Accounting Manager job description.
An accounting manager oversees the day-to-day operations of an organization's accounting function, including general ledger, reconciliations, and month-end close. They supervise accounting staff, ensure compliance with GAAP and internal controls, and provide financial reporting that supports leadership decision-making.
The Accounting Manager job description · $29
The full editable .docx — role summary, 8 worked responsibilities, qualifications, and skills, formatted for your letterhead. Delivered to your inbox within 24 hours — usually instantly.
Role: Accounting Manager Reports to: Controller or CFO
An accounting manager oversees the day-to-day operations of an organization's accounting function, including general ledger, reconciliations, and month-end close. They supervise accounting staff, ensure compliance with GAAP and internal controls, and provide financial reporting that supports leadership decision-making.
- Oversee month-end and year-end close processes
- Supervise and mentor accounting staff and processes
- Review journal entries, reconciliations, and financial statements
What's inside the document.
One-paragraph plain-English explanation of the role's outcome and scope.
8 responsibilities phrased the way the work is actually done.
4 qualifications a candidate must have to perform on day 30.
3 qualifications that would make a candidate excellent in year two.
5 skill chips you can copy directly into your ATS.
Controller or CFO
A complete document set.
- Word document (.docx) — fully editable
- PDF — signature-ready
- Google Docs — one-click copy to your Drive
- 12 months of updates to this document
- Commercial-use licence for internal and client work
The work, not the title.
- Oversee month-end and year-end close processes
- Supervise and mentor accounting staff and processes
- Review journal entries, reconciliations, and financial statements
- Ensure compliance with GAAP and internal control policies
- Coordinate with external auditors during annual audits
- Prepare and analyze financial reports for leadership
- Manage accounts payable, accounts receivable, and payroll oversight
- Improve accounting processes and system efficiencies
Required — and what would make a candidate excellent.
- Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance
- 5+ years of progressive accounting experience
- Strong knowledge of GAAP and financial reporting
- Experience supervising accounting staff
- CPA certification
- Experience with ERP accounting systems
- Industry-specific accounting experience
Eight steps from download to publish.
- 01Open the Accounting Manager job description in Word or your one-click Google Docs copy.
- 02Replace placeholders for company name, reporting line, and location with your specifics.
- 03Tighten the summary to one paragraph that names the team's outcome, not just the role.
- 04Edit the responsibilities to match the actual scope of the seat — aim for 6 to 8 items, not 12.
- 05Separate required qualifications from preferred. Required is what a candidate must have to do the work on day 30; preferred is what would make them excellent in year two.
- 06Add salary range guidance using BLS, Payscale, or your own band data — do not copy generic figures.
- 07Have the hiring manager and one peer read it. Cut anything that wouldn't survive a candidate question.
- 08Publish to your ATS, intranet, and external careers page.
The right document at the right moment.
Use this Accounting Manager job description any time you are opening or reopening a seat at this level. The senior band sets the calibration — copy the document, tighten it to your specific scope, and circulate to the hiring panel before the first interview.
The reporting line (Controller or CFO) and skills list are starting points. Override either if your org structure or stack differs from the norm — the template is a draft, not a contract.
Honest answers before you download.
- Is a CPA required for an accounting manager?
- Not always required, but it is strongly preferred, particularly in organizations where the role interacts closely with external auditors.
- How does this role differ from a controller?
- An accounting manager focuses on day-to-day operations and staff supervision, while a controller typically owns broader financial strategy and reporting oversight.
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This Accounting Manager job description is a professionally drafted starting point for your hiring process and is not legal advice. Hiring practice varies by jurisdiction (e.g. pay-transparency laws differ across US states and AU jurisdictions). Adapt this document for your specific location and have employment counsel review any clauses you add before publishing. Salary varies by region, employer type, and experience. Reference BLS or current industry surveys for ranges. Full disclaimer.