What Does an Accountant Do?
Accountants keep the financial records of a business, nonprofit or government agency accurate and explain what those records say. At a company they close the books each month, reconcile bank and balance sheet accounts, record accruals and prepare financial statements for management. At a public accounting firm they prepare tax returns or audit clients' books, testing transactions and controls. Their work feeds tax filings, lender reporting, budgets and decisions about pricing or spending. Deadlines drive the calendar, with crunches at month-end, year-end and tax season.
Other Job Titles for This Work
Workers in this occupation report titles such as Accounting Officer, Audit Partner, Auditor, Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Cost Accountant, Financial Auditor, General Accountant, Internal Auditor.
Accountant Duties and Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of an accountant include:
- Post journal entries for accruals, prepaid expenses, depreciation and other month-end adjustments.
- Reconcile bank, credit card, payroll and balance sheet accounts and track down unexplained differences.
- Prepare monthly and annual financial statements and explain significant variances to managers.
- Prepare or review federal, state and sales tax returns along with their supporting workpapers.
- Test internal controls such as approval limits and separation of duties, and recommend fixes where they are weak.
- Pull invoices, contracts and canceled checks to support account balances during audits.
- Maintain fixed asset, inventory and accounts payable records in QuickBooks, SAP or another accounting system.
- Build budgets and forecasts in Microsoft Excel with department heads.
- Prepare schedules and answer questions for external auditors, lenders and tax authorities.
- Track changes in accounting standards and tax law that affect the organization's books.
Required Skills and Qualifications
To succeed as an accountant, you will need the following skills and qualifications:
- Solid grasp of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and double-entry bookkeeping
- Advanced Microsoft Excel, including lookups, pivot tables and reconciliations that someone else can follow
- Experience with accounting systems such as Intuit QuickBooks or SAP software, and data tools like Alteryx for large datasets
- Federal and state tax knowledge for business or individual returns, depending on the role
- The Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license for public accounting, audit and senior corporate roles
- A skeptical eye for numbers that look too clean, duplicated or out of pattern
- Explaining a variance to a nonfinancial manager without jargon
- Discipline with close calendars and filing deadlines
Education and Training
A bachelor's degree in accounting is the standard entry point, covering financial and managerial accounting, auditing, tax and business law. Graduates usually start as staff accountants in a company finance department or as associates at a public accounting firm. To become a CPA you must pass the Uniform CPA Examination and meet your state's education and experience rules, which in most states call for credit hours beyond a typical bachelor's degree or additional experience, along with supervised work under a licensed CPA. Some accountants earn a master's in accounting to meet those hours. Other credentials, such as the Certified Management Accountant, suit corporate finance careers.
Salary and Job Outlook
Typical pay: $67,020 - $109,810 per year, with a median of $83,680.
The range covers the middle half of earners nationwide. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Accountants and Auditors.
BLS projects employment of accountants and auditors to grow about 5 percent from 2025 to 2035, with about 115,300 openings a year. As the economy grows and regulations become more complex, the demand for qualified accountants remains strong.
Outlook source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, Accountants and auditors.
Accountant Pay Range
| Earners | Annual pay |
|---|---|
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $56,020 |
| Bottom 25% earn less than | $67,020 |
| Median (half earn more, half less) | $83,680 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $109,810 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $144,090 |
Highest-Paying States for Accountants
The states with the highest median pay for this occupation are District of Columbia ($111,530), New York ($102,640), New Jersey ($100,830), Massachusetts ($99,460), Connecticut ($97,550). Pay is lowest in Nebraska ($72,080), Mississippi ($68,100), Arkansas ($66,330).
Median pay in all 51 states with BLS data
| State | Median annual pay |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $74,880 |
| Alaska | $83,460 |
| Arizona | $79,970 |
| Arkansas | $66,330 |
| California | $97,050 |
| Colorado | $97,030 |
| Connecticut | $97,550 |
| Delaware | $95,020 |
| District of Columbia | $111,530 |
| Florida | $79,250 |
| Georgia | $81,900 |
| Hawaii | $74,500 |
| Idaho | $74,730 |
| Illinois | $80,230 |
| Indiana | $77,720 |
| Iowa | $77,440 |
| Kansas | $79,000 |
| Kentucky | $75,270 |
| Louisiana | $73,810 |
| Maine | $77,480 |
| Maryland | $89,370 |
| Massachusetts | $99,460 |
| Michigan | $78,820 |
| Minnesota | $81,600 |
| Mississippi | $68,100 |
| Missouri | $76,590 |
| Montana | $75,810 |
| Nebraska | $72,080 |
| Nevada | $81,600 |
| New Hampshire | $83,470 |
| New Jersey | $100,830 |
| New Mexico | $78,580 |
| New York | $102,640 |
| North Carolina | $82,050 |
| North Dakota | $75,730 |
| Ohio | $79,320 |
| Oklahoma | $79,370 |
| Oregon | $85,800 |
| Pennsylvania | $79,000 |
| Rhode Island | $95,820 |
| South Carolina | $76,560 |
| South Dakota | $78,880 |
| Tennessee | $76,840 |
| Texas | $80,920 |
| Utah | $79,990 |
| Vermont | $78,890 |
| Virginia | $93,290 |
| Washington | $96,550 |
| West Virginia | $73,320 |
| Wisconsin | $79,400 |
| Wyoming | $77,620 |
Tools and Software Accountants Use
Tools and equipment
Software
Is This Job a Good Fit for You?
People who do well in this job tend to enjoy organized work with data, records and clear procedures as well as leading, persuading and making business decisions.
Skills O*NET rates most important: Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking, Writing, Judgment and Decision Making.
Knowledge areas used most: Economics and Accounting, English Language, Mathematics, Administration and Management, Customer and Personal Service.
Preparation: O*NET places this occupation in Job Zone 4 of 5, which means considerable preparation.
Related Careers
These jobs use similar skills, according to O*NET's related-occupation data:
Applying for an Accountant Job
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Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035.
- O*NET 30.1 Database, occupation 13-2011.00 (Accountants and Auditors). View on O*NET OnLine.
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