What Is a Staff Accountant? And How to Become One

Staff accountants work with many aspects of accounting, including financial statements, payroll, taxes, and auditing. As you research staff accountant career opportunities, you’ll find this profession is vast and diverse. Read on to learn how to become a staff accountant, the different concentrations in this career path, and the responsibilities.

What is a staff accountant?

A staff accountant is a member of the accounting department who performs routine financial and accounting tasks. Staff accountants are often responsible for preparing reports, maintaining general ledgers and accounts payable files, and keeping up with the company's tax obligations. They ensure all financial records are in order by following generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).

What are some typical staff accountant job responsibilities?

A staff accountant’s responsibilities vary depending on the size of the company and its operations. While smaller companies may have only one staff accountant, larger companies often hire multiple staff accountants who specialize in different areas, such as accounts payable or accounts receivable, or those requiring less accounting experience.  

As a staff accountant, your duties will typically involve entry-level accounting tasks, but you may do some higher-level functions as you gain more experience. Some job responsibilities for a staff accountant may include: 

• Maintaining accounting records such as bank reconciliations, general ledger accounts, and subsidiary ledgers

• Recording daily transactions in an accounting system, including purchases and sales transactions

• Preparing and analyzing data for accounting statements such as profit-and-loss statements, balance sheets, and income statements

• Ensuring incomings and outgoings reporting follows state and federal regulations

• Conducting internal audits regularly to determine whether company policies are effective

• Maintaining detailed accounts payable records and ensuring timely payment of invoices

• Assisting in preparing quarterly financial statements for submission to external auditors for review and approval

• Assisting in preparing monthly and year-end financial statements

• Assisting with the preparation of budget forecasts used in planning efforts by management teams

• Preparing financial statements, such as balance sheets, income statements, cash flow reports, and profit-and-loss statements

• Making recommendations for cost reduction and increasing revenue

• Preparing and filing taxes, especially taxation-focused staff accountants

• Keeping track of assets, such as cash, inventory, and liabilities

• Reconciling staff expenses

What work settings do staff accountants work in?

Staff accountants can work for every type of company, government agency, and charity. You may work part or full-time and may be a part of an internal company accounting department. You’ll also see jobs in accounting firms, often specializing in tax, forensics, or another type of accounting. As a staff accountant, you'll typically work in an office rather than off-site. Most staff accountants work under a CPA or senior accountant’s supervision.

What types of software do staff accountants use daily?

Staff accountants use various software programs to perform their duties more efficiently and accurately. The programs they use include products such as these:

• QuickBooks Pro: Allows you to track expenses, generate invoices, and store customer data in one place.

• TaxACT Deluxe: Assists with filing federal and state taxes.

• Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets: Helpful for creating charts, graphs, and analyzing data.

• Microsoft Office 365 Business Premium: Provides you with access to desktop versions of Word and other MS Office programs.

• Adobe Acrobat Pro DC: Allows you to  view and create PDF documents

Staff accountant's job titles and related job roles

Many variations on the staff accountant title exist, and your job title can depend on your company and the type of accountancy you do. For example, a staff accountant might be called a forensic staff accountant or taxation staff accounting if working in a specialist area. Here are some roles similar to staff accountant:

*All annual CAD salary data is sourced from Glassdoor as of December 2024

• Accounting technician: $48,949 CAD

• Accounting officer: $47,978 CAD 

• General accountant: $58,789 CAD

• Staff accountant: $52,316 CAD

• CPA: $66,966 CAD

• Accounting bookkeeper: $42,548 CAD

• Project accountant: $65,970 CAD

• Financial analyst: $68,566 CAD

• Senior accountant: $71,524 CAD

Required education and skills

The education and experience required to get a staff accountant job depends on the companies you want to work for. Larger accountancy firms, such as the “Big 4,” tend to be more competitive and have more stringent application criteria.

• Associate degree in accounting or finance: An associate accounting degree can qualify you for entry-level accounting positions, such as bookkeeper, clerk, or other junior accounting roles. However, this degree does not generally provide the education needed to become a staff accountant.

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance: As a staff accountant, you'll typically have a bachelor's degree in accounting and experience in an accounting-related job, such as bookkeeping or an accounts clerk. Some employers require you to pass the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam and be licensed as a CPA to join their accounting team.

• Master’s in accounting (Optional): A master's degree in accounting or business administration can boost your accountancy career prospects and open new opportunities. An advanced degree can make you a more competitive candidate for jobs that receive a lot of applicants. Accountants with a master’s degree in Canada saw a 10 per cent jump in job opportunities [1]. 

