Accounting Job Titles and Descriptions

People who work in accounting record, analyze, and maintain financial accounts. They might
work for the government, a large company, or a small business.

Because accounting is such a broad field, there are many accounting job titles. Read below
for a list of some of the most common accounting job titles, as well as a longer list of
accounting job titles.

Use these lists when searching for a job in accounting.

You might also use this list to encourage your employer to change the title of your position to
fit your responsibilities. However, keep in mind that many accounting jobs require specific
certifications and licenses, and these often affect one’s job title.

Accounting Job Titles

Below is a list of some of the most common accounting job titles, as well as a description of
each. For more information about each job title, check out the Bureau of Labor
Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Accountant
An accountant prepares, analyzes, and maintains financial records. Accountants typically
work for a company, managing that company’s finances. They might perform a variety of
tasks, including managing a company’s payroll, taxes, and various other payments. There are
many different types of accountants, from general accountants to tax accountants. Each one
has slightly different duties.

Accounting Clerk
An accounting clerk produces and maintains financial records for a company.

He or she might enter financial information into computer software, check this data for
accuracy, and/or produce reports on this information. Also known as a bookkeeping clerks or
auditing clerks, they work in almost all industries.

Auditor
An auditor’s duties are very similar to an accountant’s. Like an accountant, an auditor
prepares, analyzes, and manages financial records.

However, auditors more typically work for an accounting or payroll service, rather than
working for one particular company. Generally, an auditor checks the work performed by a
company’s accountant. He or she often helps multiple companies deal with their finances.

Chief Financial Officer

A chief financial officer (CFO) is responsible for managing the finances of an organization.
He or she is in charge of financial planning, maintaining financial records, and sometimes
also analyzing these records. He or she manages the accounting department, and typically
reports to the chief executive officer (CEO) of the organization.

Controller
A controller (sometimes called a comptroller) is responsible for accounting activities for a
particular company. He or she might prepare financial statements and budgets, process data,
and/or prepare taxes. The controller typically reports to the chief financial officer (CFO).

Financial Analyst
A financial analyst evaluates businesses and projects to see if an entity is a good candidate to
invest in. Financial analysts might make recommendations to a particular bank, company, or
to various investors about whether to invest in a particular company.

Accounting Job Titles List

Below is an extensive list of accounting job titles, including those described above.