Senior Accountant Job Description: Top Duties and Qualifications

A Senior Accountant, or Senior Accounting Officer, is responsible for overseeing the financial and accounting practices of a company. Their duties include creating and analysing financial reports, delegating accounting tasks to other team members and reconciling financial statements.

 

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Senior Accountant duties and responsibilities

Senior Accountants are responsible for ensuring the smooth running of a finance or an accounting department. They need to combine their leadership responsibilities with day-to-day accounting duties, such as data input and reporting. Some of their most important duties and responsibilities include:

  • Assisting with accounting tasks such as invoicing or tracking purchase order numbers
  • Creating staff payrolls and approving client or supplier payments
  • Investigating accounting irregularities, mistakes or potential fraud
  • Producing regular financial reports, such as budgets or cash flow forecasts
  • Offering advice and suggestions to management that can improve the accounting processes and financial stability of a company
  • Reconciling balance sheets 
  • Ensuring compliance with legal accounting standards

 

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Senior Accountant Job Description Examples:

 

Example 1

*Senior Accountant / Accounts Senior* *Competitive salary* *Office Location: Braintree* *Permanent, full-time* *We are looking for a new senior accountant to work within our corporate department.* *What’s on Offer?* * An exciting opportunity to work predominantly from home and contribute to the growth of our accountancy practice. *The Ideal Candidate Must Have: * * A relevant qualification such as AAT, ACCA or ICAEW. * Demonstrable background of working within an accountancy practice. * Significant experience in the preparation of company accounts and company tax returns. * Experience in other ad hoc services, such as VAT returns and payroll submissions. * Excellent communication and IT skills. * Proficiency with TaxCalc and Excel. * A commitment to a long-term career. * At least 5 years accountancy practice experience. * An ability to manage their own workload. * An understanding that there needs to be flexibility to overtime during our busier periods. * A full, clean, driving licence, and access to their own vehicle. * A suitable home office to work in. *Duties & * Preparation of limited company accounts to finalisation stage. * Preparation of company tax returns to finalisation stage. * Identifying tax saving opportunities for clients. * Liaising and meeting with clients and dealing with queries. *Please include a covering letter with your application, setting out your suitability for the role, what you can bring, and your salary expectations. We will only accept applications with a covering letter.* Job Types: Full-time, Permanent Salary: From £25,000.00 per year Benefits: * Work from home Schedule: * Monday to Friday Work remotely: * Yes

Example 2

Long established accountancy practice Tussies Chartered Accountants are looking for a confident and skilled Senior Accountant for a role in a small but busy Accountancy practice where your time would be managed between our two offices (Cheadle, Cheshire and Atherton, Manchester). Applicants should be able to work as part of a team and work with a variety of clients. Managing a personal portfolio of Limited Companies and Sole Traders with a vast range of turnovers whilst also mentoring assistants. The role would include dealing with client questions and issues on a daily basis. The applicant should enjoy speaking with clients and be passionate about providing a great client service, working with a modern accountancy firm. Must be able to use cloud accounting software such as Sage, Xero and QuickBooks. 5 years’ professional accounting experience minimum is required. Holiday package is 28 days per annum plus bank holidays (pro rata for part-time). Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Permanent Salary: per year Benefits: * On-site parking Schedule: * Monday to Friday Experience: * accounting: 5 years (preferred) Work remotely: * No

Example 3

Accountant required for busy textile mill in Hawick. The ideal candidate will be responsible for: - All day to day financial operations within the business - Cash Management -Accounts - Monthly management accounts - VAT returns - Company payroll - Ensuring all financial reporting deadlines are met - Preparing reports for management team Essential skills: - Professional Accountancy qualification required - Experience in accounts systems, Salary will be based on experience and discussed at interview. Job Types: Full-time, Permanent Salary: From £28,000.00 per year Additional pay: * Yearly bonus Benefits: * Casual dress * On-site parking Schedule: * Monday to Friday Work remotely: * No

Example 4

About the job _Based in London, Guardian HR is a growing, forward-looking business that offers its employees career development and a fast-paced, collegial, working environment. _ _We offer recruitment services designed to meet our client’s business needs. From planning, all the way through to onboarding and induction, we strive to support clients to the whole recruitment process._ _We are looking for a "Senior Accountant" to join our team. _ Overview The Accounts Manager is responsible for managing and supervising Account Assistants, tracking and evaluating day-to-day bookkeeping and accounting activities and approving all year-end financial statements and tax returns prepared by the accounts team. Key Performance Areas Management * Management board o Regular meetings o Decision making o Contribute to and analyse reporting o Strategic planning o Assist with policy drafting o Marketing initiatives * Team development and culture o Create an inspiring team environment with an open communication culture o Set clear team goals o Delegate tasks and set deadlines o Oversee day-to-day operation o Monitor team performance and report on metrics o Motivate team members o Discover training needs and provide coaching o Listen to team members’ feedback and resolve any issues or conflicts o Recognise high performance and reward accomplishments; o Suggest and organise team building activities * Recruitment o Accounts Assistants - with the assistance of the Operations Manager, Office Manager and/or Director. * Tax and accounting
  • Review and approve year-end financial statements and tax returns prepared by the accounts team
  • Monitor the quality of statutory accounts, management accounts, VAT, bookkeeping, corporation tax etc
  • Basic tax planning on dividends and salary for clients
  • Maintain client contact and relationships
  • Advise clients on technical issues
  • Point of contact for technical queries from clients. Personal Characteristics The successful candidate will have:
  • proven management experience;
  • in-depth knowledge of performance metrics;
  • excellent communication and leadership skills;
  • organisational and time-management skills; and
  • decision-making skills. The successful candidate will be:
  • enthusiastic about our vision and goals:
  • able to work independently and take initiative;
  • results-oriented;
  • an adaptable, flexible problem-solver;
  • team-focused, enjoy working as part of an active group of highly engaged individuals, sharing information readily with co-workers, and listening to and respecting others; able and willing to assist co-workers in the development of their own professional skills in order to ensure the team’s success; and
  • a person who presents a high degree of maturity, honesty, trust, sophistication, and integrity and cultivates these qualities in others. Qualifications and Experience
  • ACCA/ACA qualified
  • Strong leadership skills
  • Ability to direct and supervise
  • At least 6 years’ post-qualification experience in Practice
  • Strong MS Office, Sage, Xero, and QuickBooks experience is ideal
  • Good commercial acumen
  • Excellent time management and priority setting
  • An understanding of the pressures and importance of effective portfolio management
  • Ability to communicate well with clients and understand their requirements Job Type: Full-time Salary: per year Schedule: * Monday to Friday Experience: * Accounting: 6 years (preferred)

