Accounting manager job description templates, plus staff accountant, full-charge bookkeeper, supervisor, and controller, with a clear guide to which level to hire. DOCX.
6 templates spanning the accounting-leadership ladder, from accounting manager and controller down to staff accountant and full-charge bookkeeper, plus a clear guide to which level you should actually hire. Download as DOCX.
The accounting manager leads the accounting team and owns the close, the reporting, and the controls that keep a company's books accurate. The hardest part of hiring one is not writing the posting, it is confirming you actually need the role. The word manager presumes a team of accounting staff to lead, so at a company that does not yet have that team, the work is usually better handled by a staff accountant or a full-charge bookkeeper, often at a much lower cost.
At FirstHR, we build hiring templates that match the level you are actually staffing, so this page spans the whole accounting-leadership ladder rather than assuming a manager is the answer. The six templates below run from a standard accounting manager and a small-business version through staff accountant, full-charge bookkeeper, supervisor, and controller. Before the templates, a clear guide to which level fits your team, since that decision matters more than any wording. The guide to writing a job description covers the fundamentals.
TL;DR
Six accounting job description templates by level: Accounting Manager, Small-Business Manager, Staff Accountant, Full-Charge Bookkeeper, Accounting Supervisor, and Controller. The most important step is getting the level right: an accounting manager presumes a team to lead, and a smaller company usually needs a staff accountant or full-charge bookkeeper instead. The manager role is salaried exempt; aggregators place pay around $96,000 to $122,000, well above the accountant and bookkeeper tiers. Download as DOCX.
What Does an Accounting Manager Do?
An accounting manager leads a company's accounting team and owns the day-to-day accounting operation: managing the close, supervising the staff who handle AP, AR, and the ledger, ensuring accurate financial statements, and maintaining internal controls. The role draws on the same federal occupational category as accountants and auditors, who examine and prepare financial records and assess operations for accuracy and compliance, but with a team-leadership layer on top.
What separates an accounting manager from a staff accountant is that a manager leads people and owns the close across a team rather than doing the accounting individually. That distinction drives the central question of whether your company is large enough to need the role. If you are filling the day-to-day accounting work itself, the accountant job description templates cover the individual-contributor side.
Do You Need an Accounting Manager?
This is the section the generic templates skip, and the one that saves the most money. An accounting manager is the wrong hire for a company without a team to manage, and getting the level right matters far more than the wording of any posting. Here is how to think about it before you commit to the search.
An accounting manager presumes a team to manage
The word manager in this title is not decorative. An accounting manager leads accounting staff, owns the close across a team, and supervises the people who handle AP, AR, and the ledger. If you do not yet have two or more accounting people for someone to manage, the role does not have its full job to do. Many companies post for an accounting manager when what they actually have is work for one capable accountant or bookkeeper. Before you write the posting, count the accounting headcount the role would lead. If the answer is zero or one, look hard at the staff accountant and full-charge bookkeeper versions below, which are usually the better and more affordable hire at that size.
Below the manager threshold, hire an accountant or a bookkeeper
The accounting function grows up an org chart, and most companies hit the rungs below accounting manager first. A very small company outsources the books or hires one bookkeeper. As it grows, it hires a full-charge bookkeeper to own the whole cycle, or a staff accountant for day-to-day accounting. Only once there are several accounting staff and a real close to coordinate does a dedicated accounting manager earn its keep, and above that sits the controller. This page includes the staff accountant and full-charge bookkeeper templates precisely so you can hire at the rung your company is on, rather than over-leveling the title and paying manager compensation for accountant-level work.
The role is exempt, with no overtime angle
An accounting manager is a textbook white-collar exempt role, qualifying under both the executive exemption, since the primary duty is managing the accounting department and directing two or more employees, and the administrative exemption, since the work is in the functional area of accounting and finance and involves discretion on matters of significance. So this is a salaried, exempt role with no overtime obligation, paid well above the federal salary threshold. The FLSA point that matters for a smaller company is the opposite one: the bookkeepers, clerks, and junior staff below this role are frequently non-exempt and overtime-eligible, so classify each of those by its actual duties and pay. This is general information, not legal advice.
