Accounting analyst job description templates: junior, senior, cost, and revenue roles, with an FLSA exempt vs non-exempt decision aid and BLS salary data.
6 templates from junior to senior, plus cost and revenue specializations, with the FLSA exempt vs non-exempt decision aid and a BLS salary band the generic templates skip. Download as DOCX.
An accounting analyst turns financial data into something a business can act on: reconciliations, the month-end close, reporting, and variance analysis that show leadership where the numbers stand. It is a role that spans a wide range, from a junior doing supervised reconciliations to a senior leading the close and advising leadership. Hiring one well means getting two things right that nearly every template skips. The first is the FLSA classification, which for this role is a genuine decision: most analysts are exempt, but a routine junior role may not be. The second is a realistic, level-appropriate salary range.
At FirstHR, we build templates for the growing companies that handle hiring themselves, including the founder making a first dedicated finance hire. The six templates below span the range, from junior to senior plus cost and revenue specializations, with the FLSA classification and salary guidance competitors leave out. For the fundamentals behind any posting, the guide to writing a job description is a useful companion.
TL;DR
An accounting analyst reconciles accounts, supports the month-end close, prepares reports, and runs variance analysis. The FLSA classification is a genuine decision: most analysts are exempt under the learned professional test, but a routine, supervised junior role can be non-exempt and owed overtime. The closest federal occupation reports a median wage of $81,680, with juniors lower and seniors often $90,000 to $120,000. Download six templates as DOCX, from junior to senior plus cost and revenue specializations, with FLSA and salary guidance built in.
What an Accounting Analyst Does
An accounting analyst analyzes and interprets financial data to keep accounting accurate and timely: reconciling accounts, supporting the month-end close, preparing reports, running variance analysis, and maintaining GAAP compliance. The role sits between routine bookkeeping and forward-looking financial planning.
The closest federal occupation is accountants and auditors, who examine, analyze, and interpret accounting records to prepare financial statements and give advice. The role is more analytical than a bookkeeper and more accounting-grounded than a financial analyst, who focuses on forward-looking planning. The scope shifts sharply with level and specialization, which the templates below reflect.
Accounting Analyst Duties and Responsibilities
Accounting analyst duties cluster into four areas: analysis and reporting, close and reconciliation, budgeting and forecasting, and controls and compliance. A strong job description picks the specific responsibilities from each area that match the level and specialization, rather than listing every possible task.
Analysis and reporting
Analyze and interpret financial data
Prepare reports and financial statements
Run variance analysis against budget
Close and reconciliation
Reconcile general ledger accounts
Support month-end and year-end close
Resolve discrepancies and errors
Budgeting and forecasting
Support budgeting and forecasting
Model scenarios and outcomes
Track actuals against plan
Controls and compliance
Maintain GAAP compliance
Support internal controls
Keep audit-ready documentation
The weights shift with seniority and focus: supervised reconciliation for a junior, financial modeling and the close for a senior, costing for a manufacturing role. For a structured way to scope the role, the guide to defining job responsibilities walks through the process.
Accounting Analyst Levels and Related Roles
The accounting analyst title spans several levels and blurs into nearby roles, and the differences drive scope, pay, and FLSA classification. Placing them side by side helps you hire at the right level and pick the right title before posting.
Role
Scope
Typical pay
FLSA (typical)
Junior Accounting Analyst
Supervised reconciliation and entry
Lower (around $50K to $65K)
May be non-exempt
Accounting Analyst
Analysis, close, and reporting
Mid (BLS $81,680 median)
Usually exempt
Senior Accounting Analyst
Leads close, models, mentors
Higher ($90K to $120K)
Exempt
Accounting Manager
Owns the function and team
Higher still
Exempt
For the adjacent roles, an accounting manager owns the function and team, a junior accountant covers entry-level accounting, and a cost accountant serves manufacturing. Choose the title that matches the real scope and seniority.
Which Template Should You Use?
Pick the template by the level and specialization you need. The six versions span the full range, from a junior analyst to a senior one, plus cost and revenue specializations and a small-business first finance hire.
Standard Accounting Analyst
General finance team
The universal baseline: financial analysis, reconciliations, month-end close, reporting, and variance analysis for an existing finance team.
