Accountant (General Accountant) Job Description Template

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Maintain General Ledger & Transaction Records: Record all financial transactions (income, expenses, journal entries) in the accounting system promptly and accurately, ensuring the general ledger is up-to-date . This includes coding transactions to the correct accounts and maintaining supporting documentation for each entry.

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Accounts Payable and Receivable: Manage the full AP/AR cycle - process vendor bills and employee reimbursements for timely payment, issue customer invoices, and monitor receivables to ensure cash collections. Follow up on overdue invoices and coordinate with stakeholders on billing or payment discrepancies.

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Bank Reconciliations & Cash Management: Perform monthly bank reconciliations and other account reconciliations (credit cards, petty cash) to verify that account balances match supporting statements . Investigate and resolve any discrepancies or missing transactions to maintain accurate cash records.

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Financial Reporting & Month-End Close: Prepare periodic financial statements (balance sheet, profit & loss, cash flow) and management reports for review

. Lead the month-end close process by posting adjusting entries (accruals, deferrals, depreciation), reviewing trial balances, and ensuring all income and expenses are recorded in the proper period. Review financial statements for accuracy and completeness before finalizing

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Compliance & Tax Support: Ensure accounting practices comply with GAAP and company policies. Assist with tax preparation and filings (e.g. gathering data for corporate income tax, sales tax, 1099s), or coordinate with external tax accountants to supply accurate financial data

. Stay aware of relevant regulatory deadlines to avoid penalties.

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Audit and Documentation: Organize and update financial records so they are readily auditable Prepare documentation and schedules for external auditors or reviewers, addressing audit inquiries by providing transparent records (e.g. trial balances, account reconciliations, backup for transactions)

. Proactively identify and fix any inconsistencies or errors in advance of audits.

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Cost Control & Analysis: Analyze financial data to identify trends or variances. Recommend ways to reduce costs or improve revenue, such as pointing out budget overruns or savings opportunities Support the budgeting and forecasting process by providing historical data analysis and accurate forecasts for decision-makers

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Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work with other departments to ensure financial policies are followed (e.g. spending within budget, proper expense documentation). Train or guide non-finance staff on expense coding, invoice submission, or use of finance tools as needed. Clearly communicate financial information to managers or team leaders to support business decisions. (Note: All responsibilities should be observable in outputs like reports, reconciliations, or communications.)

-Accounting Principles & GAAP Knowledge: Solid understanding of accounting fundamentals (debits/ credits, accrual accounting, GAAP) and ability to apply them correctly in daily work

. Should know how to prepare accurate financial statements in line with standard frameworks and ensure compliance. -General Ledger & Journal Entries: Proficiency in managing the general ledger, including making journal entries for various transactions (prepaids, accruals, deferrals, depreciation, etc.) and adjusting entries during close. Ability to keep accounts balanced and resolve any trial balance issues. -Accounts Payable/Receivable Processes: Hands-on experience handling AP and AR - from invoice processing and approvals to cash application and collections . Knows how to manage aging reports, handle invoice discrepancies, and maintain positive vendor/customer relationships through timely payments and clear communications. -Reconciliation & Attention to Detail: Expertise in reconciling bank statements, credit card statements, and sub-ledgers (like A/R, A/P) against the general ledger to spot and correct discrepancies. A keen eye for numerical accuracy is essential - even small errors can have large impacts

. For example, ensuring that every transaction in bank statements is accounted for in books and investigating variances immediately. -Financial Reporting & Excel: Ability to prepare comprehensive financial reports and analysis. Advanced spreadsheet skills (e.g. Excel or Google Sheets) are a must for tasks like creating pivot tables, using formulas (VLOOKUP, SUMIFS), and analyzing data

. Comfort in generating and interpreting financial ratios, budgets vs. actuals, and cash flow projections is expected. -Accounting Software Proficiency: Experience with common SMB accounting systems (e.g. QuickBooks, Xero, NetSuite, Sage) and ability to quickly learn new software

. Should be able to navigate modules for GL, AP, AR, and reporting. Familiarity with ERP or finance tools (expense management, billing systems) is a plus, as tool savvy accountants can "navigate entries, approvals, and reconciliations faster" -Data Analysis & Problem-Solving: Skill in analyzing financial data to derive insights or identify anomalies. Capable of investigating the root cause of accounting issues (e.g. why an account is out of balance) and resolving them systematically. This includes strong analytical thinking and problem-solving when faced with incomplete information or new scenarios.

