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Accounting Manager Job Description: Top Duties and Requirements

An Accounting Manager, or Corporate Accounting Manager, is a professional who oversees a team of Accountants working towards a company’s financial goals. They typically shape their company’s accounting methods, priorities, and policies. Their duties include assigning tasks and projects to Accountants within their division, implementing and monitoring periodic closeout accounting schedules, and creating financial reports based on data analysis.

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Accounting Manager duties and responsibilities

Accounting Managers are responsible for all areas that relate to financial reporting, and they develop and maintain accounting procedures, practices, and principles to ensure timely and accurate financial statements. While duties will vary depending on your company’s needs, some common Accounting Manager tasks include:

  • Supporting the Controller with workflow process improvement and pursuing special projects
  • Working with direct reports to determine objectives and goals for each year, and advising on their progress to enhance staff professional development
  • Handling personnel issues that relate to absenteeism, staff performance, and staff conflict
  • Assisting in the design and implementation of features and procedures to enhance the accounting department’s workflow
  • Making sure members of the finance team meet all financial reporting deadlines
  • Responding to inquiries from the Controller, Director of Finance, and other high-level Managers
  • Training and advising new and existing employees of non-routine reporting transactions
  • Monitoring and analyzing the financial department to develop more efficient procedures and proper use of resources while maintaining a high level of accuracy
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What does an Accounting Manager do?

An Accounting Manager is responsible for a company’s accounting processes. They manage daily accounting operations of the company and make sure that every critical function has a backup in place at all times. Apart from maintaining existing policies, an Accounting Manager also creates new internal accounting policies. This position addresses many accounting activities that include the support of forecast and budget activities, year-end audit preparation, financial reporting, and general ledger preparation. They report to the Controller, who oversees all the financial departments of a company.

Accounting Manager skills and qualifications

An Accounting Manager requires a set of skills related to the industry and those that are specific to the company they wish to work for. A successful Accounting Manager needs various prerequisite skills and qualifications, including:

  • Proficiency with various accounting software programs
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills
  • Thorough understanding and knowledge of professional accounting terminology, techniques, theories, and principles
  • Attention to detail and proven ability to analyze large amounts of data
  • Sound knowledge of management, finance, and accounting principles
  • Excellent leadership abilities
  • Superior data analysis and data management skills
  • Thorough knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)

Accounting Manager experience requirements

An Accounting Manager typically needs five years experience in an Accountant or a similar role that deals in numeracy. Experience with QuickBooks, ERP systems, and accounting databases and software is expected. Candidates with experience in hiring, training, and supervising employees are preferred.

Accounting Manager education and training requirements

An Accounting Manager candidate needs a bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, or a related field. Candidates with a master of business administration (MBA) or additional relevant college diploma have an advantage. Look for candidates with their Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation. All candidates should have a thorough knowledge of budgeting and financial forecasting concepts.

Accounting Manager salary expectations

According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for an Accounting Manager in Canada is $77,866 per year. This salary varies depending on the location, employee experience, and hiring company.

Job description samples for similar positions

If an Accounting Manager is not quite what you’re looking for, some relevant job descriptions include:


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Accounting Manager job description FAQs

What is the difference between the Accounting Manager and Controller?

An Accounting Manager oversees other Accountants and provides direction within a specific financial department or branch of an organization. A Controller has a higher level of authority and responsibility, and plays a supervisory role over all financial departments and staff.

What makes a good Accounting Manager?

A good Accounting Manager understands the budgeting needs and details of their department or organization. They work to save the department from unnecessary expenditure and can forecast spending habits. They keep up with industry trends and learn about advanced software programs that speed up the accounting process. An excellent Accounting Manager provides support and acts a helpful resource for their team members.

What are the personality traits of a good Accounting Manager?

It is vital for Accounting Managers to be ethical, trustworthy, and reliable. They must be organized, and strive for perfection in regard to accuracy. They should be mathematically competent and enjoy working with numbers. A good Accounting Manager is open to new ideas and can facilitate communication between members of a team. They can lead their department and ensure everyone is working on individual tasks that drive the team towards a common goal.

Job Description Examples

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