How To Become A Staff Accountant/Auditor: What It Is and Career Path

What is a staff accountant/auditor and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Stephen Moehrle Ph.D.

A staff accountant/auditor ensures that a company complies with industry and federal regulations by analyzing internal financial processes. They can work in either an internal or external position. An internal staff accountant/auditor works directly for a company and conducts financial analyses periodically. An external accountant/auditor, on the other hand, provides companies with objective feedback on their compliance based on their viewpoint as an outsider.

The primary duties of a staff accountant/auditor are to analyze internal financial operations, study financial records to pinpoint variances, handle billing methods of the company, as well as prepare and present audit recommendations to the management.

The minimum requirements for this role are a bachelor's degree in accounting, business, or finance; and relevant experience working in the finance department of a company. On top of these, employers prefer candidates who have a keen eye for detail, a great set of communication skills, and the ability to analyze high volumes of financial data on a regular basis.

A staff accountant/auditor makes an average of $28 per hour or roughly $57,000 a year. They typically work in comfortable offices and spend most of their time sitting in front of a computer, if not attending meetings.

What general advice would you give to a staff accountant/auditor?

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.

ScoreStaff Accountant/AuditorUS Average

Salary

4.5

Avg. Salary $56,993

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.0

Growth rate 6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.4

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.46%

Asian 12.10%

Black or African American 8.87%

Hispanic or Latino 11.21%

Unknown 3.97%

White 63.38%

Gender

female 40.63%

male 59.37%

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

7.0

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.9

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

4.1

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a staff accountant/auditor

Explore staff accountant/auditor education requirements

Most common staff accountant/auditor degrees

Bachelor's

83.7 %

Master's

10.9 %

Associate

4.1 %

Start to develop specific staff accountant/auditor skills

Skills	Percentages
CPA	18.42%
Audit Procedures	14.66%
Analytical Procedures	5.90%
Income Tax Returns	5.71%
Journal Entries	4.03%

Complete relevant staff accountant/auditor training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New staff accountant/auditors 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 staff accountant/auditor based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real staff accountant/auditor resumes.

Research staff accountant/auditor duties and responsibilities

Manage accounting operations, accounting close, account reporting and reconciliations for internal corporate and bank transactions.
Review and compile quarterly and annual financial statements on GAAP, cash, accrual, and tax basis.
Generate financial statements according to GAAP regulations.
Audit private businesses and individuals whose activities are subject to government regulation or taxation.

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