Junior / Entry-Level
0 to 2 years
The early-career version: supervised transaction and reconciliation work with a growth path. Includes the FLSA note for a routine role.
Senior Accounting Analyst
5+ years, CPA preferred
The senior version: leads the close, builds models, exercises independent judgment, and mentors juniors. Clearly exempt.
Cost Accounting Analyst
Manufacturing
The manufacturing version: standard costing, COGS, variance analysis, and inventory valuation for a production operation.
Revenue / AR Analyst
SaaS, ASC 606
The SaaS version: revenue recognition under ASC 606, deferred revenue, and AR for a subscription business.
First Finance Hire
Small business
The version no competitor offers: a small company's first dedicated finance hire who builds the books and the processes from scratch.
Match the Template to the Level and Specialization
A general finance-team analyst: Standard. An early-career hire: Junior / Entry-Level. An experienced, autonomous analyst: Senior. A manufacturing role: Cost Accounting Analyst. A SaaS revenue role: Revenue / AR Analyst. A small company's first dedicated finance hire: First Finance Hire. For a routine junior role, default the classification to non-exempt.
6 Accounting Analyst Job Description Templates
Download all six as a single Word document or copy individual templates. Each follows the same structure: company and role summary, key responsibilities, qualifications, compensation, and how to apply, with an EEO statement. Fill in the brackets and post.
Download All 6 Job Description Templates
Standard, junior, senior, cost accounting, revenue, and first finance hire. All in one DOCX.
Template 1: Standard Accounting Analyst
The universal baseline: financial analysis, reconciliations, month-end close, reporting, and variance analysis for an existing finance team.
Accounting Analyst Job Description (Standard)
ACCOUNTING ANALYST JOB DESCRIPTION
Company: __
Location: __ ([City, State] / Hybrid)
Reports to: __ (Accounting Manager / Controller)
Employment type: [ ] Full-time
FLSA status: Confirm by duties (commonly exempt; see compliance note)
Salary range: $_____ to $_____ per year
ABOUT [COMPANY NAME]
[One or two sentences about your company and the finance team this analyst will
join.]
ROLE SUMMARY
[Company Name] is hiring an Accounting Analyst to analyze financial data, support
the month-end close, and help keep our accounting accurate and timely. You will
reconcile accounts, prepare reports, run variance analysis, and support budgeting,
giving leadership a clear view of the numbers.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Analyze and interpret financial data
•Reconcile general ledger accounts
•Support the month-end and year-end close
•Prepare financial reports and statements
•Run variance analysis against budget and forecast
•Support budgeting and forecasting
•Maintain accuracy and GAAP compliance
•Identify and resolve discrepancies
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or related field
•[2]+ years of accounting or analysis experience
•Strong knowledge of GAAP and accounting principles
•Proficiency with Excel (VLOOKUP, pivot tables)
•Experience with accounting software (QuickBooks, NetSuite)
Template 5: Revenue / AR Accounting Analyst (SaaS)
The SaaS version: revenue recognition under ASC 606, deferred revenue, and AR reconciliation for a subscription business.
Revenue / AR Accounting Analyst Job Description (SaaS)
REVENUE / AR ACCOUNTING ANALYST JOB DESCRIPTION (SAAS)
Company: __
Location: __ ([City, State] / Remote)
Reports to: Revenue Accounting Manager / Controller
Employment type: [ ] Full-time
FLSA status: Confirm by duties (commonly exempt; see compliance note)
Salary range: $_____ to $_____ per year
ROLE SUMMARY
[Company Name] is hiring a Revenue Accounting Analyst to own revenue recognition
and accounts receivable for our subscription business. You will apply ASC 606,
manage deferred revenue, reconcile AR, and keep our revenue accounting accurate
and audit-ready.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Execute revenue recognition under ASC 606
•Manage deferred revenue roll-forwards
•Reconcile revenue, deferred revenue, AR, and unbilled AR
•Review contracts and allocate standalone selling price
•Support the monthly revenue close
•Analyze revenue KPIs and variances
•Support billing and collections processes
•Maintain audit-ready documentation
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance
•[2]+ years in revenue accounting or AR
•Working knowledge of ASC 606 and GAAP
•Experience with NetSuite or a billing system
•Strong reconciliation and Excel skills
•[CPA preferred]
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Salary range: $_____ to $_____ per year
To apply, send your resume to __.
