Accounting Specialist Jobs Overview
Accounting specialist jobs involve detail-oriented tasks that help support a company's broader financial operations. Unlike general accountants, specialists often focus on areas such as accounts payable, accounts receivable, or tax preparation. In this role, you'll ensure the accuracy of transactions, assist in month-end closing, and maintain organized financial records — essential functions that will keep the accounting team running smoothly.
You can expect to handle complex accounting duties, including preparing tax returns, generating financial reports, and ensuring compliance and efficiency. Most accounting specialists work in an office setting with a standard 40-hour workweek; however, there may be overtime hours during peak seasons. The demand for accounting specialist jobs is expected to grow by a healthy 6% in the coming years.
Salary for Accounting Specialist Jobs
The median wage for general accountant positions is $77,548 per year. However, the size of the company and the specific accounting specialist position can cause your salary to vary. The overall range is between $62,159 and $101,907 a year.
As an accounting specialist, your experience and location can affect your salary. Some of the top-paying markets include:
How much money is available for accounting specialist jobs in your market? Use our helpful salary calculator to find out!
Finding the Right Accounting Specialist Jobs for You
Carefully consider your lifestyle and career goals when looking for an accounting specialist role. For instance, identifying your strengths and weaknesses can help you decide on the right position. Keep the following points in mind.
Company Size
Determine whether a small or large company will best suit your needs. A smaller business could offer a more personalized work experience that allows you to use your skills in more areas. On the other hand, larger companies tend to offer more room for advancement but involve working within a hierarchical team structure.
Assess Your Qualifications Honestly
Accounting specialist positions require strong attention to detail, problem-solving skills, research skills, and the ability to maintain confidentiality. You'll typically need at least two to three years of accounting experience. Plus, computer skills and technical knowledge are a must.
Culture Match
Finding a company with a culture you match with is imperative. Take the time to review the company's website and pay close attention to its stated mission, goals, and values.
It's also wise to expand your search beyond the company's website. Dig deeper and look at employee reviews, news articles, and client reviews. These things will give you a clearer vision of what each specific business truly values.
Growth Opportunities
If you're looking for a career with growth opportunities, try looking at the company's organizational chart. What positions are listed above yours, and how do they match your professional needs and desires? You could move up to controller, an audit manager, or chief financial officer as you gain experience with the company.
How to Apply to Accounting Specialist Jobs
Give yourself the best possible chance of success after you find an ideal position. By adhering to the following tips, you'll greatly improve your odds of securing an interview.
Read Through the Job Posting Carefully
The job posting provides a wealth of information about what a company is specifically looking for. As you read the accounting specialist job description, note the skills and qualifications mentioned and any preferred achievements. This will give you a better feel for what to highlight in your resume, using language from the job description to capture the employer's attention.
Make Your Resume Appealing
Shine a spotlight on your accounting expertise by starting with a concise summary at the top of your resume. Your resume summary serves as a professional headline that briefly explains your unique capabilities and key achievements. The summary can help make your resume stand out to recruiters, so try aligning yours to the job description.
Follow this by detailing your work history, paying special attention to your most recent applicable position. Using bullet points makes it easier for the hiring manager to learn a lot of information at a quick glance. Consider picking out resume keywords from the job posting and include them as bullet points.
Keywords that work well for accounting specialist jobs include:
- precision
- accuracy
- reconciling
- vendor management
- communication
- detail-oriented
- financial analysis
- forecasting
- auditing
Additionally, you'll also want to include your achievements and the software you're familiar with, such as:
- Microsoft Excel
- QuickBooks
- CPA
- US GAAP
Add references to your resume that include people who can speak about your accounting skills. That way, hiring managers can make a more informed decision.
If you'd like to build a great resume to land an accounting specialist role, turn to Monster's Professional Resume Writing Services. Allowing experts to craft your resume puts you in a position for success.
Write a Compelling Cover Letter
Accounting specialist jobs typically require you to submit a cover letter for consideration. To stand out, tailor your letter to the specific position.
Use your finance cover letter to highlight your relevant skills and accomplishments. Keep it to one page only, and be sure to include industry keywords such as "detail-oriented," "reconciling," and "precision." Furthermore, mention any credentials, such as a CPA, and call out your familiarity with US GAAP compliance guidelines if applicable.
Speak to your potential employer's needs rather than your own. Also, open your letter with a strong, concise statement about what you offer their company.
Looking for additional tips? Be sure to check out our attention-getting tactics as well as our advice about how to write the best cover letters.
Submit Your Application
Are you ready to submit your application? Take the opportunity to check over your resume and cover letter one last time. Ensure there are no typos or grammatical errors and consider reading it aloud just in case.
Once you're sure there are no errors, sign up for a free Monster account and easily apply to jobs with a single click. You'll receive a free professional resume review and job recommendations straight in your inbox so you can be one of the first to apply.
Following Up on Accounting Specialist Job Applications
Being excited about a position is definitely a good thing. However, it's also important to realize that the hiring manager is going through several different resumes. Therefore, it's best to wait one week before you follow up on a job you've applied to.
The best way to learn who you should follow up with is to look over the job posting again. However, if this doesn't provide a name of the hiring manager, visit their website and find their human resources department. Next, email the person or department in charge of hiring.
Remember to keep your email short and polite. Express your interest in the position and their company. If you're unsure what to say, refer to our follow-up tips for landing an interview.
Interviewing Tips
Congratulations on getting an interview! Beforehand, take the time to ensure you're properly prepared. For example, be sure to avoid making common interviewing mistakes.
Refresh your knowledge about the company's mission, values, and core goals. Furthermore, review some standard questions asked during accounting specialist job interviews, including:
- What accounting software do you have experience using?
- How have you handled account discrepancies in the past?
- How do you avoid making common accounting mistakes?
- What is your comfort level with analytics and numbers?
Most interviewers will ask skill-based and behavioral questions such as, "Tell me about a time when you noticed a financial report had an error.". Learn about the STAR method to answer these questions in an impressive way.
There is always a possibility that your interview will be held virtually. Regardless, you'll want to be warm, open, and polite, which will help you forge a stronger connection with your interviewer.
The last thing to do, as part of the interview process, is follow up with a thank-you email or card. Always send a thank you within 24 hours. Additionally, if you haven't heard back within one week, it's best to follow up with a brief phone call or email.
Responding to a Job Offer
Ensuring your needs are met is more important than immediately accepting a job offer. Therefore, be sure to thank the hiring manager and ask them how long you've got to respond to their offer. Most companies provide a minimum of 24 hours, and it's important to use this time wisely.
Your first step is to compare your job offer to the original job posting. Are there any discrepancies? If so, be sure to ask about them.
Another thing you should do is negotiate your job salary. It's common practice for employers to build some leeway into each offer, so asking for more money can help you get what you truly deserve.
There will be situations where the employer won't budge on the salary. In these scenarios, it's critical to ask some clarifying questions:
- Do they offer any other benefits or perks?
- How often do they provide raises?
- What metrics do they use to define employee success?
- What type of bonus structure do they offer?
Career Paths for Accounting Specialist Jobs
To set yourself up for future success, seek jobs with promotion opportunities. For instance, you may want to grow into a financial controller, a certified management accountant, or chief accounting officer position as you gain experience and qualifications.
When considering a company, ask if they support professional growth by paying for continuing education classes or professional development events. Some of the most notable professional organizations that can help you network and grow your career include:
Similar Occupations
Have you decided to branch out into a similar career? The good news is that there are many options available: