What Do Accounting Directors Do?
Job Descriptions September 30, 2013Accounting directors are in charge of plotting the financial future of the company, meaning he, or she, must evaluate the present and plan for the long-term future. The job description usually involves supervising accounting departments as well as presiding over important financial data such as payroll, accounts receivable and payable, and general ledgers.
The Job Description of an Accounting Director
Should you be hired to this position, you are the one responsible for analyzing the data and presenting it with a strategy to upper management. You will be dealing with all aspects of administration, investing, accounting and analysis. However, not all of these duties will fall on you specifically. Delegating certain tasks is inevitable and even then you will be working hard and over a long period of hours a day.
The difference between a CPA and an accounting director is that you as an accounting director will usually be tied to one company, not a consultant or self-employed financial expert. You will work often with account statements, generate reports, and analyze patterns. Presenting these reports will involve creating charts, graphs, agendas and other documents.
Senior management is your basic job description but this will entail marketing ventures, investment planning, H&R, and daily operations. You will be in charge of making suggestions to improve cash flow, maintain the quality of held assets, and minimize liability where possible. Supervising recruitment, developing reports, and studying external financing will also be part of your job.
The jobs you delegate will most likely be fund management, approving transactions, and preparing miscellaneous reports.
Delegation and Perks
You will be in charge of the books, and it will be your responsibility to check for errors or identify areas for improvement. In addition to working with company software, you will also be expected to maintain records through hard copy and electronic means.
Working with big clients is just a part of your day, and many workers report that this part of the job is very enjoyable, since it involves travel, client relations, and leadership aspects without the need for the tedious paperwork of an entry-level worker. The ability to delegate is one of the most popular aspects of the title.
Accounting directors go over financial details with clients and review what can be spent, what should be invested and what is vital to protect. Essentially, you will be giving advice to the rich and powerful, and so you will be expected to know a great deal about stocks and bonds, and other forms of investment, including real estate potential.
When applying for this important job, you must have a bachelor’s degree (minimal) and will also be expected to have experience in your field. If not, then expect to be hired to an entry-level position, which you can work your way up from, moving from auditor to mid-level job and eventually a managerial position.
This is a lucrative career option that has the potential to reach over $100,000 per year. It is certainly an ambitious career and one that you will enjoy—if you have the self-discipline to study now and aim highly.
