To become a senior financial accountant, a four-year accounting degree is required, along with experience in accounts receivable, accounts payable, or accounting. Senior accountants should have excellent computer skills and be able to supervise others. They perform work associated with financial audits and must understand the theory behind their job. Gaining experience in financial reporting and the general ledger can increase chances of becoming a senior financial accountant.
To become a senior financial accountant, a four-year degree in accounting is usually required. It is common for an accountant to move into this position after three to five years in the job. In most countries, many senior accountants hold a master’s degree and/or are certified as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Certified Management Accountant (CMA). Most have excellent computer skills, especially with spreadsheets, the number one tool for many professional accountants.
Plans to become a senior financial accountant should include gaining a variety of experience in certain areas. You can become a senior accountant in accounts receivable, accounts payable or accounting. The key to joining a senior role is being able to learn and perform tasks, so you can coach others. It is not uncommon for senior accountants to supervise accountants and secretarial staff, making good communication skills a must.
If you have a four-year degree and some accounting or bookkeeping experience, the next step is to prove that you can do senior-level work. Senior financial accountants know why they perform certain tasks and how those tasks relate to other accounting processes. They know the theory behind the job and don’t need to be trained in basic accounting processes. Senior financial accountants ask questions about their work to ensure they understand what they’re doing and why.
Senior accountants typically perform work associated with financial audits, including special scheduling and reconciliations. They can work directly with auditors and answer questions about financial processes and accounting issues such as reasons for adjustments, discrepancies, account analysis and reporting. They have the expertise to understand audit questions and respond to them in a professional manner, avoiding overly emotional responses or immature remarks. They may need to research questions or get answers from staff members.
If you’re serious about becoming a senior accountant, you should look for challenges on the job and ask questions to really fully learn the processes. You should become familiar with the general ledger and how it works in computerized reporting. The closer you are to financial reporting, the better your chances of becoming a senior financial accountant. If you’re working in accounts receivable, for example, learn how accounts receivable transactions affect the ledger. There are many ways to gain a senior position, and the combination of education and experience provides many with the path to that job.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
