medicaid and Medicare billings and prepare Medicaid cost reports.
- Coordinate submissions of financial data from regional divisions and prepare the consolidated company financial statement using Hyperion program.
- Perform SOX testing and receive final approval for system reports require for management, financial reporting and general ledger reconciliations.
- Administer all grant-relate accounting functions including budgeting, payroll allocations, analysis and review accruals, and financial database system.
- Perform assigned account reconciliations of asset and liability accounts associate with accounts receivable, variance analysis, and month-end close responsibilities.
- Improve compliance with IRS rules for booking of assets.
- Reconcile securities, cash, valuations, and earnings.
- Obtain Medicare certification to better assist members with health insurance needs.
- Prepare responses to IRS and state / local taxing authority audits; gather supporting documentation.
- Export data from SQL database to create invoicing reports, expense forecasts, and ad-hoc projects.
- Reconcile numerous discrepancies with an intercompany A/R account and are able to set up a new procedure going forward.
Senior accountant skills and personality traits
We calculated that 13% of Senior Accountants are proficient in Reconciliations, CPA, and GAAP. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Detail oriented.
We break down the percentage of Senior Accountants that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Reconciliations, 13%
Facilitated and completed monthly close procedures, preparation and review of journal entries, account reconciliations and preparation of financial statements.
- CPA, 8%
Switched to Intuit payroll service from CPA firm payroll service, which decrease 50% of expense spent on payroll preparation.
- GAAP, 7%
Reviewed various financial activities for reasonableness, accuracy, compliance to internal controls/policies and determination of correct US GAAP accounting treatment.
- External Auditors, 4%
Prepared audit schedules and provided internal and external auditors with information to comply with Sarbanes-Oxley and quarterly and annual audit requirements.
- Internal Controls, 4%
Implemented and documented effective internal controls for capital expenditure reconciliation to streamline operations and ensure compliance with guidelines such as Sarbanes-Oxley.
- Payroll, 4%
Ensured accurate payroll of the organization by verifying deductions from wages to provide accurate information for insurance audits.
"reconciliations," "cpa," and "gaap" are among the most common skills that senior accountants use at work. You can find even more senior accountant responsibilities below, including:
Communication skills. Many senior accountant duties rely on communication skills. "accountants and auditors must be able to listen to and discuss facts and concerns from clients, managers, and other stakeholders," so a senior accountant will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways senior accountant responsibilities rely on communication skills: "process weekly payroll for data communication division and submit daily reports of field personal to management. "
Detail oriented. senior accountants are also known for detail oriented, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to senior accountant responsibilities, because "accountants and auditors must pay attention to detail when compiling and examining documents." A senior accountant resume example shows how detail oriented is used in the workplace: "worked closely with erp 3rd party programmers for modifications to erp including detailing the general ledger for more detailed reporting. "
Math skills. senior accountant responsibilities often require "math skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "accountants and auditors must be able to analyze, compare, and interpret facts and figures." This resume example shows what senior accountants do with math skills on a typical day: "reviewed all clearing account reconciliations, and maintain account kpi statistics. "
Organizational skills. Another crucial skill for a senior accountant to carry out their responsibilities is "organizational skills." A big part of what senior 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 senior accountant duties can be seen in an example from a senior accountant resume snippet: "conducted financial analysis, reported findings, developed organizational-wide financial goals, and assisted in developing strategic plans. "
The three companies that hire the most senior accountants are:
- Robert Half985 senior accountants jobs
- Northpoint154 senior accountants jobs
- Automation Anywhere103 senior accountants jobs
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Compare different senior accountants
Senior accountant vs. Accounting supervisor
Account supervisors are in charge of the accounting and financial operations within an organization's accounting department. They supervise the account team and provide feedback about their performance and recommend improvements when necessary. It is their responsibility to review the company's financial statements for accuracy. They even reconcile the enterprise's general ledger accounts and oversee the communications and marketing plans of the clients. Also, they maintain profitable and long-term customer relationships to keep the trust of the clients.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a senior accountant are more likely to require skills like "payroll," "strong time management," "excellent organizational," and "work ethic." On the other hand, a job as an accounting supervisor requires skills like "account reconciliations," "customer service," "payroll taxes," and "direct reports." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Accounting supervisors really shine in the finance industry with an average salary of $86,930. Comparatively, senior accountants tend to make the most money in the finance industry with an average salary of $74,982.On average, accounting supervisors reach similar levels of education than senior accountants. Accounting supervisors are 3.0% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Senior 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.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real senior accountant resumes. While senior accountant responsibilities can utilize skills like "erp," "strong time management," "cash flow," and "excellent organizational," account leaders use skills like "account management," "customer service," "client facing," and "business development."
Account leaders earn a higher average salary than senior accountants. But account leaders earn the highest pay in the professional industry, with an average salary of $124,638. Additionally, senior accountants earn the highest salaries in the finance with average pay of $74,982 annually.In general, account leaders achieve similar levels of education than senior accountants. They're 2.2% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for senior accountants in the next 3-5 years?
Terri Walsh
Professor/Program Manager, Accounting, Seminole State College of Florida
Senior 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.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from senior accountant resumes include skills like "external auditors," "sox," "accruals," and "erp," whereas an accountant/consultant is more likely to list skills in "account management," "product knowledge," "leveraged," and "customer service. "
Accountant/consultants earn the highest salary when working in the finance industry, where they receive an average salary of $68,479. Comparatively, senior accountants have the highest earning potential in the finance industry, with an average salary of $74,982.Most accountant/consultants achieve a similar degree level compared to senior accountants. For example, they're 3.0% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Senior accountant vs. Accounting consultant
An Accounting Consultant is a person tasked to assist the accounting department of a company. The consultant advises businesses concerning the accounting system used by the organization. It is also through the accounting consultant's help that improvements in the accounting process are proposed, the determination of problematic areas in the workflow, possible issues in the future, and everything that needs upgrading. The accounting consultant also helps businesses conform to legal policies set about by State and Federal legislation.
Types of senior accountant
Updated January 8, 2025
