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What does a senior accounting analyst do?

Updated January 8, 2025
8 min read
Quoted expert
Marty LaBarge

A senior accounting analyst is a financial professional who is responsible for sustaining the general ledger structure, capital asset systems, and the outline of accounts of a company. Senior accounting analysts supervise general accounting journals for adherence to generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), government policies, and grant requirements as well as provide internal audits. They are required to analyze the annual reports of the company's finances as well as examine statistical facts to determine errors and rectify them. Senior accounting analysts also offer support and advice to the company's clients in areas such as the monetary system and training.

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Senior accounting analyst responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real senior accounting analyst resumes:

  • Provide narrative comments for various financial packages to attain financial statement sign-offs as part of SOX compliance.
  • Rebate accruals must comply with ASC 650-50 guidelines and be recognize in the proper period in accordance with GAAP.
  • Perform as key member of ERP implementation team for migration from AS400 system to Mfg/Pro.
  • Work closely with the ERP developers to resolve system issues and updates due to changing business needs.
  • Assist the consulting CPA firm in the preparation of all year-end data and journal entries require for tax purposes.
  • Review general and subsidiary ledger balances for accuracy, policy and procedures for compliance with FASB industry guidelines and GAAP.
  • Assist in monthly closing of all revenue relate accounts, including bad debt, defer revenue, and commission accruals.
  • Maintain the daily error statistics reporting and weekly cycle reporting for corporate office, and interface with corporate treasury to resolution.
  • Ensure all financial reporting deadlines are meet; work with the CPA firm to ensure a clean and timely year-end audit.
  • Submit various assign journal entries including accruals.
  • Prepare monthly hospital financial statements utilizing Hyperion.
  • Ensure that treasury management procedures are followed.
  • Develop governance documentation around vendor funding and SOX.
  • Design an automate payroll reconciliation tool to significantly reduce opportunities for accounting errors.
  • Assist in preparation and review of Sarbanes-Oxley documentation for all stock ledger procedures.

Senior accounting analyst skills and personality traits

We calculated that 11% of Senior Accounting Analysts are proficient in Reconciliations, GAAP, and Senior Accounting. They’re also known for soft skills such as Organizational skills, Analytical skills, and Communication skills.

We break down the percentage of Senior Accounting Analysts that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Reconciliations, 11%

    Developed and implemented process changes to the reconciliation area and successfully transitioned approximately 800 General Ledger Reconciliations to new servicing system.

  • GAAP, 9%

    Reviewed general and subsidiary ledger balances for accuracy, policy and procedures for compliance with FASB industry guidelines and GAAP.

  • Senior Accounting, 6%

    Promoted to a Senior Accounting Analyst and led an Accounting staff of 3 professionals.

  • Financial Reports, 5%

    Confirmed indenture interpretation, analyzed compliance results, and verified financial reports for collateral debt obligations and other complex financial tools.

  • Internal Controls, 5%

    Maintained a documented system of accounting policies and procedures and ensured maintenance of appropriate internal controls and financial procedures and safeguards.

  • External Auditors, 4%

    Reviewed audit compliance schedules and requests from internal and external auditors while communicating any deficiencies to the Controller and Division President.

"reconciliations," "gaap," and "senior accounting" are among the most common skills that senior accounting analysts use at work. You can find even more senior accounting analyst responsibilities below, including:

Organizational skills. One of the key soft skills for a senior accounting analyst to have is organizational skills. You can see how this relates to what senior accounting analysts do because "strong organizational skills are important for accountants and auditors, who often work with a range of financial documents for a variety of clients." Additionally, a senior accounting analyst resume shows how senior accounting analysts use organizational skills: "supported separate organizational entity with general accounting and financial analysis to provide state tax benefits of over $30 million. "

Communication skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of senior accounting analysts is communication skills. This skill is critical to many everyday senior accounting analyst duties, as "accountants and auditors must be able to listen to and discuss facts and concerns from clients, managers, and other stakeholders." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "provided written communication relevant to how expenses were to be processed in compliance with sarbanes-oxley. "

Detail oriented. A big part of what senior accounting analysts do relies on "detail oriented." You can see how essential it is to senior accounting analyst responsibilities because "accountants and auditors must pay attention to detail when compiling and examining documents." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical senior accounting analyst tasks: "prepared detailed reconciliations of retired data in order to maintain a positive audit posture. "

Math skills. Another crucial skill for a senior accounting analyst to carry out their responsibilities is "math skills." A big part of what senior accounting analysts relies on this skill, since "accountants and auditors must be able to analyze, compare, and interpret facts and figures." How this skill relates to senior accounting analyst duties can be seen in an example from a senior accounting analyst resume snippet: "developed quantitative tools for analysis of raw data in preparation for monthly bank reconciliations. "

See the full list of senior accounting analyst skills

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Senior Accounting Analyst Resume
Senior Accounting Analyst Resume
Senior Accounting Analyst Resume
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Senior Accounting Analyst Resume
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Senior Accounting Analyst Resume
Senior Accounting Analyst Resume
Senior Accounting Analyst Resume
Senior Accounting Analyst Resume
Senior Accounting Analyst Resume
Senior Accounting Analyst Resume
Senior Accounting Analyst Resume
Senior Accounting Analyst Resume
Senior Accounting Analyst Resume

Compare different senior accounting analysts

Senior accounting analyst vs. Finance analyst/accountant

In a company setting, a finance analyst/accountant is in charge of handling and monitoring financial activities, ensuring efficiency and accuracy. Their responsibilities revolve around preparing financial reports, performing audits and risk assessments, and identifying any errors and inconsistencies, resolving them promptly and efficiently. They also conduct research and analysis to identify new business opportunities, evaluate the existing procedures to determine its strengths and weaknesses, and recommend solutions to optimize operations for financial growth. Furthermore, as a finance analyst/accountant, it is essential to uphold the company's policies and regulations, including its vision and mission.

