The process of writing a job description requires having a clear understanding of the job’s duties and responsibilities. Job postings should also include a concise picture of the skills required for the position to attract qualified job candidates. Organize the job description to include Company Information, Job Description (list the primary and critical responsibilities of the job), and Job Requirements (define what qualifications are required to perform the job). Other elements that are great to be included (for better chances of getting the attention of the right candidates) include Compensation Information, Employer Sponsored Benefits and EEO Information (such as physical, psychological, or other requirements that are necessary to perform the job; i.e., must be able to lift 50 lbs., must be able to work standing on feet for 8 hours, etc.).  Be sure to include keywords that will help make your job posting searchable. A well-defined job description will help attract qualified candidates, help reduce employee turnover, and provide the necessary information to accommodate candidates and employees with disabilities. Use the sample job postings below to help write your job description and improve your job posting results.

Sample Accounting and Finance Job Descriptions

ACCOUNTANT (STAFF/GENERAL)
Responsibilities: Provides financial information to management by researching and analyzing accounting data; preparing reports.
Job Duties:

• Prepares asset, liability, and capital account entries by compiling and analyzing account information.
  
• Documents financial transactions by entering account information.
  
• Recommends financial actions by analyzing accounting options.
  
• Summarizes current financial status by collecting information; preparing balance sheet, profit and loss statement, and other reports.
  
• Substantiates financial transactions by auditing documents.
  
• Maintains accounting controls by preparing and recommending policies and procedures.
  
• Guides accounting clerical staff by coordinating activities and answering questions.
  
• Reconciles financial discrepancies by collecting and analyzing account information.
  
• Secures financial information by completing data base backups.
  
• Maintains financial security by following internal controls.
  
• Prepares payments by verifying documentation, and requesting disbursements.
  
• Answers accounting procedure questions by researching and interpreting accounting policy and regulations.
  
• Complies with federal, state, and local financial legal requirements by studying existing and new legislation, enforcing adherence to requirements, and advising management on needed actions.
  
• Prepares special financial reports by collecting, analyzing, and summarizing account information and trends.
  
• Maintains customer confidence and protects operations by keeping financial information confidential.
  
• Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; participating in professional societies.
  
• Accomplishes the result by performing the duty.
  
• Contributes to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.
  

Accountant General Skills and Qualifications: Accounting, Corporate Finance, Reporting Skills, Attention to Detail, Deadline-Oriented, Reporting Research Results, SFAS Rules, Confidentiality, Time Management, Data Entry Management, General Math Skills

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE CLERK
Responsibilities: Completes payments and controls expenses by receiving, processing, verifying, and reconciling invoices.
Job Duties:

• Reconciles processed work by verifying entries and comparing system reports to balances.
  
• Charges expenses to accounts and cost centers by analyzing invoice/expense reports; recording entries.
  
• Pays vendors by monitoring discount opportunities; verifying federal id numbers; scheduling and preparing checks; resolving purchase order, contract, invoice, or payment discrepancies and documentation; insuring credit is received for outstanding memos; issuing stop-payments or purchase order amendments.
  
• Pays employees by receiving and verifying expense reports and requests for advances; preparing checks.
  
• Maintains accounting ledgers by verifying and posting account transactions.
  
• Verifies vendor accounts by reconciling monthly statements and related transactions.
  
• Maintains historical records by microfilming and filing documents.
  
• Disburses petty cash by recording entry; verifying documentation.
  
• Reports sales taxes by calculating requirements on paid invoices.
  
• Protects organization's value by keeping information confidential.
  
• Updates job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities.
  
• Accomplishes accounting and organization mission by completing related results as needed.
  

Skills/Qualifications: Tracking Budget Expenses, Attention to Detail, Thoroughness, Organization, Analyzing Information , Accounting, Vendor Relationships, PC Proficiency, Data Entry Skills, General Math Skills

ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE CLERK
Responsibilities: Secures revenue by verifying and posting receipts; resolving discrepancies.
Job Duties:

• Posts customer payments by recording cash, checks, and credit card transactions.
  
• Posts revenues by verifying and entering transactions form lock box and local deposits.
  
• Updates receivables by totaling unpaid invoices.
  
• Maintains records by microfilming invoices, debits, and credits.
  
• Verifies validity of account discrepancies by obtaining and investigating information from sales, trade promotions, customer service departments, and from customers;
  
• Resolves valid or authorized deductions by entering adjusting entries.
  
• Resolves invalid or unauthorized deductions by following pending deductions procedures.
  
• Resolves collections by examining customer payment plans, payment history, credit line; coordinating contact with collections department.
  
• Summarizes receivables by maintaining invoice accounts; coordinating monthly transfer to accounts receivable account; verifying totals; preparing report.
  
• Protects organization's value by keeping information confidential.
  
• Updates job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities.
  
• Accomplishes accounting and organization mission by completing related results as needed.
  

Skills/Qualifications: Organization, Accounting, Data Entry Skills, General Math Skills, Financial Software, Analyzing Information , Attention to Detail, Thoroughness, Reporting Research Results, Verbal Communication

ACCOUNTING MANAGER
Responsibilities: Establishes financial status by developing and implementing systems for collecting, analyzing, verifying, and reporting financial information; managing staff.
Job Duties:

• Accomplishes accounting human resource objectives by recruiting, selecting, orienting, training, assigning, scheduling, coaching, counseling, and disciplining employees; communicating job expectations; planning, monitoring, appraising, and reviewing job contributions; planning and reviewing compensation actions; enforcing policies and procedures.
  
• Achieves accounting operational objectives by contributing accounting information and recommendations to strategic plans and reviews; preparing and completing action plans; implementing production, productivity, quality, and customer-service standards; resolving problems; completing audits; identifying trends; determining system improvements; implementing change.
  
