Accountant Job roles, responsibilities, descriptions and duties

Date of posting: 10 Jan 20

Accountant


What Does an Accountant Do?

Learn about the key requirements, duties, responsibilities, salaries and required skills that should be in an Accountant job description.

Job designation: - Accountant

The role of an accountant in a company’s past, present and future is very much invaluable. They are responsible for recording and maintenance of financial activities which happen all the time during the financial year from 1st April to 31st March. 

Duties and responsibilities of an Accountant

Being an accountant in a company is a huge responsibility because the company is dependent on your work. You are the one given the duty and responsibility of seeing over the major financial conditions of the company related to assets and liabilities. It falls under one of the high-risk jobs because it demands accuracy and eagle-eye vision.

  • Maintaining books of records such as journal, ledger and balance sheet

  • Analysis hits and misses in the company’s financial record

  • Creation of reports related to the current financial workings of the company

  • Financial evaluation of a company’s monetary performance

  • Efficiency improvement in the financial turnover of a company

  • Suggestions of cost cutting, higher revenue turnover and profit improvement

  • Organizing financial data into one concrete document

  • Reviewing a company’s budget to operate during a respective financial year

Places of employment for a Accountant

  • Banks and other financial institutions

  • Multinational companies

  • Government/Private Sectors

  • Medical industries

  • E-Commerce

  • Small and Medium Enterprises

Work schedule of an Accountant

An accountant’s work schedule is basically a 9AM to 5PM job or 40 hours per week. Some accountants often work freelance or have their own accounting firms. During the 31st March of every year, there is usually a lot of burden on accountants because they have to work heavily related to the company’s finances.


Qualifications required to become an Accountant


To become an accountant, a graduation degree in commerce with honours in accounts is required. A master degree in accounting can be very much beneficial to work in the corporate world. A Chartered Accountant course can be pursued to improve your career. 


Under-graduate courses to become a Accountant


  • B. Com (Honours in Accounting and Finance)

  • B. Com (Honours in Accounting and Taxation)

  • B. Com (Honours in Accountancy)

  • BBA (Honours in Accounting and Finance)


Eligibility to pursue the course: -


  • Class 12th student of any stream who have appeared for the CPT or Common Proficiency Test

  • Enrolment into ICAI (Institute of Chartered Accountants of India) for ATC (Accountant Technician Course)

  • Minimum 100 out of 200 in CPT to appear for IPCC (Integrated Professional Competence Course)

  • Minimum 40 percent and a total of 50 percent to pass IPCC

  • Three years article ship under a renowned accountant

  • CA Finals and qualify to appear in All-India merit list and be awarded the title of Chartered Accountant


Entrance-exams to be taken to pursue the course


  • BHU-ET (Banaras Hindu University)

  • DUET (Delhi University)

  • CU-ET (Christ University)

  • AMU Entrance Exam (Aligarh Muslim University)

  • Jamia Millia Islamia Entrance Exam


Institutes which are offering these courses 


  • ICAI (Institute of Chartered Accountants of India)

  • Miranda House

  • Lady Shriram College for Women

  • Hindu College

  • St. Stephen’s College

  • Presidency College


Post-graduate courses for a Accountant


  • M. Com (Finance)

  • M. Com (Accountancy)

  • M. Com (Accounting and Finance)

  • M.Com (Banking and Finance)

  • M. Com (Financial Management)

  • MBA (Banking and Finance)

Eligibility to pursue the course: -


  • Minimum above 50% is mandatory in graduation

  • Relevant work experience of 3 to 4 years


Entrance-exams to be taken to pursue the course


  • BHU-ET (Banaras Hindu University)

  • DUET (Delhi University)

  • CU-ET (Christ University)

  • CAT (Common Admission Test)

  • XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test)

  • MAT (Management Aptitude Test)


Institutes which are offering these courses 


  • IIM Calcutta 

  • Delhi University

  • Jamia Millia Islamia

  • Bangalore University

  • Annamalai University

Key/Technical skills

  • Patience while working with others

  • Knowledge of Tally and MS-Excel

  • Ability to adapt in any environment

  • Attention to details of financial recordings

  • Keen foresight in to the finances of a company

Salary expectations

  • Average salary: - Rs. 2.49 lakhs per annum

  • Entry level salary: - Rs. 1.9 lakhs per annum

  • Experienced-level salary (10 to 20 years of work experience): - Rs. 3.9 lakhs per annum

Process of getting the job of a Accountant

  • Placement from colleges, universities and other recognised institutions

  • Job searching on LinkedIn or Indeed for accountant posts

  • Checking out any institution’s profile and requirements for an accountant

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