Being a staff accountant: what they do, how to become one, and what comes next
One of the commonly available job positions for accounting professionals is a “staff accountant.” But what exactly is this role?
Learn what you do as a staff accountant, why you play a vital role in your organization or firm, and how you can use a staff accountant job to launch into even more opportunities.
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What is a staff accountant?
Staff accountants perform vital work for their organizations’ daily function. This is a mid-level position falling between junior and senior accountant, responsible for the proper execution of essential accounting tasks like preparing financial statements, reconciling accounts, and managing budgets. Staff accountants ensure accurate, compliant work and fill a necessary role within the firm or organization’s smooth operation.1
What does a staff accountant do?
Staff accountants are valuable assets in any industry, leveraging financial understanding and management skills to improve organization and reporting, and assist in complex projects.
Staff accountant tasks and responsibilities
Staff accountants may fill a range of roles, including:2
- Maintaining, organizing, and updating records and ledgers
- Recording and reporting transactions
- Preparing income statements, cash flow reports, balance sheets, and similar data
- Ensuring reporting compliance with state and federal regulations
- Assisting in reporting and auditing processes
- Assisting in budget forecasting
- Preparing and filing taxes
- Tracking assets
- Reconciling expenses
Staff accountant skills
As a staff accountant, you must have some experience in general accounting tasks and a good understanding of how to handle basic accounting responsibilities on your own. Staff accountants must be exceptionally organized and meticulous in their work, as they’re largely in charge of making available accurate, systematized data for other teams and company leaders.
How to become a staff accountant
Getting a job as a staff accountant requires education and experience, with more competitive opportunities as you earn professional credentials.
Staff accountant education: You will need a college or university degree, likely in accounting or finance, to begin your professional accounting career.
Staff accountant experience: Being a staff accountant is a mid-level position. You’ll likely start as a junior accountant and grow into being a staff accountant. However, staff accountants report to senior accountants, who take on leadership roles within the team and report directly to upper management.
Staff accountant certifications: It’s possible to work as a staff accountant with only your accounting degree. However, your job opportunities and earning potential increase substantially as you earn professional certifications and take continuing education courses to deepen your expertise and hone your specialization.
Staff accountant career paths
As a staff accountant, you can work in nearly any industry. Your practical skillsets and financial acumen are useful anywhere that earns and spends money. However, you can grow your staff accountant career into specific directions of interest—and advance into senior-level positions—by earning professional certifications.
Certified Public Accountant (CPA): CPAs normally work in public accounting firms, but have the credential and extensive knowledge to delve into all things accounting. A CPA license also gives you the authority to perform functions that non-CPAs can’t, opening a world job advancement opportunities.
Certified Management Accountant (CMA): CMAs certify their knowledge in management accounting, setting themselves up for growth within the finance team of organizations, even advancing into executive-level positions like CFO or Controller.
Certified Internal Auditor (CIA): As a CIA, you focus on internal auditing, working with your organization to perform audit processes that will help increase efficiency, operations, spending, and compliance. There is no better credential to boost career growth as an internal auditor than the CIA certification.
Enrolled Agent (EA): EAs work exclusively in tax, with the most prestigious credential awarded by the IRS. If you’re currently a tax staff accountant or know that you aim to work in this field, becoming an EA is the best way to hone your tax service capabilities and career potential.
After earning your professional certifications, you will likely be required to complete continuing professional education (CPE) requirements to maintain your credential in good standing. However, these courses also serve as a great opportunity to further focus and advance your career into a specialization of interest. If you’re a staff accountant looking to move into upper-level management positions, CPE gives you the chance to strengthen your skills and take on additional responsibilities.
Staff accountant salary
Staff accountant salaries vary greatly based on location, experience, industry, and even individual companies or firms. However, the average US annual salary for staff accountants is around $64,000.3
Grow your career with Becker
If you know that you want to advance your accounting career to become a staff accountant, Becker can provide the support to help you get there and go even further.
Learn more about how to become a CPA, the game-changing license for any accounting career, in our free downloadable CPA Exam guide. And if you’re already a CPA, learn how you can maximize your CPE requirements with courses that are compliant and impactful for your career goals.
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