• Meets accounting financial objectives by forecasting requirements; preparing an annual budget; scheduling expenditures; analyzing variances; initiating corrective actions.
  
• Confirms financial status by monitoring revenue and expenses; coordinating the collection, consolidation, and evaluation of financial data; preparing special reports.
  
• Maintains accounting controls by establishing a chart of accounts; defining accounting policies and procedures.
  
• Guides other departments by researching and interpreting accounting policy; applying observations and recommendations to operational issues.
  
• Maintains financial security by establishing internal controls.
  
• Avoids legal challenges by understanding current and proposed legislation; enforcing accounting regulations; recommending new procedures.
  
• Protects organization's value by keeping information confidential.
  
• Updates job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities; reading professional publications; maintaining personal networks; participating in professional organizations.
  
• Accomplishes accounting and organization mission by completing related results as needed.
  

Skills/Qualifications: Developing Budgets, Legal Compliance, Tracking Budget Expenses, SFAS Rules, Accounting, Managing Processes, Reporting Research Results, Management Proficiency, Coordination, Motivating Others, Attention to Detail

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Responsibilities: Develops financial well-being of the organization by providing financial projections and accounting services; preparing growth plans; directing staff.
Job Duties:

• Accomplishes finance human resource strategies by determining accountabilities; communicating and enforcing values, policies, and procedures; implementing recruitment, selection, orientation, training, coaching, counseling, disciplinary, and communication programs; planning, monitoring, appraising, and reviewing job contributions; planning and reviewing compensation strategies.
  
• Develops finance organizational strategies by contributing financial and accounting information, analysis, and recommendations to strategic thinking and direction; establishing functional objectives in line with organizational objectives.
  
• Establishes finance operational strategies by evaluating trends; establishing critical measurements; determining production, productivity, quality, and customer-service strategies; designing systems; accumulating resources; resolving problems; implementing change.
  
• Develops organization prospects by studying economic trends and revenue opportunities; projecting acquisition and expansion prospects; analyzing organization operations; identifying opportunities for improvement, cost reduction, and systems enhancement; accumulating capital to fund expansion.
  
• Develops financial strategies by forecasting capital, facilities, and staff requirements; identifying monetary resources; developing action plans.
  
• Monitors financial performance by measuring and analyzing results; initiating corrective actions; minimizing the impact of variances.
  
• Maximizes return on invested funds by identifying investment opportunities; maintaining relationships with the investment community.
  
• Reports financial status by developing forecasts; reporting results; analyzing variances; developing improvements.
  
• Updates job knowledge by remaining aware of new regulations; participating in educational opportunities; reading professional publications; maintaining personal networks; participating in professional organizations.
  
• Accomplishes finance and organization mission by completing related results as needed.
  

Skills and Qualifications: Financial Planning and Strategy, Managing Profitability, Strategic Planning, Vision, Quality Management, Promoting Process Improvement, Forecasting, Corporate Finance, Developing Budgets, Financial Skills, Dealing with Complexity

CONTROLLER
Responsibilities: Maximizes return on financial assets by establishing financial policies, procedures, controls, and reporting systems.
Job Duties:

• Guides financial decisions by establishing, monitoring, and enforcing policies and procedures.
  
• Protects assets by establishing, monitoring, and enforcing internal controls.
  
• Monitors and confirms financial condition by conducting audits; providing information to external auditors.
  
• Maximizes return, and limits risk, on cash by minimizing bank balances; making investments.
  
• Prepares budgets by establishing schedules; collecting, analyzing, and consolidating financial data; recommending plans.
  
• Achieves budget objectives by scheduling expenditures; analyzing variances; initiating corrective actions.
  
• Provides status of financial condition by collecting, interpreting, and reporting financial data.
  
• Prepares special reports by collecting, analyzing, and summarizing information and trends.
  
• Complies with federal, state, and local legal requirements by studying existing and new legislation; anticipating future legislation; enforcing adherence to requirements; filing financial reports; advising management on needed actions.
  
• Ensures operation of equipment by establishing preventive maintenance requirements and service contracts; maintaining equipment inventories; evaluating new equipment and techniques.
  
• Completes operational requirements by scheduling and assigning employees; following up on work results.
  
• Maintains financial staff by recruiting, selecting, orienting, and training employees.
  
• Maintains financial staff job results by coaching, counseling, and disciplining employees; planning, monitoring, and appraising job results.
  
• Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; participating in professional societies.
  
• Protects operations by keeping financial information and plans confidential.
  
• Contributes to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.
  

Skills/Qualifications: Managing Processes, Financial Software, Developing Standards, Audit, Accounting, Corporate Finance, Tracking Budget Expenses, Financial Skills, Analyzing Information, Developing Budgets, Performance Management

FINANCE ANALYST
Responsibilities: Reports financial status by preparing and analyzing financial plans, forecasts, and reports.
Job Duties:

• Tracks financial status by monitoring variances from plan.
  
• Determines financial status by comparing and analyzing plans and forecasts with actual results.
  
• Improves financial status by analyzing results and variances; identifying trends; recommending actions.
  
• Reconciles transactions by comparing and correcting data.
  
• Increases productivity by developing automated applications; eliminating duplications; coordinating information requirements.
  
• Provides information to management by assembling and summarizing data; preparing reports; making presentations of findings, analyses, and recommendations.
  
• Updates job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities; reading professional publications; maintaining personal networks; participating in professional organizations.
  
• Accomplishes finance and organization mission by completing related results as needed.
  

Skills/Qualifications: Reporting Skills, Informing Others, Financial Skills, Forecasting, Corporate Finance, Financial Diagnosis, Financial Software, Analyzing Information, Statistical Analysis, Process Improvement, Financial Planning and Strategy