Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Accounting and Finance Job Critearea

Accountant II
Prepares and maintains accounting records which may include general accounting, costing, or budget data. Examines, analyzes and interprets accounting records for the purpose of giving advice or preparing statements. May act as lead to lower level employees. Requires bachelors degree in accounting or business and 2-4 years relevant accounting experience.

Accountant - Senior (III)
Establishes, interprets and analyzes complex accounting records of financial statements. These may include general accounting, costing or budget data. Examines, analyzes and interprets accounting records for management. Requires bachelors degree in accounting or business or equivalent experience and 5 or more years experience.

Accounting Clerk I
Verifies and posts transactions to journals, ledgers and other records. Prepares statements, invoices and vouchers. May handle balancing and reconciliations. May specialize in one area of the accounting function. Requires understanding of bookkeeping procedures and 1-2 years of relevant experience.

Accounting Clerk - II
Completes basic bookkeeping and accounting tasks. Performs posting of cash receipts, expenses, or other transactions to journals or ledgers and verifies accuracy. Reviews invoices, bills, vouchers, or other documents for corrections before entering into records. Sorts and files documents, and performs calculations. Usually requires a minimum of six months relevant experience.

Accounting Clerk -III
Analyzes, verifies and posts transactions to journals, ledgers and other records. Analyzes, investigates and corrects accounting entries as needed. Performs reconciliation of complex transactions. May act as lead to less senior clerks. May specialize in one area of the accounting function. Requires thorough understanding of bookkeeping procedures and 3-4 years of relevant experience.

Accounting Manager
Manages accounting functions and preparation of reports and statistics detailing financial results. Establishes and maintains accounting practices to ensure accurate and reliable data necessary for business operations. May specialize in one or more functional accounting area such as accounts receivable, accounts payable, payroll, budget, etc. Supervises professional and/or clerical accounting employees. Typically requires a bachelors degree in accounting or business and 5-8 years relevant experience.

Accounting Supervisor

Supervises accounting functions and preparation of reports and statistics detailing financial results. Coordinates schedules, activities and reports with other departments. Establishes and maintains operating procedures. May specialize in one or more functional areas such as accounts receivable, accounts payable, payroll, budget etc. Supervises non-exempt clerical and accounting employees. Typically requires a bachelors degree in accounting or business and 1 year relevant experience or a total of 6 years accounting experience.

Accounts Payable Clerk
Reviews invoices for accuracy and completeness. Sorts documents by account name or number and processes invoices for payment. May perform other basic clerical duties associated with accounts payable. May post transactions to journals, ledgers and other records. Requires understanding of bookkeeping procedures and 1-2 years of relevant experience.

Accounts Payable Manager
Manages the accounts payable function within the organization's established policies. Arranges and oversees completion of all work. Examines records of amounts due and makes sure invoices are paid according to terms and discounts taken. Directs invoice processing and verification, expense coding, and drafting of payment checks or vouchers. Supplies regular or written reports. Suggests improvements in processes to increase effectiveness of unit. Usually requires a 4 year degree and 4-6 years of relevant experience or equivalent education and experience.

Accounts Payable Supervisor
Oversees accounts payable recordkeeping. Supervises recording of amounts due, verification of invoices, and calculation of discounts. Ensures expense coding, voucher preparation, and check issuance are accomplished accurately and timely. Produces various reports for management including accounts payable register. Usually requires 2 to 4 years relevant experience.

Accounts Receivable Clerk
Verifies and posts accounts receivable transactions to journals, ledgers, and other records. Follows established procedures for processing receipts, cash etc. Sorts and files documents after posting. May prepare bank deposits. May operate a personal computer. Requires understanding of bookkeeping procedures and 1-2 years of relevant experience.

Accounts Receivable Manager
Manages the accounts receivable function within the organization's established policies. Arranges and oversees completion of all work including posting, processing, and verification of receipts, credit claims, refunds, interest charges, or other similar records. Produces regular or special written reports. Suggests improvements in processes to increase effectiveness of unit.

Friday, May 16, 2008

Accountants can save time and money

By SCORE
May 15, 2008

Computer software packages have made it easier for small business owners to monitor cash flow, prepare tax returns, and handle other financial reporting tasks. Still, keeping up with these chores as your business grows also consumes an increasingly large chunk of precious time, and risks potentially costly mistakes. That's why many entrepreneurs look to outside financial specialists for help.

Choosing the right type of tax, accounting, bookkeeping or other financial help is an important decision. An outside accountant can be one of your most trusted business advisors and a key to your success. Although some business owners work with large national firms, most prefer to work with small independent firms or solo accounting professionals.

Accounting services differ from bookkeeping services, however. An accounting firm prepares financial statements and tax returns based on the numbers that you give them via your own in-house books. Bookkeeping services, if offered, will be extra.

If you plan to hire your own bookkeeper, make sure the person you choose is qualified. One way is to use the "Bookkeepers Hiring Test" available free from the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers at their Web site, www.aipb.org.

Before selecting a certified public accountant or other financial pro, list the services you think you need, such as tax preparation, financial reports, balance sheets, invoicing, payroll services, general bookkeeping or someone to set up your books. Some firms may handle it all, or you may need to split the tasks. CPA Directory is a huge online listing of CPAs nationwide and can help you find an accountant in your area. The Web site also offers helpful advice on hiring and working effectively with a CPA. Visit www.cpadirectory.com.

And don't forget about Enrolled Agents (EAs), who are licensed by the Federal government to prepare tax returns. They have either worked for the IRS or have passed a rigorous IRS exam. EAs are savvy tax experts, but generally don't have the degrees of CPAs and tend to charge less. Visit the National Association of Enrolled Agents Web site at www.naea.org.

Source:
http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080515/BIZ/805150312