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Accounting Manager Job Description: Top Duties and Qualifications

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Indeed’s Employer Guide helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

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8 min read

An accounting manager, or controller, oversees a company’s accounting department and ensures financial accuracy across all operations. Duties you may want to include in your accounting manager job description are: managing budgets, supervising accounting staff and maintaining compliance with reporting standards and regulations.

In this article, you’ll learn more about accounting managers so you can identify the duties, responsibilities and qualifications required for your open position to help you write a job description.

Accounting manager duties and responsibilities

An accounting manager supervises employees in the accounting department. They typically delegate tasks, make hiring decisions and train new team members. Accounting managers also implement accounting policies, prepare financial forecasts and develop budgets.

Common duties include:

  • Identifying and correcting inefficiencies within the accounting department
  • Preparing and analyzing financial reports
  • Providing strategic financial advice to company executives
  • Assessing the performance of employees in the accounting department
  • Forecasting a company’s future financial needs
  • Tracking revenue and expenses
  • Automating routine accounting tasks

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Accounting Manager Job Description Examples

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Indeed’s Employer Guide helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

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What does an accounting manager do?

An accounting manager prepares operating budgets and financial forecasts, making it easier for other department heads to make data-driven decisions. They develop and implement internal controls, which reduces the risk of fraud and may help improve compliance.

Accounting managers also track expenses and create cash-flow forecasts, which helps other employees control costs, negotiate favorable terms with vendors and allocate resources effectively. This is a managerial role, so an accounting manager also uses leadership skills to mentor team members and help them achieve their goals.

Accounting manager skills and qualifications

Strong candidates often demonstrate communication skills, attention to detail and strong leadership qualities, which may be important for success in this role. Critical thinking and ethical judgment are also valuable competencies that set top candidates apart.

Skills commonly listed in accounting manager job description templates include:

  • Ability to prepare detailed financial statements and reports
  • Proficiency with accounting software and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems
  • Competence in analyzing costs and managing cash flow
  • Knowledge of state and federal compliance requirements
  • Excellent time-management and organizational skills
  • Skill in coaching and mentoring employees
  • Ability to identify and resolve complex financial issues

Accounting manager experience requirements

If your company follows a skills-first hiring strategy, consider searching for candidates who demonstrate analytical skills, attention to detail and adaptability. Candidates can gain these and other soft skills in related roles.

You may want to emphasize transferable skills in your accounting manager job descriptions. For example, candidates may have well-developed analytical skills from previous accounting experience, such as a bookkeeper or accounts payable specialist role.

Accounting manager education and training requirements

An accounting manager typically has a bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration or a related discipline. However, it’s possible to become an accounting manager by demonstrating progressive responsibility in the accounting field. Therefore, you may want to prioritize practical skills, such as the ability to create budgets, rather than formal degrees.

Candidates can also learn how to use the required software on the job or by enrolling in free online courses. For example, Microsoft Learn offers self-paced courses in Microsoft Excel, business intelligence and other relevant topics.

Accounting manager salary expectations

According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for an accounting manager is $95,460 per year. The salary may vary according to location, candidate experience, employer size and other factors.

Job description samples for similar positions

If this accounting manager job description doesn’t align with your needs, check out these other sample job descriptions for similar positions:

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Accounting manager job description FAQs

Three individuals are sitting at a table with a laptop, a disposable coffee cup, notebooks, and a phone visible. Two are facing each other, while the third’s back is to the camera. The setting appears to be a bright room with large windows.

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Job Description Examples

Need help writing a job description for a specific role? Use these job description examples to create your next great job posting. Or if you’re ready to hire, post your job on Indeed.

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