Staff Accountant is one of the key positions in the Accounting Department of an organization, which involves the management of the payroll of the organization. The accountant looks after the financial accounts of all the staff members and ensures the smooth operations of this necessary function and report to their supervisors.
Pursuing a Career as a Staff Accountant
If you have an aptitude for accounting, have sound quantitative skills with an eye for detail and are studying accounting and finance, then you are all set to pursue your career as a Staff Accountant. The position involves the correct calculations of the disbursements and deductions in the payroll, accounting for employee benefits, deduction of income tax and submission of staff income tax, depending on the practices of the organization. The Staff Accountant is also responsible for monitoring the accuracy of the process.
Staff Accountant Career: Qualification, Courses, Training
The qualification of a Staff Accountant is not any different from the rest of the accounting jobs. All you need is a Bachelors degree in Accounting or Finance, or a related discipline with majors in Accounting. However, some organizations may require higher or lower qualification standards. An accounting certification can improve the chances of selection considerably for a candidate. This is an entry level position, but professionals with related work experience will be preferred most of the time.
Staff Accountant Career: Schools, Colleges, Universities
While you should concentrate on the best accounting schools for a career as a Staff Accountant, you could consider the following institutions as a few examples.
- Stanford University, Graduate School of Business, Stanford, CA
- Harvard University, Business School, Boston, MA
- Sloan School of Management, MIT, Cambridge, MA
- University of Chicago, Booth School of Business, Chicago, IL
- University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School, Philadelphia, PA
- University of California-Berkley, Haas School of Business, Berkley, CA
Staff Accountant Career: Job Opportunities, Salaries and Recruitment
All in all, the job opportunities for accountants look good at 22% for the period 2008-2018 as per the BLS, suggesting ample chances for those aiming to become Staff Accountants. Payroll accountants are among the highest paid ones with a median annual salary of $61,480.