The annual salary of finance analyst/accountants is $8,273 lower than the average salary of senior accounting analysts.Even though senior accounting analysts and finance analyst/accountants are distinct careers, a few of the skills required for both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require reconciliations, gaap, and financial reports in the day-to-day roles and responsibilities.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a senior accounting analyst are more likely to require skills like "senior accounting," "hyperion," "financial systems," and "shared services." On the other hand, a job as a finance analyst/accountant requires skills like "account reconciliations," "cpa," "strong analytical," and "financial models." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.

Finance analyst/accountants really shine in the finance industry with an average salary of $78,897. Comparatively, senior accounting analysts tend to make the most money in the finance industry with an average salary of $83,979.The education levels that finance analyst/accountants earn slightly differ from senior accounting analysts. In particular, finance analyst/accountants are 0.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a senior accounting analyst. Additionally, they're 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Senior accounting analyst vs. Tax analyst

A tax analyst specializes in managing and filing tax forms and tax returns, all while devising strategies to reduce tax payments legally. A tax analyst may work as a member of a company or independently. Moreover, in a company setting, the responsibilities of a tax analyst revolve around coordinating with different departments to obtain all necessary documentation and financial information, maintaining accurate and extensive records of all transactions, and resolving any issues or concerns. Furthermore, it is essential to remain updated with all the tax laws, all while adhering to the policies and regulations of the company.

A career as a tax analyst brings a lower average salary when compared to the average annual salary of a senior accounting analyst. In fact, tax analysts salary is $9,503 lower than the salary of senior accounting analysts per year.Only some things about these jobs are the same. Take their skills, for example. Senior accounting analysts and tax analysts both require similar skills like "reconciliations," "gaap," and "process improvement" to carry out their responsibilities.

In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, senior accounting analyst responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "senior accounting," "financial reports," "internal controls," and "external auditors." Meanwhile, a tax analyst has duties that require skills in areas such as "tax audits," "tax compliance," "tax payments," and "tax software." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.

Tax analysts may earn a lower salary than senior accounting analysts, but tax analysts earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $79,702. On the other hand, senior accounting analysts receive higher pay in the finance industry, where they earn an average salary of $83,979.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Tax analysts tend to reach similar levels of education than senior accounting analysts. In fact, they're 0.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for senior accounting analysts in the next 3-5 years?

Marty LaBargeMarty LaBarge LinkedIn profile

Associate Professor of Accounting, Hope College

Data analytics and data visualization technologies and skills will become even more important and prevalent in the Accounting field over the next 3-5 years. Today's accountants are asked to help companies understand and analyze increasing amounts of data to navigate business decisions successfully.

Senior accounting analyst vs. Senior finance consultant

A senior finance consultant is responsible for helping clients manage their account portfolios, recommending investment options, and monitoring their finances. Senior finance consultants should have extensive knowledge of the financial industry, especially on working with clients and inform them of current financial services and strategize financial plans according to the clients' needs and best interests. They also respond to clients' inquiries and concerns regarding their account performance and financial discrepancies, resolving issues to achieve the clients' long-term financial goals and objectives.

On average scale, senior finance consultants bring in higher salaries than senior accounting analysts. In fact, they earn a $26,441 higher salary per year.senior accounting analysts and senior finance consultants both have job responsibilities that require similar skill sets. These similarities include skills such as "reconciliations," "gaap," and "financial reports," but they differ when it comes to other required skills.

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, senior accounting analysts are more likely to have skills like "senior accounting," "accruals," "balance sheet accounts," and "general ledger accounts." But a senior finance consultant is more likely to have skills like "project management," "financial services," "strong analytical," and "risk management."

Senior finance consultants earn the highest salary when working in the technology industry, where they receive an average salary of $100,438. Comparatively, senior accounting analysts have the highest earning potential in the finance industry, with an average salary of $83,979.Most senior finance consultants achieve a higher degree level compared to senior accounting analysts. For example, they're 6.6% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.5% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Senior accounting analyst vs. Finance analyst

A finance analyst is responsible for evaluating a company's financial data and historical reports to assess investment opportunities and provide accurate financial statements in support of business strategies and company performance prediction. A financial analyst's duties also include suggesting recommendations to boost operations efficiency and grow revenues, researching the current market performance and economic trends to adjust budget goals as needed, and managing client portfolios. Finance analysts must have excellent critical and analytical thinking skills to identify the best actions for the company's profitability.

Finance analysts average a lower salary than the annual salary of senior accounting analysts. The difference is about $1,361 per year.While their salaries may vary, senior accounting analysts and finance analysts both use similar skills to perform their duties. Resumes from both professions include skills like "reconciliations," "gaap," and "financial reports. "Each job also requires different skills to carry out their responsibilities. A senior accounting analyst uses "senior accounting," "shared services," "internal audit," and "securities." Finance analysts are more likely to have duties that require skills in "financial models," "strong analytical," "customer service," and "financial performance. "finance analysts enjoy the best pay in the finance industry, with an average salary of $92,446. For comparison, senior accounting analysts earn the highest salary in the finance industry.finance analysts reach similar levels of education compared to senior accounting analysts, in general. The difference is that they're 1.0% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of senior accounting analyst

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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