How to Obtain a Position as a Senior Accountant

The job of senior accountant is an advanced position in the accounting industry. In order to apply for such a position, you need to hold at least a Bachelor's degree in accounting and at least three years of experiences as a professional accountant. You should have certification as a CPA to hold this position as well. You will need to have considerable knowledge of accounting practices as you will have to perform work that carries a considerable degree of difficulty. You will also be involved in supervising and reviewing the work of other employees that are engage in accounting and financial record keeping in the firm.

As a senior accountant, one of your responsibilities will work independently in administrative tasks and maintain the central revenue and expense accounts of the firm or department in which you work. You will be part of a team responsible for developing and maintaining an overall budget for the firm and for your department. Some of the essential functions your duties will entail include:

• Preparing monthly financial statements that reflect the general financial state of the firm
  
• Monitoring the expenditures to ensure that your expenses remain within the scope of the budget.
  
  
  
• Performing cash management duties by reconciling bank statements.
  
• Providing advice and recommendations to department heads on the appropriate use of funds.
  
• Overseeing the purchasing of supplies or other products used by the firm
  
• Maintaining accurate records of contracts, work estimates and costs of materials.
  
• Ensuring that the records are prepared and ready for both internal and external audits.

In addition to your educational credentials, you do need to possess other qualifications to perform well in the position of senior accountant. Most of the accounting work in an office is done by using the computer, so you will have to be proficient at using the computer programs and software needed for this job. You will need considerable knowledge of professional accounting practices, as well as tax laws and government regulations that are relevant to your business. Being familiar with the internal account files of the firm is also essential for allocating expenditures or encumbrances of the firm.

The position of senior accountant is one that requires you to be a very analytical person. Synthesizing complex financial data will be one of your roles after you research and collect this data. Problem-solving skills are also essential; as you identify any problems that arise in the finances and work to solve them in a timely manner. AS part of the team,. You need to be a team player with excellent interpersonal and communication skills in order to get along well with your colleagues and help the work progress smoothly. Professionalism is a must in this position that will require you to approach others using tact and diplomacy.

There are physical and psychological demands placed on your when you have the job of senior accountant. You need to have dexterity in your fingers and hands for using the computer keyboard for long periods of time as well as excellent vision for discerning numbers written on paper. You must be able to multi-task and have good organization skills so that you can prioritize the duties in order to meet deadlines.