[Company Name] is an equal opportunity employer.
Template 6: First Finance Hire (Small Business)
The version no competitor offers: a small company's first dedicated finance hire who builds the books and the processes from scratch.
First Finance Hire Job Description (Small Business)
FIRST FINANCE HIRE JOB DESCRIPTION (SMALL BUSINESS)
Company: __
Location: __ ([City, State])
Reports to: Founder / CFO
Employment type: [ ] Full-time
FLSA status: Confirm by duties (analysis and judgment lean exempt; routine bookkeeping may be non-exempt; see compliance note)
Salary range: $_____ to $_____ per year
WHY THIS ROLE NOW
[As we grow, our finances have outgrown outsourced bookkeeping and spreadsheets.
This is our first dedicated finance hire. You will build our accounting processes
from the ground up and give us a real, timely view of the numbers.]
ROLE SUMMARY
[Company Name] is hiring its first dedicated finance person, a hands-on Accounting
Analyst who blends analysis with full-cycle accounting. You will own the books and
the analysis: month-end close, AP and AR, cash flow reporting, and the financial
reporting our founder needs, while setting up the processes a growing company
relies on.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Own full-cycle bookkeeping and analysis
•Run the month-end close
•Manage accounts payable and receivable
•Report on cash flow and key metrics
•Set up and maintain the chart of accounts
•Coordinate payroll with the provider
•Prepare financial reporting for the founder
•Build simple, repeatable finance processes
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance
•[2 to 4] years of broad, hands-on accounting experience
•Comfortable owning the books end to end
•Proficiency with QuickBooks or Xero and Excel
•Self-starter who can build process from scratch
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Salary range: $_____ to $_____ per year
To apply, send your resume to __.
[Company Name] is an equal opportunity employer.
FLSA Classification and Pay Transparency
This is the part the generic templates skip, and for an accounting analyst it carries a real subtlety: most analysts are exempt, but a routine junior role may not be, and the line turns on the actual duties. Get the classification right and your posting attracts the right candidates and protects your business.
FLSA: most accounting analysts are exempt, under the learned professional test
An accounting analyst is usually exempt from overtime, and the learned professional exemption is the typical basis. The Department of Labor includes accounting in the field of science or learning, and its regulations state that certified public accountants generally meet the duties test, and that many accountants who are not CPAs but perform similar work may also qualify. An analyst with a bachelor's degree in accounting or finance and a couple of years of experience, applying advanced knowledge to analysis and judgment, generally meets the test. The role must also be paid on a salary basis at or above the federal threshold, which accounting analyst salaries clear comfortably. The administrative exemption can also apply to senior analysts who interpret data and advise on matters of significance. Classify by the real duties. This is general information, not legal advice.
The junior, routine exception: when an analyst is non-exempt
The exemption is not automatic, and the title alone does not decide it. The same DOL regulation is explicit that accounting clerks, bookkeepers, and employees who perform a great deal of routine work generally do not qualify as exempt professionals. So a junior analyst whose work is mostly routine data entry and reconciliation under close supervision, without independent judgment and sometimes without a degree, can be non-exempt and owed overtime. Real employers have classified analyst-titled roles as non-exempt for exactly this reason. The practical rule is to look at what the person actually does: advanced analysis and independent judgment lean exempt, while routine, closely supervised processing leans non-exempt. When in doubt for a junior role, treat it as non-exempt and pay overtime. This is general information, not legal advice.
Pay transparency: post a good-faith salary range
A growing number of states require a salary range in job postings, and several thresholds are low enough to reach small employers, including Colorado at one or more employees, New York at four or more, and Vermont at five or more. For an accounting analyst, post a good-faith annual salary range, and for a junior role classified as non-exempt, an hourly range. A remote posting open to applicants in states with transparency laws can trigger those rules regardless of where the company is based. Beyond compliance, a posted range improves candidate quality and saves time, which matters in a competitive finance market. Confirm the rules for the states you hire in. This is general information, not legal advice.