Companies that hire this title have usually grown past the smallest stage
Industry guidance generally places the dedicated accounting-manager or controller tier at the point where a company has several million dollars in revenue and multiple accounting staff, not at the earliest stage. A business with a handful of employees typically does not need, and cannot fully use, a dedicated accounting manager. If your company has genuinely reached a multi-person accounting team and a close that needs coordinating, this page is built for you. If you are earlier than that, the honest answer is that a staff accountant or full-charge bookkeeper will serve you better now, and you can add the manager layer as the team grows. This is general information, not legal advice.
Count the Team Before You Post
The most common mistake with this title is hiring an accounting manager when there is no team to manage. A manager leads accounting staff and coordinates a close, so with one accountant or an outside CPA, the role has no full job to do. Count the accounting headcount the role would lead. If the answer is zero or one, hire a full-charge bookkeeper or a staff accountant instead. The templates here include those levels so you can hire where your team actually is.
Bookkeeper, Accountant, Manager, Controller
The accounting roles form a ladder of scope and seniority, and matching your hire to the right rung is the decision that determines whether the role succeeds and what it costs. This table maps the levels so you can place your need before choosing a template.
Level
Scope and when it fits
Bookkeeper / full-charge bookkeeper
Records and owns the books; the first accounting hire
Staff accountant
Day-to-day accounting as an individual contributor
Accounting supervisor
Leads part of the team; between staff and manager
Accounting manager
Leads the accounting team and the close; reports to controller or CFO
Controller
Owns the whole function and reporting; the senior accounting leader
Smaller companies collapse these rungs into one or two roles and separate them as they grow. If your need is the senior leader who owns the whole function, the controller job description fits better, and a broader finance leadership role may be the finance manager.
Accounting Manager Duties and Responsibilities
Accounting manager responsibilities cluster into the close and the ledger, transactions and operations, team and leadership, and controls and compliance. The weights shift with company size, more hands-on at a small company versus more supervisory at a larger one, but the categories hold.
The close and the ledger
Own the monthly, quarterly, and annual close
Oversee the general ledger and reconciliations
Ensure accurate, timely financial statements
Transactions and operations
Oversee AP, AR, and payroll coordination
Maintain accounting policy and procedures
Run and improve the ERP or accounting system
Team and leadership
Manage and develop the accounting team
Assign work and review for accuracy
Set the cadence and hold deadlines
Controls and compliance
Maintain internal controls
Support audits, tax, and compliance
Partner with finance and leadership on reporting
A strong posting grounds these in your reality: the size of the team, your ERP or accounting system, your close calendar, and your industry. For a structured way to scope the role before posting, the guide to defining job responsibilities walks through it.
Which Template Should You Use?
Pick the template by the level you are actually hiring, which you should settle before writing a word. The accounting core runs through all six, but the scope, the pay band, and the seniority differ enough that the matched version reads far more credibly. Use this guide to choose.
Accounting Manager (Standard)
Established team
The baseline: lead the accounting team, own the close, and ensure accurate reporting, reporting to a controller or CFO. Start here when you genuinely have a team to manage.
Small / Growing Business
Owner-led, hands-on
The hero version: a hands-on manager who runs the close themselves and leads one or two people, reporting to the owner. For a company just reaching a real accounting team.
Staff Accountant
Often the right hire
An individual-contributor accountant for day-to-day work. Frequently the hire a smaller company actually needs before a manager. Included so you can pick the right level.
Full-Charge Bookkeeper
One-person function
The one-person accounting function many small companies hire instead of a manager: full cycle from transactions to financial statements, owned by one capable person.
Accounting Supervisor
Between staff and manager
A hands-on lead over part of the team who reports to the manager or controller. For when you need a working lead rather than a full department manager.
Controller
One level up
The senior accounting leader who owns the whole function and reporting, often above an accounting manager. For when your need is broader than a manager role.
Match the Template to the Level
A real accounting team to lead: Standard Manager. A growing, owner-led company just reaching a team: Small-Business Manager. Day-to-day accounting by one person: Staff Accountant. A one-person accounting function: Full-Charge Bookkeeper. A working lead over part of the team: Supervisor. The senior leader who owns the whole function: Controller. The manager and controller versions are marked exempt.
