How to hire a staff accountant

How to hire a staff accountant, step by step

Here's a step-by-step staff accountant hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a staff accountant job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new staff accountant
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a staff accountant do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a staff accountant, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect staff accountant also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   Here's a comparison of staff accountant salaries for various roles:

   Type of Staff Accountant	Description	Hourly rate
   Staff Accountant	Accountants and auditors prepare and examine financial records. They ensure that financial records are accurate and that taxes are paid properly and on time... Show more	$20-32
   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... Show more	$22-40
   Accounting Analyst	An accounting analyst is responsible for supporting the accounting operations of an organization, analyzing financial transactions and financial statements, and resolving account discrepancies. Accounting analysts interpret financial data by consolidating account transactions, performing account reconciliation, and managing account receivables... Show more	$20-37

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Reconciliations
   • Account Reconciliations
   • GAAP
   • General Ledger Accounts
   • External Auditors
   • Internal Controls
   • Balance Sheet Accounts
   • Financial Data
   • CPA
   • Accruals
   • Fixed Assets
   • Payroll Tax Returns
   • Strong Analytical
   • Credit Card

   Check all skills

   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.
   • Assume responsibility for cash management encompassing wire and ACH transfers processing, bank activity confirmation, and monthly bank account reconciliations.
   • Handle all A/R and A/P, payroll, change orders, collections, lien placement and release, vendor account management.

   More staff accountant duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your staff accountant job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A staff accountant salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a staff accountant in Kentucky may be lower than in New York, and an entry-level staff accountant usually earns less than a senior-level staff accountant. Additionally, a staff accountant with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average staff accountant salary

   $54,216yearly

   $26.07 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level staff accountant salary

   $42,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 28, 2025

   Average staff accountant salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	District of Columbia	$70,499	$34
   2	New York	$67,231	$32
   3	New Jersey	$65,769	$32
   4	California	$61,919	$30
   5	Virginia	$60,869	$29
   6	Massachusetts	$60,385	$29
   7	Washington	$58,302	$28
   8	Maryland	$57,788	$28
   9	Pennsylvania	$54,815	$26
   10	Colorado	$54,290	$26
   11	Oregon	$53,621	$26
   12	Minnesota	$52,070	$25
   13	Ohio	$51,043	$25
   14	Illinois	$50,859	$24
   15	Georgia	$50,815	$24
   16	North Carolina	$50,779	$24
   17	Texas	$50,666	$24
   18	Arizona	$50,054	$24
   19	Nevada	$48,178	$23
   20	Indiana	$47,895	$23

   Average staff accountant salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Meta	$89,356	$42.96	2
   2	The Carlyle Group	$84,773	$40.76	3
   3	Google	$81,052	$38.97	94
   4	Friends Seminary	$78,029	$37.51
   5	Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton	$77,134	$37.08	2
   6	Evernote	$75,034	$36.07
   7	Eni	$74,584	$35.86
   8	Goldman Sachs	$73,552	$35.36	3
   9	Nabors Industries	$72,545	$34.88
   10	Cheniere Energy	$72,194	$34.71	3
   11	HP	$71,765	$34.50	2
   12	Eli Lilly and Company	$71,050	$34.16
   13	Fidelity National Financial	$70,704	$33.99
   14	AppDynamics	$70,683	$33.98
   15	Bloomberg	$70,661	$33.97	3
   16	Smartsheet	$70,645	$33.96
   17	Low Income Investment Fund	$70,057	$33.68
   18	BioMarin	$69,782	$33.55
   19	Children's Hospital Colorado	$69,760	$33.54	2
   20	Moody's	$69,385	$33.36

4. Writing a staff accountant job description

   A staff accountant job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a staff accountant job description:

   Staff accountant job description example

   Job DescriptionContinental Paper & Plastics Corp has been a leader in the distribution of packaging materials and equipment for more than 40 years. We have three related companies which you will be involved with. We are continuing to grow and therefore are looking to expand our accounting department. We are currently looking for an Accountant to grow with us in our Orchard Park, New York office. We pride ourselves in our corporate values, we encourage a friendly environment and a healthy culture, with an average employee retention of 12 years we know our employees appreciate this as well.
   Core Function : The role of Staff Accountant will report directly to the CFO and will be a part of a team of four. You will need to roll up your sleeves and take ownership of among other things posting and calling on Accounts Receivable, processing of Payroll and Sales Tax filings. This is a full-time position with full time benefits including vacation time, health, life & disability insurances, 401(k), and bonuses. Details of Function :
   
   · Analysis and accurate posting of receipts· Calling customers for payment· Credit control · Customer account set up· Daily banking· Managing fixed assets· Analysis & reporting of intercompany transactions· Monthly, quarterly, and annual sales tax filings· Payroll processing· Creating reports · Assisting with other administrative & accounting responsibilities as required· Learn the bookkeeper’s position to provide support during vacations
   
   Qualifications:
   
   Applicant must be highly organized and be able to multi-task. Accuracy is of utmost importance to this position. Individual must be friendly and have a customer service attitude. The individual should demonstrate strong follow up skills and an aptitude for problem-solving/investigating skills. Must be results-oriented and able to work both independently and within a team environment. Must possess excellent verbal and written communication skills. Must be skilled in Microsoft Excel, Word & have experience with accounting software programs.
   
   Education, Experience and Licensing Requirements :
   
   · Minimum of Associate’s degree in accounting preferred

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find staff accountants for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any staff accountants they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level staff accountants with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your staff accountant job on Zippia to find and attract quality staff accountant candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as efinancialcareers, financialjobsweb.com, careerbank, financial job bank.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with staff accountant candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new staff accountant

   Once you've selected the best staff accountant candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new staff accountant. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a staff accountant?