Degree, CPA, and what to actually require
Most accounting analyst roles call for a bachelor's degree in accounting or finance, which is also part of what supports the learned professional exemption. A CPA is commonly preferred rather than required, and is more expected at the senior level, while a CMA fits cost-accounting roles. Be deliberate about what you require versus prefer, since over-specifying narrows the candidate pool and under-specifying invites mismatches. For most growing companies, a degree plus relevant experience and strong Excel and GAAP knowledge is the right bar, with the CPA as a preferred credential. Match the requirements to the seniority and the real work, not to the most impressive list you can write. This is general information, not legal advice.
Exempt by Default, with a Junior Exception
The Department of Labor's learned professional exemption treats CPAs and many accountants applying advanced knowledge as exempt. The same rule says accounting clerks, bookkeepers, and employees doing routine work generally do not qualify, so a routine, supervised junior analyst can be non-exempt and owed overtime. Classify by the real duties, not the title.
For more on how the exemption tests work, the Fair Labor Standards Act overview explains the learned professional and administrative exemptions and how classification turns on duties rather than the job title.
Skills and Qualifications
Accounting hiring rewards analytical skill and GAAP knowledge over any single credential, which makes stating the real requirements concretely the job of the posting. Match the requirements to the level and specialization.
Requirement
What to look for
Education
Bachelor's in accounting or finance
Core accounting
GL reconciliation, month-end close, GAAP
Analysis
Variance analysis and financial reporting
Software
Excel plus QuickBooks, NetSuite, or SAP
Certification
CPA preferred; CMA for cost roles
Classification
Usually exempt; routine junior roles may be non-exempt
Keep the posting neutral and inclusive, since the EEOC prohibits job advertisements that show a preference based on a protected characteristic, and the SHRM guide covers the standard sections of a job description.
Accounting Analyst Salary
Accounting analyst pay varies widely by seniority and specialization. Use government data as a baseline, then adjust for the level, the market, and any CPA premium.
Median $81,680 (BLS, May 2024)
The closest federal occupation, accountants and auditors, had a median annual wage of $81,680 as of the May 2024 data, with the lowest 10 percent under $52,780 and the highest 10 percent over $141,420 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). A junior analyst typically falls in the lower part of that range and a senior analyst higher, commonly $90,000 to $120,000.
Cost and revenue specializations and major metros tend to pay more, and a CPA adds a premium. Employment of accountants and auditors is projected to grow about 5 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than average, with roughly 124,200 openings a year, so finance talent stays in demand. National compensation surveys can help calibrate a range for the level and market. Post a good-faith range where required.
Hiring Your First Finance Person
For many growing companies, the accounting analyst is the first dedicated finance hire, the point where outsourced bookkeeping and spreadsheets stop keeping up. Here is how to write the posting for that milestone, and the realities the generic enterprise templates miss.
The first finance hire is a real milestone for a growing company
Many growing companies reach a point where outsourced bookkeeping and spreadsheets stop keeping up, and the founder needs a real, timely view of the numbers. That is when the first dedicated finance hire happens, often a hands-on accounting analyst who blends analysis with full-cycle accounting. It tends to happen as transaction volume climbs and the business crosses into needing internal financial processes, common in professional services, SaaS after a funding round, manufacturing, and growing e-commerce. None of the generic templates speak to that moment. The templates here include a first-finance-hire version written for it, framed around owning the books and building the processes a growing company relies on.
Match the title and seniority to the real scope, since analyst means many things
Accounting analyst spans a wide range, from a junior doing supervised reconciliations to a senior leading the close and advising leadership, and the title also blurs into staff accountant, cost accountant, and financial analyst. What actually changes the role is the seniority and the specialization. A junior is a supervised, sometimes non-exempt support role; a senior is an independent, clearly exempt one; a cost analyst serves manufacturing; a revenue analyst serves SaaS. Rather than agonize over the exact title, pick the variation that matches the scope and seniority you need, and write a clear duties list. The seniority and specialization matter far more than the precise label on the posting.
