Roles We Hire For | Accounting Manager

What does an Accounting Manager do?

An Accounting Manager is responsible for overseeing the accounting operations of a company, or depending on the size of a company - one or more departments. Their primary role is to ensure that financial reports and statements are accurate, timely, and compliant with relevant regulations and accounting standards.

Overall, an Accounting Manager plays a critical role in ensuring that an organization’s financial operations run smoothly and efficiently, providing essential financial information and analysis to help the organization make informed decisions.

In the absence of a detail-oriented Accountant, companies run the risk of filing incorrect taxes, being unprepared for audits, or having an inaccurate picture of their tax flow, all of which can be detrimental.

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What is the typical background of an Accounting Manager?

An Accounting Manager typically has several years of experience in accounting or related fields before being promoted to a management role. Prior to becoming an Accounting Manager, an individual may had held a series of positions as a Staff Accountant, Senior Accountant or Financial Analyst.

To make the jump to an Accounting Manager, an individual may need to demonstrate 6-8+ years of experience in accounting roles with a mix of both public and private experience. Having experience at a Big 4 Accounting firm may also be a plus on an Accounting Manager’s resume.
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Many Accountants may have a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or another related, highly-analytical discipline. More often than not, Accounting Managers will have their CPA certification and/or additional tax certifications.

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What are the typical responsibilities of an Accounting Manager?

Accounting Managers have a variety of responsibilities, depending on their level of seniority and experience. Typically, Accounting Managers are responsible for:

Supervising the accounting department: This involves overseeing the overall direction of the accounting department, or if the team is large enough - work of other accountants and financial professionals which includes assigning tasks, and ensuring that deadlines are met.
Financial reporting: Preparing and presenting financial reports to management, stakeholders, and regulatory authorities.
Budgeting: Developing and monitoring budgets to ensure that the organization operates within its financial means.
Accounts payable and receivable: Managing the organization’s accounts payable and receivable, ensuring that payments are made and received in a timely and accurate manner.
Tax compliance: Ensuring that the organization complies with relevant tax laws and regulations.
Auditing: Overseeing the organization’s internal and external auditing processes to ensure compliance with accounting standards and regulations.
Setting KPIs: An Accounting Manager should have enough experience to set KPIs for their department, which are often specific to the company they work for and their revenue and operations goals.

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What are some of the skills a successful Accounting Manager should have?

A successful Accounting Manager should have a combination of technical accounting knowledge, leadership skills, and soft skills. These often include strengths such as:

Attention to detail: Accounting managers must be meticulous and detail-oriented to ensure that financial reports are accurate and comply with relevant regulations and accounting standards.
Leadership skills: Accounting managers must have strong leadership skills to manage a team of accountants, set goals, assign tasks, and provide guidance and support.
Analytical skills: Accounting managers must be able to analyze financial data and identify trends and opportunities, as well as potential risks and challenges.
Communication skills: Accounting managers must be able to communicate effectively with team members, senior management, auditors, and other stakeholders.
Problem-solving skills: Accounting managers must be able to identify problems and develop solutions to address them effectively.
Experience with Mergers and Acquisitions: Although this may not be their sole focus, a successful Accounting Manager may have some experience with Mergers and Acquisitions to advise on best accounting practices.
Experience working with a variety of business types: Accounting Managers should be able to speak to the differences between various businesses, such as S-Corporations vs. Partnerships, in order to provide the best possible advice on tax liabilities.
Strong proficiency in Excel: Accounting managers should have strong abilities in Excel and managing data when needed.
An interest in the latest accounting-related technologies or platforms: Accounting Managers, especially those who work with startups, should have a strong interest in learning some of the latest accounting tools and technologies that can help them do their work more efficiently, or provide increased security.

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