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What is a senior accountant analyst and how to become one
Money, money, money. A senior accountant analyst spends a lot of time thinking about money. Senior accountant analysts often work on staff for a large business, such as a manufacturing company or university. They make sure that all of the business's financial transactions are on the money and accurate.
The day-to-day tasks of a senior accountant analyst usually involve a lot of paperwork. They can prepare or analyze reports about a company's finances and compliance with GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles). They also conduct internal audits and ensure the company is following any grant requirements they need to keep in mind.
The senior accountant analyst is responsible for making sure that a company's financial books are in order. They need to be highly qualified to hold a job with such responsibility. Often, a senior accountant analyst has a bachelor's degree, several years of experience in public accounting, and a CPA license.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Accountant Analyst?
Stephen Moehrle Ph.D.
Professor and Chairman of Accounting, University of Missouri - St. Louis
Most of the above remains true so the only open question is job availability. It would be unrealistic to say things are great. However, it seems that job prospects for accounting majors will be better than for those of virtually every other entry-level profession during difficult times. I have been speaking with firm leaders across the spectrum of firms and most do intend to be on campus in the fall recruiting season. Of course, they have a lot of time to learn more about the economy over the next few months, but we are cautiously optimistic. Again, I am confident that whatever the state of job availability for young CPAs-to-be, prospects will be better for accounting graduates than virtually any other profession.
They will be entering the profession at a fascinating moment in time. Of course, the technological advances assure this regardless of economic conditions. However, there are business disruption-related issues that will provide rich opportunities for making a difference. For example, audit staff will be working with clients to see them through these troubling times. Lamentably, I fear that these young professionals will learn more about the going concern determination than they desire to know. Tax staff will help clients to optimally use the tax loss carrybacks and carryforwards that are arising by the day. Entry level professionals in corporate accounting will get a day-to-day front row seat in business management through crisis. While lamentable times, these are times when young professionals can make a difference that saves jobs.
Avg. Salary $75,282
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth Rate 6%
Growth Rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.46%
Asian 14.09%
Black or African American 8.47%
Hispanic or Latino 10.80%
Unknown 3.95%
White 62.24%
Genderfemale 50.65%
male 49.35%
Age - 43American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 43Stress level is manageable
7.1 - high
Complexity Level is challenging
7 - challenging
Work Life balance is good
6.4 - fair
Senior Accountant Analyst career paths
Key steps to become a senior accountant analyst
Explore senior accountant analyst education requirements
Start to develop specific senior accountant analyst skills
Skills Percentages Reconciliations 11.23% External Auditors 5.13% Account Reconciliations 4.80% General Ledger Accounts 4.75% GAAP 4.61% Complete relevant senior accountant analyst training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New senior accountant analysts learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a senior accountant analyst based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real senior accountant analyst resumes.Research senior accountant analyst duties and responsibilities
- Develop and manage Sarbanes-Oxley compliance procedures.
- Manage complex pricing structure and maintain SalesForce CRM funnel for forecasting accuracy.
- Provide high-level financial analysis and accounting, conduct fixed asset analysis, variance analysis, account reconciliations, and month end-closes.
- Perform relevant SOX controls accurately and timely.
Get senior accountant analyst experience
Generally, it takes 2-4 years to become a senior accountant analyst. The most common roles before becoming a senior accountant analyst include senior accountant, staff accountant team lead and accountant.Prepare your senior accountant analyst resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your senior accountant analyst resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a senior accountant analyst resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
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Apply for senior accountant analyst jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a senior accountant analyst job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
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Average senior accountant analyst salary
The average Senior Accountant Analyst salary in the United States is $75,282 per year or $36 per hour. Senior accountant analyst salaries range between $58,000 and $97,000 per year.
What Am I Worth?
How do senior accountant analysts rate their job?
Senior Accountant Analyst reviews
Reporting to a CPA Controller or CFO, always learning and not micromanaged. Treated as a professional always.
Business owners that do not know or understand compliance and GAAP, or the patience to follow the rules... generally common in small companies.
It's an office job.
Everything else. Too much anxiety, debts, low sallary (€700/month).
I like when the numbers fall in to place. I enjoy helping clients reach their financial goals. I am great with client consultations. I appreciate the chance to help plan for a client's needs.
I dislike situations where no planning had been done. I am bothered when a client has an accounting problem that could have been avoided by proper planning.
Updated January 8, 2025
