Staff Accountant Career Guide and Counseling

Question: What is the difference between an accounting clerk, accounting technician and staff accountant? I was so happy that I found a job in public accounting, however, they gave me an "Accounting Technician" title and I am pursuing a professional accounting designation. Will I ever get a chance to become a "Staff Accountant" instead? Is "Accounting Technician" a position below what a Business degree in Accounting graduate should be getting? Like I am in a three months probation, do you think after three months if i can pass the probation, then I can become a "Staff Accountant"? Thank you.

Answer: From a UK perspective we have three or four categories: Unqualified Qualified by experience Accounting Technician CCAB Qualified Accountant Accounting Technician is a distinct qualification offered by The Association of Accounting Technicians. Qualified Accountants are usually Chartered Accountants, Chartered Management Accountants, Chartered Certified Accountants or Chartered Public Finance Accountants Qualified Accountants qualification is more advanced than a degree. Hope this helps

Question: What exactly does a staff accountant do at a public cpa firm? private? Once I am a staff accountant what are some key responsibilities which I can add to my resume ? thanks

Answer: you'll find out when you start working-mind numbing number crunching, bank and account reconciliations, asking clients inane questions about seemingly immaterial items, being faced with deadlines all the time, no time off at the beginning of any month, no time off and lots of OT in first qtr of every year if you work in public accounting - it's all just a blast

Question: Where to find a STAFF ACCOUNTANT? I need to find a GOOD Staff Accountant in N.NJ. CPA would be a plus. Besides the job boards, can anyone recommend any other groups, networks or resources that might put me in touch with them? Any Big Four groups would be perfect.

Answer: Contact your local CPA professional organizations, like Board of Accountancy and NJ State CPA Association, NJ Society of CPA. http://www.aicpa.org/states/info/nj.htm http://www.njscpa.org/ Good niche job sites and for Big 4 public accounting firms: www.big4.com, www.jobsinthemoney.com Best wishes.

Question: I am a staff accountant. After 2.5 years, is it okay to look for a higher paying accounting position? I was hired as a junior accountant and after 1 year I was promoted to staff accountant. I did not have any formal experience besides school.

Answer: yep, you put in your time, now you have the experience. must ask yourself, are your skills better? Can you do the job well? Have you been upgrading?

Question: What is the difference between a staff accountant and a regular accountant? Are the job qualifications different as well as job descriptions?

Answer: A staff accountant is an entry level position. As a hiring manager once explained in one of my Accounting classes "a staff accountant doesn't know anything about the real world, that person is here to learn. The Sr staff accountant has learned how to work the adding machine and is working towards finding their niche, or specialty." Now, that was in the context of a CPA firm. In companies, most Accountants will have titles of staff accountant, Sr staff accountant, or an accounting manager. Again, staff accountant is entry level. But really, Staff Accountant Vs Accountant in companies is mostly just a matter of what titles companies choose to use for their staff. You shouldn't be so concerned with title, just look at the job duties & compensation.

Question: What do you do if your a staff accountant and have found shortcuts? to make your job more efficient and find your self with a lot of free time and continously ask your boss for more work but the task you get still are not as time consuming but I am fearful that if I keep on asking for more work the company is going to think that my position is not that productive and want to downsize?

Answer: First, double check and triple check your work. Make sure you have dotted your i's and crossed your t's. Also, make sure your debits equal your credits, your reconciliations foot and your balance sheet really balances. Then, once you are sure your work is top notch, ask for more work. Your supervisor will not be impressed if you do your work quickly but down the road errors are found. On the other hand if you produce 1st class work in less time than expected, make sure your supervisor is aware! Good luck!

Question: I was downsized in 2003 as a Staff Accountant and have been out of work since.? I had to take care of my eldery parents .I am now free of this responsibilitiy and am trying to get back into my Profrssion as a Staff Accountant or Bookkeeper. I also worked as a Check Processing manager at JP Morgan Chase and have 30 years experience in a Profit and Non-for Profit Organization. I see the qualifications required for the jobs posted and I have them and the salaries they offer is within the range I need to pay off bills and save for the future. But with all the experience I have I cannot land employment. Please Advice.

Answer: You need to look in a mirror. The demand for accountants is there. You must be doing something to put off all of the potential employers.

Question: How many months does it take for a recent accounting grad to achieve proficiency as a staff accountant ?

Answer: At my CPA firm we set the bar at one year. This is to ensure that the new hire has gone through the entire auditing cycle.

Question: What is the average starting salary for a staff accountant? ? In an accounting department, non-public accounting.

Answer: 35,000-40,000 depending on the area

Question: Staff Accountant or Accounting Advisor? Which is better job? pay more? advancement? What they do usually?

Answer: Be a staff accountant because you will do the actual gritty accounting work. Get good at it and then you do whatever you want and be an accounting advisor if you want (not sure what an accounting advisor is). I graduated from college with a degree in accounting in 2006, worked 1 year as an accountant for $30k a year in a small cowboy town and then moved onto a CPA office making $40k. When I pass the CPA licensing and become a CPA, based on the work we have, I should be making $80k a year. Sounds good to me!