Consider an accounting certification

Accounting is a dynamic field, and it's essential to keep up with the latest trends and changes. Here are four reasons to consider getting certified as an accountant:

• Certification shows you're skilled in a specific area of accounting

• Certification gives you an edge in the job market

• Certification gives you more opportunities in your career path

• CPA or another certification may be an application requirement for some jobs

Chartered public accountant (CPA) and other certifications

The chartered public accountant (CPA) designation is considered the gold standard for Canadian accounting. The position is comparable with the United States’ CPA position, but the terms aren’t interchangeable.

A CPA license in Canada requires a university degree and completion of a professional training program approved by a provincial accounting institute [2]. Depending on the province, two years or 30 months of on-the-job training and membership in a provincial Institute of Chartered Accountants, plus successful completion of the Uniform Evaluation, may be required [2].

You may like to consider other accountancy or accounting-related certifications in Canada:

• Chartered Accountant (CA)

• Chartered General Accountant (CGA)

• Chartered Management Accountant (CMA)

• Advanced Certificate in Accounting and Finance (ACAF)

• Certified Professional Bookkeeper (CPB)

Certified general accountants (CGA) and certified management accountants (CMA) must hold a university degree and certification from Certified General Accountants Association or the Society of Management Accountants. They must also complete a training program approved by the Society of Certified General Accountants or the Society of Management Accountants and receive several years of on-the-job training.

Competencies required for staff accounting jobs

The staff accountant's role is varied. You need a mix of workplace and technical staff accounting skills to succeed. Some of the main competencies you’ll require to become a competent staff accountant include:

• Numeracy: The ability to use numbers effectively to solve problems and make decisions

• Analytical: The ability to identify, interpret, and evaluate the financial information

• Spreadsheet proficiency: The ability to use spreadsheet software for manipulating data and perform mathematical functions, with functions like VLOOKUP

• Problem-solving skills: The ability to understand and solve problems using critical thinking skills

• Oral and written communication: The ability to communicate orally or in writing with customers, colleagues, and managers

• Reading financial reports: The ability to understand financial statements, such as income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements.

• Tax regulation know-how: A good understanding of tax law as it applies to businesses

• Time management: Ability to manage time effectively, especially when working on multiple streams of work

• Ethics: Uphold the highest of ethical standards

Accounting specializations you might like to consider

Accounting is a broad field that encompasses many specializations. You can be an accountant or auditor for small businesses, multinational corporations, or government agencies like the Canada Revenue Agency (CRS). Accounting specializations include the following:

1. Business accounting

Average annual salary: $57,322 CAD [3]

Business accountants analyze and gather business’ financial activity, including financial statements, budgets, and forecasts. Business accountants may specialize in areas such as investments or insurance.

2. Tax accounting

Average annual salary: $62,844 CAD [4]

These accountants perform accounting for taxes, tax compliance, preparation of tax returns, and valuation of assets for tax purposes.

3. International accounting

Average annual salary: $61,083 CAD [5]

International accountants work with international trade, multinational operations, foreign currency transactions, international standards for accounting and auditing, and more.

4. Bookkeeping

Average annual salary: $42,577 CAD [6]

Bookkeepers record financial transactions in journals and ledgers according to accepted business rules. Bookkeeping is a more junior role.

5. Auditing

Average annual salary: $64,992 CAD [7]

Auditors ensure that financial statements are accurate and comply with relevant regulations. They also provide an independent opinion on the fairness of these statements.

6. Management accounting

Average annual salary: $74,986 CAD [8]

Management accountants assist managers by preparing forecasts, analyzing costs, and helping to make decisions about production, sales, and investments.

Professional organizations to know

You can use information from professional accounting organizations to help you advance your career, develop valuable skills, and stay updated with new developments in the profession. Here are some professional organizations to consider joining:

• Accounting Standards Board of Canada

• Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CPA Canada)

• Canada Tax Foundation

• International Federation of Accountants

• Chartered Professional Accountants of Alberta

• Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia

• Chartered Professional Accountants of Manitoba

• Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario

• Chartered Professional Accountants - Northwest Territories/Nunavut

• Chartered Professional Accountants New Brunswick

• Chartered Professional Accountants of New Foundland and Labrador

• Chartered Professional Accountants of Nova Scotia

• Chartered Accountants of Prince Edward Island

• Institute of Chartered Professional Accountants of Saskatchewan

Next steps in accounting with Coursera

To get on a faster track to more senior accounting roles, consider the Online Masters of Accounting offered by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. 

Online courses can also be a great way to learn more about accounting, finance, and bookkeeping to explore career options. In the Intuit Academy Bookkeeping Professional Certificate, you'll learn key accounting and bookkeeping principles and how to use software such as QuickBooks. The Managerial Accounting Fundamentals course offered by the University of Virginia offers insights and skill-building for managerial accountants.