    • Example 5

    A position for a part time semi - senior Accountant based in our Martock office has become available. The ideal candidate will already have good experience and knowledge. Qualifications are not required but the role is suited to someone with AAT / ATT. This is a temporary role to cover maternity leave with the potential to become permanent. The role requires 15 – 20 hours per week. Salary to be discussed. Role requirements include: * Hard-working and driven, with the desire to learn and take on responsibility. * Excellent communication skills and team-working abilities. * A logical thinker with the ability to deal with large amounts of data. * Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality results. * Ability to handle a high workload, prioritise effectively and work to deadlines. * Account's preparation. * Preparation of Tax returns and VAT returns. * General bookkeeping. * Dealing with clients and answering phone calls. * Competent use of Xero and other online accounting software. Read & Co is an established accountancy practice in Somerset, with offices in Yeovil and Martock. We offer a broad selection of services to clients including bookkeeping, VAT, payroll, management accounts, year-end accounts, tax returns and business support. If this role is right for you, please send your CV with a covering letter. Contract length: 12 months Part-time hours: 15-20 per week Application Deadline: 14/07/2021 Job Types: Part-time, Temporary Benefits: * Work from home Schedule: * Monday to Friday Experience: * accounting: 3 years (preferred) Work remotely: * Yes

    What does a Senior Accountant do?

    A Senior Accountant usually handles a team of Accountants and Junior Accountants within a company. Senior Accountants usually work within a larger finance department. They organise and delegate financial tasks to other team members within their remit. A Senior Accountant’s main task is to to keep financial records up to date and ensure accurate application of a company’s monetary policies.

    On a day-to-day basis, a Senior Accountant also compiles financial reports, provides analysis and offers financial advice to senior members of the company. Senior Accountants may also be required to work closely with clients, providing expert financial advice or accounting recommendations depending on the type of employment. They lead by example to ensure the financial security of the business.

     

    Senior Accountant skills and qualifications

    Senior Accountants require leadership skills as well as practical mathematical and accounting knowledge and need to have accounting qualifications. They have a strong eye for detail and the confidence to deal with senior management and clients. A successful Senior Accountant candidate will have various prerequisite skills and qualifications need to succeed in the role, these include:

    • Strong skills working with spreadsheets such as Excel
    • Ability to work with accounting software such as QuickBooks
    • Ability to present complex accounting information in an easy to understand format
    • Excellent arithmetic and mathematical skills
    • Ability to delegate tasks
    • Leadership skills and the ability to motivate a team to produce results
    • Excellent customer service and client satisfaction skills

     

    Senior Accountant experience requirements

    A Senior Accountant needs a minimum of five years’ prior experience working in an accounting role. A successful candidate must have worked as an Accountant Technician or Bookkeeper and be familiar with accounting procedures. Experience leading a small team and liaising with senior members of a company, particularly a Chief Financial Officer, is beneficial. Experience overseeing tasks and organising a department is also a plus.

     

    Senior Accountant education and training requirements

    Senior Accountants have a strong base in mathematics. Formal accounting certificates demonstrate that a candidate has the knowledge and skill base to succeed in the role. Advanced certifications in Microsoft Office are also desirable.

    A Senior Accountant must have strong GCSE and A-Level results, particularly in maths. Apprenticeships can offer the training and qualifications necessary to qualify as an accountant, before the candidate works their way up to the Senior Accountant role. Commonly, candidates will study for a degree in maths, economics or accounting at a university. Candidates can earn specific accountancy qualifications from reputed organisations such as the Institute of Chartered Accountants.

     

    Senior Accountant salary expectations

    According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a Senior Accountant is £33,947 per year. Compensation may be dependent on experience, location and company.

     

    Job description samples for similar positions

    If Senior Accountant is not quite the job you are looking for, then here are similar job description samples:

     

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    Senior Accountant job description FAQs

     

    Who will a Senior Accountant report to?

    A Senior Accountant usually reports to members of the senior management team within their company. They may also report directly to a Chief Financial Officer (CFO), who is in charge of broader financial and accounting decisions.

     

    What makes for a good Senior Accountant job description?

    A good Senior Accountant job description provides an excellent overview of the company, including the company values and ethos. A useful job description also details the day-to-day tasks of a Senior Accountant as well as the broader responsibilities in a leadership role.

     

    What should you look for in a Senior Accountant CV?

    An ideal Senior Accountant CV must demonstrate that the candidate already has a firm grounding in accountancy and financial practices. It should also show that they have previously worked in the field and have the relevant qualifications. More importantly, a good CV for this senior role must demonstrate a proven track record in the ability to lead and succeed.

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