Senior Accountant Job Description Template

A senior accountant has the skills to balance your books and manage your accounting team. The first step to hiring for the role is to write a compelling senior accountant job description template.

You can edit this job description template to fit your hiring needs. For more customization ideas, read Monster’s senior accountant job postings.

This template was written by Monster’s team of experts based on job description best practices. 

Senior Accountant Job Description

[Intro Paragraph] Start your job description with a two to three sentence summary of the role and responsibilities. This will help candidates decide if they are interested in the role and want to keep reading.

About Our Workplace: There’s a high demand for accountants so it’s essential to show the benefits of joining your team. For example, you could describe the company culture, mission, values, and commitment to professional development.

Senior Accountant Job Responsibilities: Use this section of your senior accountant job description to share the main job responsibilities. Be detailed so candidates can determine if they are excited about the day-to-day work and can tackle the tasks successfully. You may want to include:

  • Ensures the integrity of accounting information by recording, verifying, consolidating, and entering transactions.
  • Prepares and records asset, liability, revenue, and expense entries by compiling and analyzing account information.
  • Maintains and balances subsidiary accounts by verifying, allocating, posting, and reconciling transactions and resolving discrepancies.
  • Maintains general ledger by transferring subsidiary accounts, preparing a trial balance, and reconciling entries.
  • Summarizes financial status by collecting information and preparing balance sheets, profit and loss statements, and other documents.
  • Manages the payroll process.
  • Completes external audit by analyzing and scheduling general ledger accounts and providing information for auditors.
  • Avoids legal challenges by complying with legal requirements.
  • Secures financial information by completing database backups.
  • Protects organization’s value by keeping information confidential.
  • Trains and manages accountants.

Work Hours and Benefits: This is where you’ll talk about the working hours and benefits you offer for the role. Be sure to highlight any perks that set your firm apart, such as stock options, bonuses, and the ability to work remotely. Consider including the salary range for the role so potential candidates can determine if it works for them.

Senior Accountant Qualifications and Skills: Use this section of your senior accountant job description to share the skills and qualifications. Some candidates will only apply if they meet all the requirements. You’re likely to have more applicants if you note what is preferred versus required.

  • Knows the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)
  • Demonstrates strong technical accounting skills
  • Shows strong leadership skills and manages a growing accounting team

Education, Experience, and Licensing Requirements:

  • A bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, economics, or a similar major is required
  • A master’s in accounting or MBA is preferred
  • Certified public accountants strongly preferred
  • Must have at least 5 years’ experience in accounting or finance

[Call to Action] The most effective senior accountant job descriptions end with a compelling call to action. Turn potential applicants into actual applicants by letting them know exactly how to apply, such as clicking the “apply” button on your job posting.

Hire a Qualified Senior Accountant 

After editing your senior accountant job description to meet your hiring needs, it’s time to get started. Create a Monster job posting to reach qualified candidates who will be an asset to your team.