6 Accounting Manager Job Description Templates
Download all six as a single Word document or copy individual templates. Each follows the same structure: company overview, job summary, key responsibilities, qualifications, compensation, and how to apply. Fill in the brackets and post.
Download All 6 Job Description Templates
Standard manager, small-business manager, staff accountant, full-charge bookkeeper, supervisor, and controller. All in one DOCX.
Template 1: Accounting Manager (Standard)
The baseline: lead the accounting team, own the close, and ensure accurate reporting, reporting to a controller or CFO. Start here when you genuinely have a team to manage.
Accounting Manager Job Description (Standard)
ACCOUNTING MANAGER JOB DESCRIPTION
Company: __
Location: __ [On-site / Hybrid / Remote]
Reports to: [Controller / CFO / Owner]
Employment type: [ ] Full-time
FLSA status: Exempt (executive / administrative; confirm by duties)
Compensation: $_____ per year [+ bonus]
ABOUT [COMPANY NAME]
[Two or three sentences about your company, the accounting team this
person will lead, the size of that team, and the systems you run.]
JOB SUMMARY
[Company Name] is hiring an Accounting Manager to lead our accounting
team and own the day-to-day accounting operation. You will manage the
close, supervise accounting staff, ensure accurate financial records
and compliance, and report to [Controller / CFO]. This role keeps the
books accurate and the team running.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Manage and develop the accounting team
•Own the monthly, quarterly, and annual close
•Oversee AP, AR, general ledger, and reconciliations
•Ensure accurate financial statements and reporting
•Maintain internal controls and accounting policy
•Support audits, tax, and compliance
•Manage the [ERP / accounting system: ____________]
•Partner with finance and leadership on reporting
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance
•[CPA preferred / required]
•[5 or more] years in accounting, including supervision
The hero version: a hands-on manager who runs the close themselves and leads one or two people, reporting to the owner. For a company just reaching a real accounting team.
Accounting Manager (Small / Growing Business)
ACCOUNTING MANAGER (SMALL / GROWING BUSINESS)
Company: __
Location: __
Reports to: [Owner / CEO]
Employment type: [ ] Full-time
FLSA status: Exempt (executive / administrative; confirm by duties)
Compensation: $_____ per year [+ bonus]
ABOUT THIS ROLE
We are a growing company and you will own our accounting end to end,
managing a small team and reporting straight to the owner. This is a
hands-on, wear-many-hats role, not a corporate seat: you will both run
the close yourself and lead the one or two people who help you. If you
like owning the whole accounting function, read on.
WHAT YOU WILL DO
•Own the full accounting cycle and the monthly close
•Manage AP, AR, payroll coordination, and the general ledger
•Lead and develop a small accounting team
•Produce accurate financial statements for the owner
•Maintain controls, policy, and clean records
•Support tax prep, audits, and compliance
•Run and improve our [accounting system: ____________]
•Step in across the function where needed
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
•Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance
•[CPA a plus]
•Full-cycle accounting experience, ideally at a smaller company
•Comfortable being hands-on and leading at the same time
•Strong with [QuickBooks / Xero / your system]
•Reliable, organized, and owner-minded
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Compensation: $_____ per year [+ bonus]
Benefits: [what you offer: __]
To apply, [send your resume to ].
[Company Name] is an equal opportunity employer.
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Template 3: Staff Accountant (Often the Right Hire Instead)
An individual-contributor accountant for day-to-day work. Frequently the hire a smaller company actually needs before a manager. Included so you can pick the right level.
Staff Accountant (Often the Right Hire Instead)
STAFF ACCOUNTANT JOB DESCRIPTION
Company: __
Location: __ [On-site / Hybrid]
Reports to: [Accounting Manager / Controller / Owner]
Employment type: [ ] Full-time
FLSA status: [Confirm exempt vs non-exempt by duties and salary]
Compensation: $_____ per year
JOB SUMMARY
[Company Name] is hiring a Staff Accountant to handle our day-to-day
accounting. You will record transactions, reconcile accounts, support
the monthly close, and help keep our financials accurate. This is an
individual-contributor role and is often the right hire for a company
not yet large enough to need a full accounting manager.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Record journal entries and maintain the general ledger
•Reconcile bank, credit card, and balance sheet accounts
•Support the monthly and year-end close
•Process or review AP and AR
•Prepare account schedules and reports
•Help with audits, tax prep, and compliance
•Maintain accurate, organized records
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•Bachelor's degree in accounting or related field
•[1 to 3] years of accounting experience
•Knowledge of GAAP and the close process
•Comfortable with [QuickBooks / your accounting system]
•Detail-oriented and deadline-driven
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Compensation: $_____ per year
Benefits: [health, PTO: __]
To apply, send your resume to __.
