Free accountant job description template
Fill in the [brackets] and cut anything that doesn’t fit your job. Unlock one-tap copy and PDF download free with your email.
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Accountant job description template · Fill in the [brackets]
Accountant
About the job
[Business name] is hiring an Accountant who prepares and examines financial records, computes taxes and helps the business understand its numbers. [One or two sentences about your business and why someone would want to work there.]
What you’ll do
- Examine financial statements to make sure they are accurate and follow laws and regulations
- Compute taxes owed, prepare returns and make sure taxes are paid correctly and on time
- Organize, analyze and maintain financial records
- Prepare monthly [and annual] financial statements
- Assess financial operations and identify risks
- Suggest ways to reduce costs and improve profits
- Work with [clients, owners or outside advisers] and explain the numbers clearly
What you need
- Bachelor's degree in accounting or a related field [or equivalent experience]
- Experience with [QuickBooks, Xero or other software]
- Strong attention to detail and confidentiality
- Comfortable working with [clients or owners] on deadlines
Nice to have
- CPA license
- Experience with [small business, tax or nonprofit clients]
How to apply
[Apply link, email or phone], by [date].
[Business name] is an equal opportunity employer.
✓ Unlocked. Use the buttons above the template to copy it or save it as a PDF.
Example: the template filled in for a small business
Hypothetical example for Hartwell & Sons Accounting, a six-person tax and bookkeeping practice.
Hartwell & Sons Accounting is hiring a Staff Accountant to prepare small business tax returns and monthly financial statements (full time, with extended hours January through April). You'll work with about 60 clients and report to the owner. A CPA license is a plus.
Notice what makes it work: real hours, the actual tools, who they report to, and one honest reason to want the job. That’s the difference between a blank template and a job description that gets the right applicants.
What an accountant does
An accountant prepares and examines financial records, computes taxes and helps the business understand its numbers. Typical duties include:
- Examine financial statements to make sure they are accurate and follow laws and regulations
- Compute taxes owed, prepare returns and make sure taxes are paid correctly and on time
- Organize, analyze and maintain financial records
- Prepare monthly and annual financial statements
- Assess financial operations and identify risks
- Suggest ways to reduce costs and improve profits
Duties adapted from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Requirements, training and licenses
Accountants typically need a bachelor's degree in accounting or a related field. A CPA license is required for accountants who file reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission; other accountants may pursue it to improve job prospects or gain clients.
Training: Bachelor's degree; some on-the-job training.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Accountants and Auditors.
How much does an accountant make?
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook. A median means half earned more and half earned less. Pay in your area may be higher or lower; check postings for similar jobs near you. A growing number of states and cities require a pay range in job postings, so check your local rules before you post.
Before you set the rate, run the free hiring cost calculator. It adds payroll taxes and other costs and shows how much work the hire needs to bring in to pay for itself.
Free template or written for you?
| Free template | Job Description $30 | Hiring Kit $299 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written for | Any business | Your business | Your business |
| Duties and schedule | Typical, with blanks | Yours, filled in | Yours, filled in |
| Pay | National figure | Set for your local market | Set for your local market |
| State rules | “Check your state” | Checked for your state | Checked for your state |
| Ready to post | No, you edit it | Yes | Yes, plus the job posting |
| Performance review form | — | Included free | Included |
| Interview guide and 30-60-90 day plan | — | — | Included |
| Use the template | Have us write it | Get the Hiring Kit |
Free template
- Typical duties with blanks to fill in
- National pay figure
- You edit it before posting
Job Description · $30
- Written for your business: your duties, schedule and pay
- Checked for your state’s rules
- Ready to post
- Free matching performance review form
Hiring Kit · $299
- Everything in the $30 job description
- The job posting
- Interview guide
- 30-60-90 day plan for the new hire
Fixed prices. See what’s included in Job Description Writing and the Hiring Kit.
Common questions
Do I need a CPA, or is an accountant enough?
That depends on the work. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a CPA license is required for accountants who file reports with the SEC, and others may pursue it to improve job prospects or gain clients. For a small business's books and tax returns, decide what your clients expect, and check your state's rules on who may use the CPA title.
Can I use this template for free?
Yes. Copy it, edit it and post it. It's a starting point written for any business, so fill in the brackets and adjust the duties to your actual job. If you'd rather have it written for your business, ready to post, our Job Description service is $30.
Is this legal advice?
No. This page is general information. Requirements for some roles, especially in healthcare, vary by state. Check your state's rules, and talk to an employment attorney if you're unsure.
Published by Groundwork Business Advisory. Updated October 2026. General information, not legal advice. Pay data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, May 2025 wage estimates.