Onboarding a finance hire means access, controls, and the right paperwork
A finance hire touches sensitive systems and money, so onboarding is as much about access and controls as paperwork. It means a signed offer letter with the classification and salary stated clearly, the new hire paperwork, access to accounting software and banking with the right permissions, and an orientation to the chart of accounts, close process, and approval policies. FirstHR fits this people side for a growing business: e-signature for the offer letter, document management for financial policies and SOPs, task workflows for the access-and-controls onboarding checklist, and an org chart and employee database to place the role. To be clear about scope, FirstHR is an onboarding and HR platform, and it does not run payroll, keep your books, or administer benefits, so pair it with your accounting and payroll systems. Applicant tracking is coming soon.
The job description is step one. Once a candidate accepts, the same document becomes the basis for the offer and a controls-aware onboarding, starting with the new hire paperwork. Because a finance hire touches sensitive systems and money, onboarding is a real handoff of access and controls on top of the usual steps.
Send the offer
Confirm the role, salary, the FLSA classification, and the start date in writing. An offer letter template makes this fast.
Set up access and controls
Accounting software, banking, and approval permissions, granted with the right controls before day one.
Orient to the processes
Walk the new analyst through the chart of accounts, the close process, and approval and reporting policies.
Store the records
Keep the signed offer, the I-9, and financial policy acknowledgments organized and easy to find in one system.
Once your offer is ready, the offer letter template handles the next step, and an onboarding template structures the first weeks. FirstHR connects the offer, paperwork, e-signatures, and document management in one place, so a growing business can manage the full process from job description to a fully onboarded finance hire, including the access-and-controls checklist. FirstHR is an onboarding and HR platform, and it does not run payroll, keep your books, or administer benefits, so connect those separately. Applicant tracking is coming soon to FirstHR.
Key Takeaways
Match the template to the level and specialization: junior, standard, senior, cost, revenue, or a first finance hire.
The FLSA classification is a genuine decision: most analysts are exempt under the learned professional test, but a routine junior role may be non-exempt.
The learned professional exemption covers CPAs and accountants applying advanced knowledge, but excludes clerks, bookkeepers, and routine work.
The BLS median is $81,680, with juniors lower (around $50K to $65K) and seniors higher ($90K to $120K).
Require a relevant degree, prefer a CPA where appropriate, and post a good-faith salary range as pay-transparency laws increasingly require.
The accounting analyst is often a growing company's first dedicated finance hire, blending full-cycle accounting with analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does an accounting analyst do?
An accounting analyst analyzes and interprets financial data to support accurate, timely accounting. Day to day, that means reconciling general ledger accounts, supporting the month-end and year-end close, preparing financial reports and statements, running variance analysis against budget and forecast, supporting budgeting, and maintaining GAAP compliance. The role sits between routine bookkeeping and higher-level financial planning: more analytical than a clerk, more accounting-focused than a financial analyst. The exact mix varies by level and specialization. A junior analyst records transactions and reconciles accounts under supervision; a senior analyst leads the close, builds models, and advises leadership; a cost analyst focuses on manufacturing costing; a revenue analyst handles revenue recognition. The closest federal occupation is accountants and auditors, which the Bureau of Labor Statistics describes as examining, analyzing, and interpreting accounting records.
Is an accounting analyst exempt or non-exempt under the FLSA?
Most accounting analysts are exempt, but it depends on the duties, and a junior, routine role can be non-exempt. The learned professional exemption is the usual basis: the Department of Labor includes accounting in the field of science or learning, and its regulations state that CPAs generally meet the duties test, as do many accountants who perform similar work applying advanced knowledge. An analyst with a relevant degree and experience, exercising judgment in analysis, generally qualifies, provided they are paid on a salary basis at or above the federal threshold, which accounting analyst pay clears. However, the same regulation says accounting clerks, bookkeepers, and employees doing a great deal of routine work generally do not qualify. So a junior analyst doing mostly routine, supervised processing can be non-exempt and owed overtime. Classify by the actual duties, not the title. This is general information, not legal advice.
Can a junior accounting analyst be non-exempt?
