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

We have an excellent part time vacancy for a Senior Accountant to join our expanding team, the post reports to a Manager/Director whilst having a high degree of autonomy over your own work.

Job Role: Senior Accountant

Location: 4 Ashby Road, Scunthorpe, DN16 1NR

Salary: £25,000 - £30,000 (Pro-Rata’d)

Position: Part Time, Flexible hours (20 – 25 hours per week)

About the Company

As one of the leading independent accountancy practices in Scunthorpe, S. Smith & Co Accountants has acquired a long-standing quality reputation for over 20 years. The primary focus of our business is to deliver an exceptional service to all our customers, through advice, support and all other statutory requirements needed for their business.

About the role

As Senior Accountant you will be performing to exceptionally high standards, delivering a first class customer service to a growing portfolio of clients. You will take responsibility for delivery of accounts and other services to a mixed, wide ranging client base of SMEs, Limited Companies etc.

Specific responsibilities you will undertake are as follows but not limited to:

  • Day to day servicing of a portfolio of SME businesses and their owners
  • Accounts Preparation
  • Production of monthly management accounts
  • Personal Tax and Business Tax computations
  • Calculation and filing of client VAT returns
  • Providing assistance to clients with cloud accounting
  • Other ad-hoc projects and support for the Manager and Directors
  • Assist in the accountancy training of junior team members.
  • Providing the client with efficient and effective client service at all times.
  • Build and maintain strong relationships with new and existing clients.
  • Working with cloud based software and assisting clients with the migration to cloud accounting.

    Candidate Attributes

    We would like to engage with positive and supportive individuals who have excellent communication skills and the determination to succeed and exceed expectations. You will ideally have worked in practice for at least two years, will be professional in your approach and have the following skills and qualifications:

  • Excellent communication skills and the ability to convey complex information
  • Consistent in working to targets and timeframes
  • Team player and fully able to work on own initiative
  • Personal and business tax knowledge is expected
  • Knowledge of accounting systems such as Sage, QuickBooks, Xero would be preferable
  • You will be AAT Qualified, or part AAT Qualified with the ability to demonstrate strong experience within a practice environment.
  • Commitment to delivering outstanding client service
  • A positive and pragmatic attitude
  • Good technical knowledge

    Benefits

  • Ongoing training and development
  • Pension scheme
  • Free parking
  • Friendly working atmosphere
  • Company team building events
  • Company bonus scheme
    If you have any queries in relation to the vacancy, please get in touch with Natalie Lynskey. We look forward to hearing from you.

    Job Type: Part-time
    Part-time hours: 20 - 25 per week

    Salary: £25,000.00-£30,000.00 per year

    Additional pay:
  • Bonus scheme
    Benefits:
  • Company events
  • Flexible schedule
  • On-site parking
    Schedule:
  • No weekends

    Experience:
  • accounting: 2 years deadline: 08/07/2022
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    Example 2

    Company description

    We are a growing Accountancy Practice in Horbury who are always looking to strengthen our well established team.

    A nice working atmosphere, with a professional outlook seeking to recruit a dedicated and driven individual.

    Job description

    Senior Accountant

    Must be AAT Qualified and have at least 3 years experience in an Accounts Sector, ACA / ACCA qualification preferred

    Practice experience essential

    Preparation of Year End Accounts, Tax Returns, Management Accounts, holding Client Meetings will be a large part of this role

    The role also involves Book-keeping, preparing VAT returns using various software's, such as Xero, Free Agent, QuickBooks, Sage

    Working Hours would be Full Time - Monday - Thursday, Friday is an option if necessary.

    Job Type: Full-time

    Salary: £26,500.00-£40,000.00 per year

    COVID-19 considerations:
    Meeting room is fully sanitized and socially distanced, a mask must be worn when entering the building, but not required in the meeting 3 years (required)
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    Example 3

    Company: ASCO UK Limited

    Employment Type: Permanent

    Location: Aberdeen

    Reporting to the UK Finance Manager, the Senior Accountant - Fuel and Lubricants will be the principal Accountant for a specific operational area and will provide support to the UK finance team. Responsible for the preparation of accurate and timely management accounts and reports. Line Management responsibility for one or more Accountants and Assistant Accountants. The Senior Accountant will develop an effective team to ensure reporting, forecasting and invoicing to ensure objectives are met. The individual will also be an effective coach and mentor to the wider Finance team by providing financial support to the UK team on a daily basis by implementing and adhering to financial controls and processes.

    Key responsibilities include:

  • Preparation and reporting of management accounts
  • Preparation of budgets and forecasts for the business area
  • Preparation of financial analysis compared to budget/forecast
  • Preparation of customer profitability analysis
  • Introduce and amend processes to improve system benefits, reporting, working capital management and deliver financial KPI targets
  • Question and challenge current processes and assumptions within the business area
  • Provide financial information to operational areas and increase financial understanding of operational managers
  • Work with operational teams to deliver business and financial improvements
  • Responsible for performance of Accountants and Assistant Accountants
  • Prepare accurate and relevant balance sheet account reconciliations in a timely manner
  • Understanding of customer contracts and operational/financial drivers
  • Liaise with Commercial team to support tenders/pricing activities
  • Delivery of audit schedules and liaison with auditors

    Minimum Competencies (Skills, Knowledge and Behaviours):

  • Focus on detail, accuracy and consistency
  • Professional and commercial outlook
  • Ability to deliver accurate and timely financial information
  • Ability to meet deadlines and take projects to completion
  • Awareness and appreciation of cashflow and the implications of actions on cash
  • Desire to see team members and team performance improve and develop
  • Strong Excel skills and experience of ERP systems
  • Effective written and verbal communication skills

    Minimum Qualifications:

  • Exam Qualified or PQ Accountant
  • Accountant qualified by experience

    Desirable Qualifications/Competencies:

  • Chartered Accountant
  • Previous experience in a similar role / industry
  • Desire to progress through a business and develop personally and professionally

    Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (ED&I)

    ASCO is committed to supporting and promoting Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (ED&I). This commitment is embraced by our Group Board and our Management Board and informs all of our activities and their impact on our customers, employees and our stakeholders.

    Closing Type: Permanent
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    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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