Certified Public Accountant Careers

STAFF ACCOUNTANT

TITLE:                       Staff Accountant

CLASSIFICATION:  Full-time

REPORTS TO:           Senior Accountants, Managers, Principals and/or Partners

 
SUMMARY OF RESPONSIBILITIES
 

Staff accountants are supervised by senior accountants or other, more experienced, staff accountants.  Initially, they are given less complex accounting and tax assignments.  As they gain experience, they are given more difficult assignments and greater responsibilities.

 ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
 

1. Become familiar with the firm’s policies and procedures.
2. Understand the rules, requirements, and code of conduct of the AICPA, and the authoritative literature established by the FASB.
3. Become familiar with pertinent IRC sections and regulations.
4. Obtain a working knowledge of tax and accounting research techniques and the various research sources in the firm library.
5. Obtain a working knowledge of firm technology, including the use of CD-ROM, e-mail, and the Internet; and the use of firm spreadsheet, word processing, tax preparation, and time and billing software.
6. Become proficient in the preparation of corporate, individual, partnership, fiduciary and other tax returns prepared by the firm.
7. Assume responsibility for the completion of tax returns under the supervision of more experienced staff.
8. Perform assigned audit procedures for specific accounts and transactions under the supervision of more experienced staff.

 
OTHER FUNCTIONS
 

1. Perform other duties as assigned from time to time by the senior accountants, managers, principal or partners.

 
WORKING CONDITIONS
 

10.       Involves work in the firm’s office or on the client’s premises.  Work on the client’s premises may    require the use of the staff member’s personal car.

1. Moderate to low overtime required throughout the year.  High level of overtime may be required to complete specific audit and/or tax engagements.

 
REQUIRED EXPERIENCE
 

1. Staff accountants normally have zero to three years experience in public accounting.

 
REQUIRED EDUCATION
 

1. Staff accountants must have at least a college undergraduate degree and have completed at least 30 hours in college-level accounting courses.

14.       Expected to become certified in approximately three years.