Yes. While senior accounting analysts are clearly exempt, a junior analyst whose work is mostly routine can be non-exempt and entitled to overtime. The Department of Labor's learned professional regulation specifically excludes accounting clerks, bookkeepers, and employees who perform a great deal of routine work from the exemption. A junior analyst doing data entry, basic reconciliations, and transaction processing under close supervision, without exercising independent judgment on matters of significance, looks more like that excluded group than like an exempt professional. Real employers have classified analyst-titled roles as non-exempt for this reason. The safe approach for a clearly routine junior role is to treat it as non-exempt, pay overtime for hours over forty in a week, and revisit the classification as the role takes on genuine analysis and judgment. This is general information, not legal advice.
What is the difference between an accounting analyst and a financial analyst?
The two overlap but focus on different things. An accounting analyst works inside the accounting function: reconciliations, the month-end close, GAAP compliance, and analysis of recorded financial data, looking mostly backward at what has happened. A financial analyst works more in financial planning and analysis, building forecasts, models, and forward-looking analysis to guide business decisions, often in an FP&A team rather than accounting. Pay reflects the difference, with financial analysts typically earning more at the median. In a small company the two can blend into one role, but as a company grows they separate. Choose the title that matches whether the role is grounded in accounting and the close or in forward-looking planning and modeling. This is general information, not legal advice.
How much does an accounting analyst make?
Accounting analyst pay varies widely by seniority and specialization. The closest federal occupation, accountants and auditors, had a median annual wage of $81,680 as of the May 2024 data, with the lowest 10 percent under $52,780 and the highest 10 percent over $141,420. In practice, a junior accounting analyst typically falls in the lower part of that range, often around $50,000 to $65,000, a mid-level analyst in the middle, and a senior analyst higher, commonly $90,000 to $120,000. Cost and revenue specializations and major metros tend to pay more, and a CPA adds a premium. Because accounting roles concentrate in pay-transparency states, post a good-faith salary range matched to the level. Benchmark to the seniority and specialization you actually need. This is general information, not legal advice.
What skills should an accounting analyst have?
Accounting analyst hiring rewards analytical skill and accounting knowledge over any single credential. Core skills include general ledger reconciliation, month-end close, variance analysis, and a solid grasp of GAAP, paired with strong Excel ability including VLOOKUP, pivot tables, and increasingly Power Query. Familiarity with accounting software such as QuickBooks, NetSuite, or SAP matters, and analytics tools like Power BI or Tableau are a growing plus. For specialized roles, add standard costing and inventory analysis for cost accounting, or ASC 606 revenue recognition for SaaS revenue roles. A bachelor's degree in accounting or finance is standard, with a CPA preferred and more expected at senior levels. Prioritize candidates who combine accuracy, analytical judgment, and clear communication. This is general information, not legal advice.
What should an accounting analyst job description include?
A strong accounting analyst job description names the level and any specialization, since junior, senior, cost, and revenue roles differ, and includes a company overview, a role summary, and responsibilities grouped into analysis and reporting, close and reconciliation, budgeting, and controls and compliance. The additions that generic templates skip and that matter most are the FLSA classification stated honestly based on the real duties, since most analysts are exempt but junior routine roles may not be, and a good-faith salary range that satisfies pay-transparency rules. List the required degree and software, the CPA as preferred where appropriate, the reporting line, an equal opportunity statement, and clear apply instructions. Matching the template to the real level and specialization attracts qualified candidates. This is general information, not legal advice.
Does a small business need an accounting analyst?
Often yes, once outsourced bookkeeping and spreadsheets stop keeping up. Many growing companies reach a point where transaction volume and complexity demand a dedicated finance person who can both keep the books and analyze the numbers. That first finance hire is frequently a hands-on accounting analyst who blends full-cycle accounting with analysis, reporting to the founder or a fractional CFO. It commonly happens in professional services, SaaS after a funding round, manufacturing, and growing e-commerce. For a small company, the right hire is usually a broad, hands-on analyst rather than a narrow specialist, someone who can set up the chart of accounts, run the close, and give the founder a clear view of the numbers while building repeatable processes. Match the role to that reality rather than to an enterprise job description. This is general information, not legal advice.
