One of the many jobs available in the accounting industry that might interest you is that of accounting supervisor. This position requires a considerable amount of educational credentials beginning with a Bachelor's degree from an accredited university in accounting, finance, business or a related field. Most employers look for an applicant with an MBA (Master of Business Administration) degree. You do need to have at least three years of experience working in accounting and have certification as a public accountant. In addition, you need to possess advanced knowledge in the use of accounting software, spreadsheets, databases and word processing programs.
In the position of accounting supervisor, you will have control over one or more accounts within a department. In a small firm, you may have control over all the accounts of the business. You will have to develop financial statements and reports on a regular basis, which also involves making forecasts of future income or expenditures based on the current trends in the specific business you work with. In your duties, you will report to managers and supervisors about the finances of the company to allow them to make decisions about acquisitions, purchases and other aspects of the business.
Dealing with the financial transactions of the company will be a daily activity in the job of accounting supervisor. Your responsibilities in this role will include recording, classifying and summarizing financial transactions and ensure that they are in keeping with the both the company policies and governmental regulations. Therefore, you need a thorough knowledge of the laws pertaining to the operation of the business and the tax laws that must be adhered to.
Initiating journals and entering financial information into the database is another of the duties an accounting supervisor performs. There may be several accounts for which you have to enter information, which means you must develop and maintain an accurate record keeping system. You will deal with the general ledgers of the company, which means collecting information from several departments and reconciling their incomes and expenditures with that of the general ledger. You may have staff working for you that needs supervision and training. This is a job in which you must be able to multi-task and prioritize so you need exceptional organizational skills.
As accounting supervisor, your scope of responsibility demands that you have knowledge of the long and short-term goals of the company as well as its standards and working procedures. Another aspect of your responsibility is your decision-making authority within the company. Since you will be dealing with many different groups, you should be aware of the impact that some of these decisions will have on the rest of the staff. Acting with tact and diplomacy in interpersonal relationships is essential to keep the office running smoothly.
Along with the educational credentials you need for the position of accounting supervisor, you may also have to undergo a complete background check before you get hired for the position. You will have responsibility for allocating large amounts of money in your job and your employer will want to ensure that you are trustworthy. Privacy of information is also important as you must not disclose or make public any important financial information about the company.
