Director of Accounting job description.
A Director of Accounting leads the organization's accounting function, overseeing financial reporting, internal controls, and the accounting team. They ensure the accuracy and integrity of financial statements, drive process improvements, and partner with finance leadership on strategic decision-making.
The Director of Accounting 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: Director of Accounting Reports to: Chief Financial Officer
A Director of Accounting leads the organization's accounting function, overseeing financial reporting, internal controls, and the accounting team. They ensure the accuracy and integrity of financial statements, drive process improvements, and partner with finance leadership on strategic decision-making.
- Direct the preparation of accurate and timely financial statements
- Establish and maintain robust internal controls and accounting policies
- Lead, develop, and mentor the accounting team
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.
6 skill chips you can copy directly into your ATS.
Chief Financial Officer
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.
- Direct the preparation of accurate and timely financial statements
- Establish and maintain robust internal controls and accounting policies
- Lead, develop, and mentor the accounting team
- Oversee month-end and year-end close processes
- Manage relationships with external auditors and coordinate audit activities
- Ensure compliance with GAAP, tax regulations, and reporting requirements
- Partner with the CFO on budgeting, forecasting, and financial strategy
- Drive continuous improvement in accounting systems and processes
Required — and what would make a candidate excellent.
- Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance
- 7+ years of accounting experience, including leadership roles
- Strong knowledge of GAAP and financial reporting standards
- Proven experience managing accounting teams and audits
- CPA certification
- Master's degree in accounting or business administration
- Experience with ERP system implementations
Eight steps from download to publish.
- 01Open the Director of Accounting 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 Director of Accounting 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 (Chief Financial Officer) 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.
- What's the difference between a Director of Accounting and a Controller?
- The roles overlap significantly and titles vary by organization; Director of Accounting often carries broader strategic and leadership scope, while Controller emphasizes day-to-day accounting operations.
- Is CPA certification required for this role?
- Many organizations prefer or require CPA certification for this level of accounting leadership, though requirements vary by employer.
Other documents in this neighbourhood.
Comptroller
A Comptroller oversees an organization's accounting operations, financial reporting, and internal controls.
Financial Controller
A Financial Controller leads the accounting function and is accountable for the accuracy of the company's financial reporting, the operation of internal controls, and the integrity of the books..
Accounting Manager
An accounting manager oversees the day-to-day operations of an organization's accounting function, including general ledger, reconciliations, and month-end close.
This Director of Accounting 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.