An Entry-level Staff Accountant is responsible for overseeing a company's various financial activities. He or she will work in the accounting department performing data entry, record keeping and journal entry, bank deposits, payment collection, auditing, and other financial duties as needed. A Staff Accountant must have both excellent written and verbal communication skills to ensure that no mistakes are made in calculating the company's financial dealings; working with money is a sensitive task and must be handled with care. For this reason, a high proficiency is mathematics is also extremely important. Though the position is entry level, experience in accounting through a previous job or through schoolwork is desirable. A bachelor's degree or higher in accounting/finance is often required. An Entry-Level Staff Accountant must also be highly motivated and detail-oriented, as well as efficient and hardworking to keep up with various financial deadlines. He or she must have adequate computer skills in order to use the company's preferred accounting software. Depending on the employer, the accountant may also be responsible for answering phone calls and interacting with customers, so good customer service skills are a plus. Though there may be some instances where the accountant will have to lift or move boxes of files, the work is mostly mental. A staff accountant will usually work in an office or cubicle with other members of the accounting department. The hours will typically be normal, daytime business hours, unless the company is open late or on weekends. A reliable mode of transportation is essential, as the staff accountant will almost certainly be working on-site.
Entry-level Staff Accountant Tasks
- Maintain records of assets, liabilities, profit and loss, tax liability, or other financial activities within an organization.
- Maintain general ledger as needed.
- Analyze financial data in order to prepare financial reports.
- Generate and interpret financial records and statements for management.