Accountants perform financial calculations for companies in a wide variety of fields. Some common duties include creating sales and cash flow reports, administering payroll, keeping balance sheets, carrying out billing activities, managing budgets and keeping inventory. The accountant may also be responsible for filing taxes for the company, as well as reviewing past reports to generate income forecasts.

Occasionally, internal audits must be carried out to make sure that the various areas of the company are performing as expected; the accountant must also make sure that staff members are adhering to company policies and relevant laws. The accountant should be able to create accurate, detailed reports to illustrate data; sometimes, these reports have to be presented to management. The accountant may oversee the financial transactions of one department or multiple departments within their organization.

A bachelor's degree in accounting is required for this position, as is status as a certified public accountant (CPA). Previous accounting experience is generally required or preferred as well. Knowledge of accounting software such as Quickbooks and Microsoft Excel is needed. Additionally, many of the accountant's tasks are performed independently so it is essential to be self-motivated; however, collaboration is necessary, and the accountant must be able to work as part of a team. (Copyright 2018 PayScale.com)

Accountant Tasks

• Analyze financial data in order to prepare financial reports.
• Generate and interpret financial records and statements for management.
• Maintain records of assets, liabilities, profit and loss, tax liability, or other financial activities within an organization.
• Maintain general ledger as needed.