Finance & Accounting
A staff accountant handles daily bookkeeping and accounting tasks such as journal entries, reconciliations and subledger work. The role keeps the books current so the close runs smoothly and managers can trust the numbers.
Median pay
$83,680a year
Accountants and auditors, U.S. BLS, May 2025
The role
Companies hire one when the controller or owner is still doing routine accounting, when the close runs late, or when transaction volume has outgrown the current team.
Typical responsibilities
Core skills
Tools and systems
Related titles
Typical background
Usually a bachelor's degree in accounting and one to three years of experience; CPA candidates are common but not required.
At a glance
The essentials for planning the hire: level, background, how you can hire and what the role typically pays.
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FAQ
Straight answers to the questions employers and candidates ask about this role.
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A staff accountant handles daily bookkeeping and accounting tasks such as journal entries, reconciliations and subledger work. The role keeps the books current so the close runs smoothly and managers can trust the numbers. Typical responsibilities include: post journal entries and maintain supporting documentation; reconcile bank, credit card and balance sheet accounts; process accounts payable and receivable entries as needed.
Look for account reconciliations, journal entries, GAAP, month-end close, accruals and excel. Experience with QuickBooks, NetSuite, Sage Intacct, Excel and Bill.com is common in this role.
Yes. A staff accountant is one of the roles employers most often hire on contract, for projects, busy periods, leave cover and vacancies. Contract-to-hire is also an option if you want to work together before making a permanent offer.
A bookkeeper records transactions and reconciles accounts. A staff accountant also prepares adjusting entries, supports the close and understands GAAP. If you need financial statements that auditors or lenders will rely on, a staff accountant is usually the better fit.
Often not on its own. Someone needs to review the work and make accounting decisions. Pair a staff accountant with a controller, outside CPA or accounting manager so the books do not drift in the wrong direction.
Related roles
Every role in the practice is recruited by the same specialist team.
