How To Become A Senior Corporate Accountant: What It Is and Career Path

What is a senior corporate accountant and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Stephen Moehrle Ph.D.

Senior corporate accountants are responsible for analyzing financial statements and forecasting industry trends, and determining risks. They ensure compliance with all financial requirements and advise management when necessary. They improve and record all accounting control procedures periodically. Likewise, they identify issues and suggest improvements. Additionally, they prepare budgets and monitor expenditures. Furthermore, they handle monthly, quarterly and annual closings and manage periodic reporting. Also, they oversee internal and external audits.

To become a senior corporate accountant, you need at least a bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a related field. Some employers prefer an MBA or CPA. Applicants must have three to five years of relevant work experience. You must have extensive knowledge of accounting regulations and practices. Essential skills include analytical, attention to detail, problem-solving, organization, leadership, and communication skills. You must be proficient in Microsoft Office and finance software. These accountants make about $85,440 in a year. This varies between $63,000 and $116,000.

What general advice would you give to a senior corporate accountant?

Stephen Moehrle Ph.D.

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

It was a great time to be entering the accounting industry, before the pandemic. Our students were serving in internships in huge numbers and our graduates were enjoying 100% placement, usually with multiple offers. The entry-level professionals were entering a profession marked by emerging and evolving technologies that made even the entry-level duties especially interesting. Further, our tech-comfortable young professionals were experiencing quick advancement because of their ability to employ the new technologies.

Most of the above remains true so the only open question is job availability. It would be unrealistic to say things are great. However, it seems that job prospects for accounting majors will be better than for those of virtually every other entry-level profession during difficult times. I have been speaking with firm leaders across the spectrum of firms and most do intend to be on campus in the fall recruiting season. Of course, they have a lot of time to learn more about the economy over the next few months, but we are cautiously optimistic. Again, I am confident that whatever the state of job availability for young CPAs-to-be, prospects will be better for accounting graduates than virtually any other profession.

They will be entering the profession at a fascinating moment in time. Of course, the technological advances assure this regardless of economic conditions. However, there are business disruption-related issues that will provide rich opportunities for making a difference. For example, audit staff will be working with clients to see them through these troubling times. Lamentably, I fear that these young professionals will learn more about the going concern determination than they desire to know. Tax staff will help clients to optimally use the tax loss carrybacks and carryforwards that are arising by the day. Entry level professionals in corporate accounting will get a day-to-day front row seat in business management through crisis. While lamentable times, these are times when young professionals can make a difference that saves jobs.

ScoreSenior Corporate AccountantUS Average

Salary

5.7

Avg. Salary $73,008

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

5.4

Growth rate 6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.3

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.46%

Asian 14.11%

Black or African American 8.78%

Hispanic or Latino 11.13%

Unknown 3.97%

White 61.55%

Gender

female 53.80%

male 46.20%

Age - 43

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 43

Stress level

5.4

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.6

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

6.7

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a senior corporate accountant

Explore senior corporate accountant education requirements

Most common senior corporate accountant degrees

Bachelor's

78.9 %

Master's

14.9 %

Associate

5.0 %

Start to develop specific senior corporate accountant skills

Skills	Percentages
Reconciliations	13.35%
GAAP	9.39%
SOX	4.56%
External Auditors	4.44%
Internal Controls	4.43%

Complete relevant senior corporate accountant training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New senior corporate accountants learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a senior corporate accountant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real senior corporate accountant resumes.

Research senior corporate accountant duties and responsibilities

Manage CAPEX and Hyperion reporting.
Manage Sarbanes-Oxley documentation and perform the related testing in accordance with policy.
Manage all treasury activity for corporate entities including daily cash management, monthly earn fee calculations, and property relate reimbursements.
Prepare documentation in support of financial statements for SOX regulations, internal and external auditors.

Get senior corporate accountant experience

Generally, it takes 2-4 years to become a senior corporate accountant. The most common roles before becoming a senior corporate accountant include staff accountant, senior accountant team lead and accountant.

Prepare your senior corporate accountant resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your senior corporate accountant resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a senior corporate accountant resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

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