[Company Name] is an equal opportunity employer.
Template 4: Full-Charge Bookkeeper (The SMB One-Person Version)
The one-person accounting function many small companies hire instead of a manager: full cycle from transactions to financial statements, owned by one capable person.
Full-Charge Bookkeeper (The SMB One-Person Version)
FULL-CHARGE BOOKKEEPER JOB DESCRIPTION
Company: __
Location: __
Reports to: [Owner / CEO]
Employment type: [ ] Full-time [ ] Part-time
FLSA status: [Confirm exempt vs non-exempt by duties and salary]
Compensation: $_____ per year [or $_ per hour]
JOB SUMMARY
[Company Name] is hiring a Full-Charge Bookkeeper to run our books end
to end. You will own the full bookkeeping cycle, from transactions
through the financial statements, reporting to the owner. This is the
one-person accounting function many small companies hire instead of an
accounting manager, and it is a great fit if you like owning it all.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Own the full bookkeeping cycle end to end
•Manage AP, AR, and bank and account reconciliations
•Process or coordinate payroll
•Run the monthly close and prepare financial statements
•Maintain the general ledger and clean records
•Support tax prep and work with the outside CPA
•Run our [QuickBooks / Xero / accounting system]
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•Full-cycle bookkeeping experience
•Comfortable preparing financial statements
•Strong with [QuickBooks / Xero / your system]
•Organized, accurate, and able to work independently
•[Associate degree or accounting coursework a plus]
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Compensation: $_____ per year [or hourly]
FLSA note: Classification depends on the actual duties and salary;
a bookkeeper doing routine work is often non-exempt and
overtime-eligible. Confirm before posting.
To apply, send your resume to __.
[Company Name] is an equal opportunity employer.
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A hands-on lead over part of the team who reports to the manager or controller. For when you need a working lead rather than a full department manager.
Accounting Supervisor Job Description
ACCOUNTING SUPERVISOR JOB DESCRIPTION
Company: __
Location: __ [On-site / Hybrid]
Reports to: [Accounting Manager / Controller]
Employment type: [ ] Full-time
FLSA status: [Confirm exempt vs non-exempt by duties and salary]
Compensation: $_____ per year
JOB SUMMARY
[Company Name] is hiring an Accounting Supervisor to lead a part of
the accounting team day to day. You will supervise a small group,
review their work, support the close, and report to the Accounting
Manager or Controller. This is a hands-on lead role between staff
accountant and accounting manager.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Supervise and review the work of accounting staff
•Support the monthly close and reconciliations
•Oversee a function such as AP, AR, or general ledger
•Train and develop the team members you lead
•Ensure accuracy and adherence to policy
•Resolve issues and escalate as needed
•Report status and metrics to the manager
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•Bachelor's degree in accounting or related field
•[3 or more] years of accounting experience, with some leadership
•Solid knowledge of GAAP and accounting processes
•Comfortable with [your ERP / accounting system]
•Detail-oriented, organized, and a steady leader
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Compensation: $_____ per year
Benefits: [health, retirement, PTO: __]
To apply, send your resume to __.
[Company Name] is an equal opportunity employer.
Template 6: Controller (One Level Up)
The senior accounting leader who owns the whole function and reporting, often above an accounting manager. For when your need is broader than a manager role.
