Accountant requirements
These are just a few of the job requirements you may see in an accountant job description:
Thorough knowledge of basic accounting procedures and principles, including the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)
Awareness of business trends
Experience with creating financial statements
Experience with general ledger functions and the month-end/year-end close process
Excellent accounting software user and administration skills
Accuracy and attention to detail
Aptitude for numbers and quantitative skills
Bachelor's Degree or Master's Degree in appropriate field of study or equivalent work experience
Intermediate understanding of accounting and reporting standards, gaining experience in researching as it relates to accounting issues
Experience with accounting software is a plus
There are several hard and soft skills that are possibilities for an accountant job description. Hard skills are measurable talents learned through training and education. Soft skills are people skills that are generally acquired through experience and are difficult to measure.
Below, we break them down by category, though you'll typically find necessary hard and soft skills listed together in the job description.
Accounting
Corporate Finance
Reporting Skills
Reporting Research Results
Financial Data Entry Management
Basic Math
Accuracy
Scheduling and Monitoring
Problem Analysis and Problem-Solving Skills
Active Learning
Clerical Knowledge
Proficiency in Microsoft Office
Risk Analysis
Tax Returns
Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
Accounting Software
General Ledger Functions
GAAP
Balance Sheets
Budgeting
Data Analysis
Bookkeeping
Sarbanes-Oxley Act
Financial Audits
Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)