What is a staff accountant and how to become one

Q: How long does it take to become a Staff Accountant?

It takes 3 years of professional experience to become a staff accountant. That is the time it takes to learn specific staff accountant skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education. If you include the normal education requirements to complete a college degree, then it takes 6 to 8 years years to become a staff accountant.

Q: Do staff accountants do accounts payable?

Yes, staff accountants assist with accounts payable. Staff accountants handle basic accounting tasks like financial reporting, budget preparation, and general bookkeeping for an organization.

Q: How much do staff accountants make?

Staff accountants make $50,000 a year, on average. The amount a staff accountant earns varies by experience and education, however, ranging from $40,000 to $60,000 annually. Entry-level staff accountants typically make closer to $40,000 a year, while experienced staff accountants make closer to $55,000 annually. However, a typical mid-career point for staff accountants is around $50,000 a year.

Q: Is staff accountant a good job?

Yes, being a staff accountant is a good job. Accounting is an industry that will never go away and tends to have high income potential and significant room for growth. With the high growth of accounting needs, many companies today compete to attract skilled accounting and finance professionals at all levels.

Q: Is staff accountant higher than accountant?

Yes, a staff accountant is a higher position than an accountant. Depending on the organization, the title of staff accountant is typically a higher role than an accountant, often referred to as a junior accountant.

Q: What is a staff accountant vs. an accountant?

Staff accountants hold a higher-level position than accountants. Staff accountants hold more experience than accountants and are in a mid-level position. Staff accountants and accountants are similar in their financial duties and can hold similar credentials, but staff accountants have a higher level of experience which means they also typically take on a higher level of responsibility than the more junior level accountants.

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted experts

Stephen Moehrle Ph.D.,

Jodi Olson

A staff accountant is responsible for managing financial records for a business or organization. They prepare financial statements, analyze financial data, and ensure that financial transactions are recorded accurately. They also assist with budgeting and forecasting, tax preparation, and audit preparation. A staff accountant has a degree in accounting or finance and may hold certifications such as CPA or CMA. They work in a variety of industries, including public accounting firms, corporations, and government agencies.

What general advice would you give to a staff 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.

ScoreStaff AccountantUS Average

Salary

4.2

Avg. Salary $54,216

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 14.37%

Black or African American 8.47%

Hispanic or Latino 10.80%

Unknown 3.95%

White 61.95%

Gender

female 58.39%

male 41.61%

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

8.3

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

6.7

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a staff accountant?

Pros

Good salary and benefits
Opportunities for career advancement within the accounting field
Opportunities for continuing education and professional development
Exposure to different types of accounting software and technology
Opportunity to work independently and take ownership of projects

Cons

Long hours during tax season or other busy periods
Can be challenging to balance multiple projects and priorities simultaneously
Desk job requiring extended periods of sitting
Can be difficult to explain complex financial concepts to non-financial stakeholders
Potential for burnout due to high pressure and repetitive nature of some tasks.

Key steps to become a staff accountant

Explore staff accountant education requirements

Most common staff accountant degrees

Bachelor's

76.1 %

Associate

11.3 %

Master's

10.3 %

Start to develop specific staff accountant skills

Skills	Percentages
Reconciliations	15.05%
Account Reconciliations	7.10%
GAAP	5.56%
General Ledger Accounts	4.41%
External Auditors	4.25%

Complete relevant staff accountant training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New staff 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 staff accountant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real staff accountant resumes.

Gain additional staff accountant certifications

Staff accountant certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific staff accountant certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for staff accountants include Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Certified Management Accountant (CMA).

More About Certifications

Research staff accountant duties and responsibilities

Manage and monitor accounting procedures for compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley and coordinate and facilitate external audit requirements.
Contribute revenue accruals using job cost system, fix assets including reclassification, reconciliation and depreciation.
Prepare month-end journal entries and assist in compilation of financial statements, reconcile bank statements and general ledgers.
Complete audit-quality account reconciliations monthly for balance sheet accounts including the capital projects in progress accounts and miscellaneous revenue accounts.

Prepare your staff accountant resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your staff 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 staff accountant resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable staff accountant resume templates

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