Controller (One Level Up)
CONTROLLER JOB DESCRIPTION
Company: __
Location: __ [On-site / Hybrid / Remote]
Reports to: [CFO / CEO / Owner]
Employment type: [ ] Full-time
FLSA status: Exempt (executive / administrative; confirm by duties)
Compensation: $_____ per year [+ bonus]
JOB SUMMARY
[Company Name] is hiring a Controller to own our accounting function
and financial reporting. You will lead accounting, own the close and
the financial statements, maintain internal controls, and serve as the
senior accounting leader, reporting to the [CFO / CEO]. This is a
level up from accounting manager in scope and ownership.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Own the accounting function and financial reporting
•Lead the close and produce financial statements
•Design and maintain internal controls
•Manage the accounting team and the accounting manager
•Own budgeting support, cash, and audit relationships
•Ensure compliance with GAAP, tax, and regulations
•Advise leadership on financial matters
•Own the accounting systems and process improvement
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance
•[CPA strongly preferred / required]
•[7 or more] years in accounting, including management
•Deep GAAP, controls, and reporting expertise
•Experience owning an accounting function
•Strong leadership and business-partnering skills
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Compensation: $_____ per year [+ bonus]
Benefits: [health, retirement, equity, PTO: __]
To apply, send your resume to __.
[Company Name] is an equal opportunity employer.
Skills and Requirements
Accounting manager qualifications are anchored in accounting depth plus team leadership, so state the real requirements concretely, including the ERP you run and whether a CPA is required, rather than a generic professional list.
Weak requirement
Strong requirement
Accounting degree
Bachelor's in accounting or finance; CPA preferred or required
Experience
[5+] years in accounting, including supervising staff
Knows the close
Owns the monthly close and produces accurate statements
Software skills
Experience with [your ERP: QuickBooks, NetSuite, Sage, Xero]
Good leader
Hires, develops, and holds an accounting team to deadlines
Keep every line job-related and the posting neutral, since the EEOC prohibits job advertisements that show a preference based on protected characteristics, and the SHRM job description tools describe a good job description as a plain-language summary of a position's tasks, duties, and responsibilities.
Accounting Manager Salary
An accounting manager is a six-figure-capable role in many markets, sitting between the staff-accountant tier below and the financial-manager tier above. The level you hire drives the pay far more than the word accounting alone.
Between Two Federal Benchmarks (BLS, May 2024)
The title sits between two BLS categories: accountants and auditors at a median of $81,680 and financial managers at $161,700 (May 2024). Aggregators place accounting managers around $96,000 to $122,000. The tiers a smaller company more often hires sit lower: bookkeeping and accounting clerks had a median of $49,210 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
The level you choose sets the budget: staff accountants and full-charge bookkeepers typically run in the fifties to seventies, an accounting manager in the high nineties to low hundreds, and a controller higher still. National compensation surveys can help you set a range for the specific level and your local market. Benchmark to the role you are hiring, not the blended figure, and remember that hiring down the ladder is often both the right fit and the lower cost for a smaller company.
Hiring Accounting Help for a Smaller Company
For a smaller company, the most useful thing this page can do is help you decide whether you need an accounting manager at all, and often the answer is to hire down the ladder instead. Here is how to think about it before you spend on the search, and where to go instead. The broader steps around any hire are covered in the small business hiring guide.
Before posting an accounting manager role, check that you are not over-leveling the hire
Most companies in the small-business range that FirstHR usually serves do not yet need a dedicated accounting manager, and it is worth confirming that before you spend on the search. A manager leads accounting staff, so the role presumes a team. If your accounting headcount is one person, or zero plus an outside CPA, the role that fits is a staff accountant or a full-charge bookkeeper, not a manager. The companies that genuinely need an accounting manager have usually grown to several accounting staff and a real monthly close to coordinate. If that is you, this page is built for you. If it is not yet, the staff accountant and full-charge bookkeeper templates here will serve you far better, and you can move up the ladder as the team grows.
If you are small, the title you actually want is probably bookkeeper or staff accountant
The same hiring need that sends larger companies searching for an accounting manager is usually met, at a smaller company, by a different title. A growing company that needs one person to own the books hires a full-charge bookkeeper. A company that needs day-to-day accounting hires a staff accountant or an accountant. These roles are more affordable, more available, and a better match for the work a smaller business actually has. They also tend to be the right place to start, with a manager or controller layer added only once there are several accounting people to lead. Leveling the hire to the team you have today, rather than the one you hope to have, is the single most useful decision in this whole exercise.
