Your guide to hiring an Accounting Manager

Has your organization given the green light to hire an accounting manager, but you don’t know where to start? Luckily, we have everything you need to know to conduct your search.

Follow along with our go-to guide for hiring an accounting manager.

What is an Accounting Manager?

An accounting manager supervises the accounting department and ensures accurate delivery of financial statements and reporting. This can sometimes be a true leader that reviews the work of lower-level staff but is often a hands-on member of the accounting team, with active responsibilities pertaining to the month-end closing and financial reporting activities.

Why should you hire an Accounting Manager?

An accounting manager plays an essential role on any accounting team. Not only do they keep your organization’s tax and financial needs in order, but they oversee that team within your organization and ensure they’re completing tasks efficiently and correctly.

Key qualities to look for when hiring an Accounting Manager

Industry experience

Accounting managers are expected to have obtained a bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, or related fields. You may want them to be a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), but that depends on your organizational needs

Soft skills

Soft skills are essential to any position, but here are the top ones to focus on when hiring an accounting manager:

• Attention to detail: When you have someone balancing the books, you want them to be incredibly detail-oriented. Someone who doesn’t have an eye for detail may gloss over small errors that can cost a lot of money for your organization.
  • Time management: With deadlines for critical reports and audits throughout the year, finding someone who can manage their time is essential.Communication: Arguably, this skill is important in any job, but it’s especially crucial for accounting managers. They need to communicate financial information to key stakeholders and be able to train and direct their team effectively.
  • Leadership Skills: If the accounting manager you plan on hiring will be managing a team, finding someone with general leadership skills is crucial. You want someone who has the skills and experience to motivate and develop their team.

How should you write your job description?

Responsibilities

Below are some common responsibilities among accounting managers. These functions will vary based on what your organization needs.

• Develop and improve organizational financial practices
  • Manage staff by overseeing their performance, delivering continuous training, and fostering a positive team environment
  • Supervise accounting functions such as accounts payable, accounts receivable, general ledger, and taxes
  • Assist in conducting quarterly, year-end, and companywide financial audits
  • Manage month-end closing duties, including oversight of the general ledger (GL), financial reports, account and bank reconciliations, accounts payable/accounts receivable processes, and review of journal entries.

Technical experience needed

Accounting managers need to know about different software’s to complete accounting functions successfully. The systems listed below will vary based on what your organization uses.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, notably in Microsoft Excel
• Experience with systems like Oracle, NetSuite, SAP, and QuickBooks

Salary

Money plays a major role in finding candidates, and you need to ensure your organization’s salary is competitive. The national average salary in the U.S. for Accounting Managers is $146,925. Check out Addison Group’s 2024 Workforce Planning Guide for more detailed accounting manager salary information.

Some interview questions to ask

When you’re ready to start interviewing candidates, don’t get stuck on interview questions to ask. Below are five sample interview questions that can extract the necessary information you need to know.

1. What size team are you over / how many, if any, direct reports do you have?
   1. What positions are those? AP? AR? Staff?
2.  What parts of the month-end close do you have hands-on responsibility for?
3. What systems do you currently use/have you used in the past?
   1. Tell me about your [Specific System Mentioned] skills
4. Who do you currently report up to? A CFO? Controller? Asst. Controller? (This can indicate how heavy the candidate is / how much experience they have)      

Struggling to hire an Accounting Manager?

Our guide above can help get you started on hiring an accounting manager, but sometimes having a hiring expert in your corner can help jumpstart the process of finding qualified talent. That’s where Addison Group steps in. With more than 20 years of experience, we can find your team contract, contract-to-hire, and direct hire accounting managers. Contact us to find finance and accounting talent!