-Regulatory Knowledge: Basic knowledge of tax and compliance requirements relevant to the business (for US: sales tax, payroll tax, etc.). While not a tax specialist role, the accountant should understand filing obligations and maintain records to support compliance

. Familiarity with internal controls and audit practices is also valuable to ensure processes meet standards. -MS Office & Presentation Skills: Proficiency in Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace (especially Excel as noted, and also Word for documentation, PowerPoint for presenting financial info). Should be able to compile and present financial data clearly for management (e.g. building a simple dashboard or slides explaining financial results).

-Attention to Detail: Arguably the top soft skill for accountants - the ability to be thorough and meticulous with financial data

. A great accountant double-checks their work and notices inconsistencies that others might miss, which prevents costly errors. In practice, this means catching a $100 discrepancy in a reconciliation or spotting a typo in a financial report before it goes out. -Communication Skills: Strong written and verbal communication is essential

. This role must translate complex financial information into clear, non-technical terms for colleagues or clients

. Whether it's explaining a budget variance to a department head or drafting an email about an invoice issue, the accountant should communicate with clarity and professionalism. Active listening is part of this skill - understanding others' needs or questions to respond appropriately . -Time Management & Organization: Ability to juggle recurring deadlines (monthly close, tax deadlines) and ad-hoc tasks efficiently. The accountant should be highly organized, able to prioritize work to meet strict deadlines (e.g. closing the books by the 5th business day) without sacrificing accuracy. Using checklists or schedules for closing activities, and keeping an orderly filing system for documents, are signs of good organization. -Problem-Solving & Analytical Thinking: A natural inclination to solve problems and think analytically. In accounting, issues will arise (an imbalance, an unclear transaction, a system error) - the individual should approach these logically, break down the problem, and persist until it's resolved. This also involves critical thinking to question unusual results and proactively find explanations ("Why are expenses 15% over budget this month? Let's dig into the accounts..."). -Teamwork & Collaboration: Works well in a team setting, which is often crucial in finance departments that coordinate with multiple stakeholders. The accountant should be cooperative and willing to assist colleagues (for instance, working with an AP clerk to resolve an invoice hold, or collaborating with HR on payroll issues). They should also be comfortable working cross-departmentally, showing patience and a service mindset when dealing with non-finance staff. -Adaptability: Flexibility to adapt to changing tools, processes, or regulations . SMB environments evolve - whether it's a new accounting software, an updated tax rule, or a shift to remote work - a strong accountant embraces change with a willingness to learn. Being adaptable also means handling unexpected tasks (e.g. stepping in to help with a special project or handle an urgent analysis) without dropping routine duties. -Integrity & Professionalism: Upholding ethical standards, honesty, and confidentiality in all financial matters. An accountant deals with sensitive data (payroll, profits, etc.), so they must exercise discretion and maintain confidentiality

. They should also have the moral courage to raise concerns if they spot unethical practices. A strong sense of integrity ensures they "understand the ethical weight of financial data" and will not cut corners that compromise accuracy or compliance -Customer Service Orientation: Especially in an SMB, accountants often interact with vendors, customers, or internal "clients" (employees submitting expenses, managers needing reports). A helpful, service-oriented attitude goes a long way

. This means being responsive and courteous in addressing inquiries (e.g. a vendor asking about payment status, or a colleague needing help understanding their budget report), and striving to solve issues in a way that maintains positive relationships.