Whichever accounting role you hire, onboarding is the part you handle yourself
A small or growing company usually has the owner or a manager running hiring and onboarding directly. Once someone accepts, the work is ordinary people operations made specific by the role: a signed offer with the classification set correctly, Form I-9 and tax forms, policy and confidentiality acknowledgments given the financial access involved, and a structured first week on your systems and close process. FirstHR fits that people side: e-signature for the offer and acknowledgments, document management for signed forms and records, task workflows for the onboarding checklist, and training modules for systems and policy. To be clear about scope, FirstHR is an onboarding and HR platform, not an accounting, ERP, or financial-reporting system, and it does not run payroll or administer benefits, so pair it with those providers. Applicant tracking is coming soon to FirstHR.
From Hiring to Onboarding
The job description is step one. Once a candidate accepts, the classification you set drives the rest: send the offer letter with the pay and exempt or non-exempt status confirmed, collect the signed offer, complete Form I-9 within the first days along with the rest of the new hire paperwork, and gather tax forms. Given the financial access the role has, add confidentiality and policy acknowledgments to the package.
Send the offer with classification set
Confirm pay, title, and exempt or non-exempt status in writing, since the FLSA call drives overtime and time tracking for the role.
Collect paperwork and acknowledgments
Signed offer, Form I-9 and tax forms, plus confidentiality and policy acknowledgments, given the financial access this role has.
Run a structured first week
ERP and accounting system access, the chart of accounts, and the close calendar, with a clear onboarding checklist.
Set expectations and relationships
Introduce the team, the controller or owner, and the outside CPA, with clear early objectives for the close and reporting.
Then run a structured first week on the specifics: ERP and accounting-system access, the chart of accounts, the close calendar, and the relationships with the team, the controller or owner, and the outside CPA, the kind of start an onboarding template can anchor. Once your offer is ready, the offer letter template handles the next step. FirstHR connects the offer with e-signature, document management for signed forms and records, training modules for systems and policy, and the onboarding task workflow in one place, so a small or growing company can take a new accounting hire from accepted offer to productive. FirstHR is an onboarding and HR platform, not an accounting, ERP, or financial-reporting tool, and it does not run payroll or administer benefits, so connect those separately. Applicant tracking is coming soon to FirstHR.
Key Takeaways
Get the level right before writing anything: an accounting manager presumes a team to lead, and a smaller company usually needs a staff accountant or full-charge bookkeeper instead.
Count the accounting headcount the role would manage; if it is zero or one, hiring a manager means paying manager pay for accountant-level work.
The titles form a ladder: bookkeeper, staff accountant, accounting supervisor, accounting manager, then controller as the senior accounting leader.
The manager and controller roles are salaried exempt; the bookkeepers and clerks below them are frequently non-exempt and overtime-eligible.
Pay reflects the level: aggregators place accounting managers around $96,000 to $122,000, well above the clerk median of $49,210 (BLS, May 2024).
Hiring down the ladder is often both the right fit and the lower cost for a growing company; add the manager layer as the team grows.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does an accounting manager do?
An accounting manager leads a company's accounting team and owns the day-to-day accounting operation. The core of the role is managing the monthly, quarterly, and annual close, supervising accounting staff who handle AP, AR, and the general ledger, ensuring accurate financial statements, maintaining internal controls, and supporting audits, tax, and compliance. An accounting manager typically reports to a controller, CFO, or owner, and manages the accounting system or ERP. The defining feature is the word manager: the role presumes a team of accounting staff to lead and a real close to coordinate. At a smaller company that does not yet have that team, the work is usually better handled by a staff accountant or a full-charge bookkeeper. This page covers the manager role and the levels around it, with a template for each so you can match the posting to your situation.
When should a company hire an accounting manager?
A company should hire an accounting manager once it has a real accounting team to lead, usually several accounting staff and a monthly close that needs coordinating, which generally happens as a business grows past the early stage. Industry guidance typically places the dedicated accounting-manager or controller tier at the point of a few million dollars in revenue and multiple accounting employees. Below that, the role does not have its full job to do, since there is no team to manage. A very small company usually outsources the books or hires one bookkeeper; a growing one hires a full-charge bookkeeper or a staff accountant; only then does a dedicated accounting manager earn its keep, with a controller above it. Count the accounting headcount the role would lead before posting. If it is zero or one, a staff accountant or full-charge bookkeeper is almost always the better hire. This is general information, not legal advice.
