Accountant job description in the United States
Duties, requirements, interview questions, and a ready-to-use template so you can post your job today.
Job summary
An accountant records, reconciles, and reports the financial activity of the business so that owners know what was earned, what is owed, and what must be filed with the tax authority. The role closes the books every month, keeps the general ledger clean, and prepares the statements that banks, partners, and auditors rely on. A good accountant prevents penalties, surprises in cash flow, and decisions made on wrong numbers.
Main duties
- Record daily transactions in the general ledger and keep the chart of accounts consistent
- Reconcile bank accounts, credit cards, and petty cash against the books every month
- Prepare the month-end close, including accruals, depreciation, prepaid expenses, and adjusting entries
- Produce the balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement for management review
- Calculate and file periodic tax returns on time, keeping the supporting documents in order
- Review accounts payable and receivable aging and follow up on overdue balances
- Record payroll entries and verify withholdings and employer contributions against the payroll report
- Maintain the fixed asset register and support the physical inventory count at period end
- Prepare schedules and documentation requested by external auditors, banks, and tax inspectors
Typical requirements
- Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a related field
- Professional accounting license or registration, where the country requires it to sign statements
- Two or more years of experience handling a full monthly close
- Working knowledge of accounting software or an ERP, and advanced spreadsheets
- Up-to-date knowledge of local tax rules and the accounting standards applied in the country
- Experience preparing tax returns and responding to requests from the tax authority
- References from previous employers or clients that can be verified
Key skills
Salary in the United States
Based on jobs posted on Saplic over the last 6 months. This is a market benchmark, not an official figure.
Job posting template ready to copy
Replace the fields in brackets with your company's details.
Market benchmark: $10,179 per month (median of the jobs posted on Saplic over the last 6 months).
Accountant — [Company name]
At [Company name], we are looking for an accountant to take ownership of our books in [City]. The person in this role will run the monthly close, keep our tax filings on schedule, and give management clear numbers to decide with, working closely with the administrative team.
Responsibilities
- Record daily transactions in the general ledger and keep the chart of accounts consistent
- Reconcile bank accounts, credit cards, and petty cash against the books every month
- Prepare the month-end close, including accruals, depreciation, prepaid expenses, and adjusting entries
- Produce the balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement for management review
- Calculate and file periodic tax returns on time, keeping the supporting documents in order
- Review accounts payable and receivable aging and follow up on overdue balances
- Record payroll entries and verify withholdings and employer contributions against the payroll report
- Maintain the fixed asset register and support the physical inventory count at period end
- Prepare schedules and documentation requested by external auditors, banks, and tax inspectors
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a related field
- Professional accounting license or registration, where the country requires it to sign statements
- Two or more years of experience handling a full monthly close
- Working knowledge of accounting software or an ERP, and advanced spreadsheets
- Up-to-date knowledge of local tax rules and the accounting standards applied in the country
- Experience preparing tax returns and responding to requests from the tax authority
- References from previous employers or clients that can be verified
What we offer
- Salary: [Salary]
- Benefits: [Benefits]
- Location: [City]
Interested in this job? Apply today.
How to hire an accountant
Define the scope before posting
A posting that mixes bookkeeping, tax, payroll, and financial analysis attracts everyone and fits no one. It helps to state which of those the person will actually own and which are handled by an outside firm.
Test with a real reconciliation
A short exercise with a bank statement and a ledger extract containing three planted differences shows more than any interview answer. Strong candidates find the timing differences first and then ask about the unexplained one.
Ask which close they actually ran
Many resumes say "month-end close" when the person only posted invoices. It is worth asking who prepared the adjusting entries, who reviewed them, and how many days the close took.
Confirm the software, not the brand
Experience in one accounting system transfers to another faster than weak fundamentals do. The useful question is which modules the candidate configured or used daily, not whether the logo matches.
Check who can sign the statements
Where only a licensed accountant may sign financial statements, the candidate's registration should be looked up with the body that grants it before the offer. An expired registration can leave the company with statements nobody is allowed to sign.
Interview questions for accountant candidates
Could you walk through your month-end close, step by step, at your last job?
What to look for: A clear sequence with dates, reconciliations before adjustments, and a review step, not a vague list of tasks.
How did you handle a bank reconciliation that would not balance?
What to look for: A methodical search: timing differences, duplicated entries, transposed figures, then escalation with evidence.
What would you do if a manager asked you to record an expense without a supporting document?
What to look for: Firmness on documentation, a practical alternative, and awareness of the tax risk of unsupported expenses.
Which accounting systems have you used, and what did you do in each one?
What to look for: Specific modules and tasks, plus signs the candidate can learn a new system without hand-holding.
How did you prepare for the last external audit or tax inspection you went through?
What to look for: Organized schedules, supporting files ready in advance, and calm handling of auditor requests and findings.
Could you describe an error you found in the books after the period had closed?
What to look for: Honesty about the mistake, a proper correcting entry, and a control added so it would not happen again.
How would you explain a drop in gross margin to an owner with no accounting background?
What to look for: Plain language, focus on causes such as cost, price, or mix, and no hiding behind jargon.
How do you keep up with changes in tax rules?
What to look for: Concrete sources and habits, such as official bulletins, professional associations, or courses, and a recent example applied at work.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does an accountant make in the United States?
The median of the jobs posted on Saplic over the last 6 months is $10,179 per month, and the typical range runs from $8,239 to $12,975. This is a market benchmark, not an official figure.
What requirements are typical for an accountant in the United States?
The most common ones in job postings are: bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a related field; professional accounting license or registration, where the country requires it to sign statements; two or more years of experience handling a full monthly close.
Is it better to hire an in-house accountant or outsource to a firm?
It depends on volume. A business with few monthly transactions is usually well served by an outside firm. Once invoicing, payroll, and inventory generate daily entries and management needs numbers every month, an in-house accountant pays off because the books stay current and questions get answered the same day.
What practical test can be given to an accountant candidate?
A forty-minute exercise works well: a bank reconciliation with planted differences, three adjusting entries to prepare, and a short question on how a specific transaction should be treated for tax purposes. It shows technical accuracy, order in the work, and how the candidate reasons when something does not add up.
How much does it cost to post accountant jobs on Saplic?
Nothing. Posting the job is free and no credit card is required. The recruiting system for organizing the people who apply is free too.