An Accounting Associate is at the bottom line of professionals in the accounting industry. While you need ace professionals throughout the line, it is important to find accounting associates who know how to do their jobs. It is like hunting for a needle in a haystack. However, this role continues to be the backbone of the accounting operations. They are the ones who do the transactional activities. They are the ones responsible for ensuring financial accuracy, supporting your senior team, and helping keep clients and regulators happy.
A 2020 report by Sage showcased that 84% employers acknowledged that employees from younger generations are perceived as “digital natives”. They bring progressive expectations, attitudes, and talents. As an accounting firm owner, if you are struggling to find such team members, it might be wise to reflect upon what you are doing wrong.
This is why it is important to have a job description that lets the candidates know exactly what you are looking for. This ensures both parties are on the same page.
What Does an Accounting Associate Do?
An Accounting Associate is one of the foundational roles in most firms. They are at the forefront when there is a change in the regulation or clients point out an error. They are also the source of support for the accounting teams in their day-to-day tasks like bookkeeping, preparing reports, processing transactions and maintaining financial records.
These professionals are usually freshers or have very little experience. They are early in their careers and have a strong understanding of the accounting basics, software tools, and compliance requirements. Hiring the right people in the role can take a lot off your plate. Instead of looking at them as a temporary resource, you should focus on grooming them into a long-term asset.
What Does the Job Entail – What should you include in the JD?
The responsibilities of an Accounting Associate vary greatly depending on the firm’s size and industry. To summarize, some of the common responsibilities may include:
- Assisting in preparing financial statements and reports
- Reconciling bank accounts and credit cards
- Recording and classifying daily financial transactions
- Processing accounts payable and receivable
- Supporting month-end and year-end close processes
- Maintaining and organizing financial records
- Communicating with vendors, clients, and internal teams as needed
- Ensuring compliance with accounting policies and procedures
Be sure to clarify whether this role is client-facing or internal, and whether they’ll report to a Senior Accountant, Controller, or directly to you.
Key Skills and Qualifications You Should Look For:
Katie Thomas, CPA, in one of her live sessions mentioned that your firm needs an inbound approach to attract top talent. Especially because what used to work earlier, doesn’t anymore.
That is why, it is not enough to just look for individuals who understand how to do accounting. It is about finding the right fit – culturally. You need someone who is detail-oriented, proactive, responsible, has the ability to take ownership and can juggle between multiple tasks without making critical errors.
Here’s what to include in your “Requirements” section:
Education & Experience:
Technical Skills:
Soft Skills:
Bonus points if they’re pursuing a CPA or have worked with accounting firms before.
How to Customize the JD for Your Firm
One-size-fits-all job descriptions often lead to mismatched hires. Make sure to tailor the JD to reflect your:
- Firm size and structure: A 3-person firm needs different support than a 50-person one.
- Workflow style: Are you using cloud tech and automation? Mention it!
- Client type: If your associate will work with small business clients or specific industries, include that.
Also, don’t forget to highlight your culture and values. Today’s candidates care as much about who they’re working with as what they’re doing.
Do’s and Don’ts when customizing your job description template:
| Do’s | Don’ts |
| Reflect your firm’s niche or focus
E.g., “Experience working with hospital industry preferred” |
Using a generic industry line
E.g., “Looking for someone with accounting experience” |
| Mention the tools your team actually uses
E.g., “Proficiency in QuickBooks and Bill.com required” |
Listing every accounting tool under the sun
“Knowledge of SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, Zoho…” |
| Include location/time zone expectations for remote roles
E.g., “Must be available to work X-Y EST hours” |
Leaving availability open-ended
|
| Customize responsibilities to reflect upon the actual role of the individual E.g., “Monthly bank reconciliations, assisting in tax prep” |
Copy-pasting responsibilities from another role E.g., “Managing a team of accountants” for a junior role |
| Adjust qualifications according to the seniority level
E.g., “0–2 years of experience for entry-level” |
Asking for unrealistic experience
“Minimum 5 years of experience” for an associate role |
| Keep language inclusive and engaging
E.g., “We welcome candidates from diverse accounting backgrounds” |
Using limiting or biased language
“Must be young and dynamic” |
Save Time with a Free Accounting Associate Job Description Template
Don’t want to start from scratch? We’ve got you covered.
We’ve created a ready-to-use, customizable Accounting Associate Job Description as part of our larger job description template pack. It includes:
- A clear role summary
- Editable sections for duties and requirements
- Space to include your firm’s benefits, culture, and application process
DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE TEMPLATE TODAY!
Need Help Filling the Role?
Writing the perfect job description is only half the battle. The next challenge? Finding someone who’s qualified and available.
That’s where Finsmart Accounting can help.
Hire full-time, remote Accounting Associates who are pre-vetted, trained, and ready to plug into your team—without the stress of local recruitment.
- Pre-screened talent
- Fluent English and accounting software skills
- Trained in international accounting standards
- Fully remote and ready to work your time zone
Partnering with Finsmart makes sure that your accounting processes are seamless from Day 1. To get started, we follow the following onboarding steps:
- Gather all details of the accounting firm – client name, address, partners, employees, point of contact, scope of work and other basic details.
- Together we set up the tech – Accounting Software, Internal Communications platform, time tracking, Document Management, task Management, Invoice Processing, Month Closing, Password Protection, and data security
- Deep dive into the accounting processes to understand what both parties expect
- Set the accounting offshoring workflow with our 14-step guide
Ready to get started? Book a discovery call:
Book a free discovery call to explore your options.
Final Thoughts
An Accounting Associate can bring structure, consistency, and support to your firm—if you hire the right one.
It all starts with a strong job description that speaks to their skill set, clarifies your expectations, and showcases what makes your firm a great place to work.
Use our free template to make hiring easier—and smarter.
Grab the Free Accounting Associate JD Template Now
Maanoj is Co-founder & Director of Growth Strategy & Alliance at Finsmart Accounting. He is an Outsourcing Expert, a People Champion, and a Dynamic Leader with strong Business Strategy and Scaling-up experience. He has incubated businesses, sold & exited ventures; helped build strong enterprises in very diversified verticals like Fintech, HR & Consulting spaces in various CXO capacities over the last 20 years.