What is the difference between a bookkeeper, accountant, accounting manager, and controller?
They form a ladder of scope and seniority. A bookkeeper records transactions and maintains the books, often the first accounting hire at a small company, with a full-charge bookkeeper owning the entire cycle through financial statements. A staff accountant or accountant does day-to-day accounting and analysis as an individual contributor, usually with an accounting degree. An accounting manager leads a team of accounting staff, owns the close, and ensures accurate reporting, reporting to a controller or CFO. A controller is the senior accounting leader who owns the whole accounting function, financial reporting, and internal controls, often above an accounting manager. Smaller companies collapse these into one or two roles; larger ones separate them. The practical point is to hire at the level your team is actually at, since over-leveling the title means paying for scope that is not there yet.
Is an accounting manager exempt or non-exempt under the FLSA?
An accounting manager is exempt from overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act, and qualifies under both white-collar exemptions. It meets the executive exemption because the primary duty is managing the accounting department and customarily directing the work of two or more employees, with input on hiring and firing. It also meets the administrative exemption because the work is in the functional area of accounting and finance and involves the exercise of discretion and independent judgment on matters of significance. Paid well above the federal salary threshold, the role is a salaried, exempt position with no overtime obligation. The FLSA point worth noting for a smaller company is the reverse: the bookkeepers, clerks, and junior accounting staff below this role are frequently non-exempt and overtime-eligible, so each of those should be classified by its actual duties and pay. This is general information, not legal advice.
Does a small business need an accounting manager?
Usually not, until the accounting team grows past the point where one accountant or bookkeeper can handle the work. A small business with one accounting person, or with an outside CPA handling the books, does not yet have a team for a manager to lead, so a staff accountant or a full-charge bookkeeper is the better and more affordable hire. The companies that genuinely need an accounting manager have generally grown to several accounting staff and a real close to coordinate, and they often already have an HR function. If you are still small, posting for an accounting manager tends to mean paying manager-level compensation for work that an accountant or bookkeeper could do. Start at the level your team is on, use the staff accountant or full-charge bookkeeper template, and add the manager layer as you scale. This is general information, not legal advice.
What is the difference between an accounting manager and a controller?
A controller is one level up from an accounting manager in scope and seniority. An accounting manager leads the accounting team and owns the day-to-day accounting operation and the close, reporting to a controller or CFO. A controller owns the entire accounting function and financial reporting, designs and maintains internal controls, manages the accounting team including any accounting managers, and serves as the senior accounting leader, often reporting to a CFO or directly to the owner or CEO. In a larger organization both roles exist, with the accounting manager running operations and the controller owning the function and strategy. In a smaller company, one person, often titled controller, covers both. If your need is the senior accounting leader who owns the whole function rather than a team lead, the controller template fits better than the manager one.
How much does an accounting manager make?
An accounting manager is a well-paid role. The title sits between two federal occupational categories: accountants and auditors, which had a median annual wage of $81,680 in May 2024 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and financial managers, which had a median of $161,700. Accounting managers land between these, and salary aggregators commonly place the role in the range of roughly $96,000 to $122,000, varying by company size, industry, region, and whether a CPA is required. The role clears six figures in many markets. By contrast, the levels a smaller company more often hires sit well below: staff accountants and full-charge bookkeepers typically run in the fifties to seventies, and bookkeeping and accounting clerks had a median of $49,210 in May 2024. Benchmark to the specific level and your local market rather than a single figure. This is general information, not legal advice.
What should an accounting manager job description include?
A strong accounting manager job description includes a short company summary that notes the size of the accounting team the role will lead, a job summary that names the scope and who it reports to, and responsibilities grouped into the close and the ledger, transactions and operations, team leadership, and controls and compliance. It should state required qualifications, typically an accounting degree, CPA preferred or required, several years of experience including supervision, GAAP knowledge, and proficiency with your ERP or accounting system. Mark the role exempt, since it is a salaried management position, add a realistic pay range for your market, and include an equal opportunity statement. Above all, confirm the level is right before posting: if you do not have a team for the manager to lead, a staff accountant or full-charge bookkeeper template will fit your actual need better. This is general information, not legal advice.
