How to Become a Staff Accountant

Staff accountants file corporate tax reports, conduct external audits, and create financial statements that comply with regulations. As a staff accountant, you'll ensure that companies meet compliance standards and maintain accurate financial records. If you have strong accounting abilities and attention to detail, this could be the career for you.

But how do you become a staff accountant? You'll need a mix of education and experience to break into this field. Once you become a staff accountant, you'll benefit from many career advancement opportunities. Use our guide to learn which steps to take to become a staff accountant.

Steps to a Staff Accountant Career

Required Education for a Staff Accountant Position

What degree will you need to become a staff accountant? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), most accounting jobs require applicants to possess a bachelor's degree. In addition to on-campus programs, accredited online accounting programs can prepare you for staff accountant careers.

Earning your bachelor's degree in accounting will give you the foundational knowledge and focused accounting skills necessary for this career path. You'll take courses in financial accounting, auditing principles, and business taxation. Depending on your program, you can also choose a concentration or electives to specialize your degree.

In addition to an accounting degree, you can qualify for staff accountant roles with a bachelor's in finance, business, or other related fields.

After earning your bachelor's degree, you can apply for entry-level accounting jobs. Many accountants also consider a master's degree to advance their knowledge and add specialized coursework to their resume.

Required Credentials for Staff Accountants

As a staff accountant, you do not need any specific certifications or licenses. However, some employers may prefer candidates with a CPA license, and some roles require the credential. For example, if you file reports with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, you'll need to be a CPA.

How do accountants become CPAs? You'll need at least 150 credits of college coursework, which many accountants meet by earning a master's or graduate certificate in accounting. Then you'll need to pass the four-part Uniform CPA Exam. Finally, you'll apply for a license through your state's board of accountancy, which you can find through the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy.

CPAs need to meet continuing education requirements to maintain licensure.

Optional Certifications and Degrees

In addition to the CPA license, staff accountants may pursue other certifications or degrees to advance their careers. Many professional associations offer certifications. For example, the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners offers the certified fraud examiners (CFE) credential, while the Institute of Internal Auditors offers the certified internal auditor (CIA) credential.

These certifications demonstrate your expertise in an area within accounting. CFEs investigate suspected fraud, while CIAs review financial reports. Accountants can also pursue the accredited in business valuation (ABV) credential to specialize in determining the value of a business.

To earn a professional credential, you'll need to meet educational and experience requirements. CFEs typically hold a bachelor's degree and need two years of fraud-related work experience. Then, you'll pass a certification exam to demonstrate your knowledge. Finally, you'll complete continuing education requirements to maintain your credential.

In addition to certifications, accountants can also earn a master's degree, which typically takes 1-2 years. Specialized master's programs prepare accountants for careers as CPAs, forensic accountants, management accountants, and other focused roles.

Required Experience for a Staff Accountant

Most staff accountants gain some on-the-job experience before landing their roles. Gaining experience can take several forms. For instance, accounting majors often complete internships or practicums to apply their skills and expand their networks. Many programs coordinate these experiential learning opportunities for majors, which gives them an advantage on the job market.

Prospective staff accountants can also work as junior accountants to gain experience before applying to staff accounting roles. In these entry-level roles, accountants prepare financial reports and handle other basic accounting tasks such as updating budget reports or analyzing account statements.

Should I Become a Staff Accountant?

Accounting can be a rewarding career path. In fact, 95% of accountants are satisfied with their current job, according to research from ShareFile. In particular, accountants point to pay, job security, and career advancement as reasons to enter the field.

Staff accountants benefit from job stability and career advancement opportunities, making it a good career path if you're interested in accounting. However, becoming a staff accountant might not be the best fit if you'd rather avoid the CPA exam since many roles require the credential. Because staff accountant is often not an entry-level job title, you'll also need to gain experience before qualifying for many roles.

For many in the accounting field, working as a staff accountant is a great way to expand their skills and level up their careers. It's a good stepping stone if you're interested in management or consulting roles. And thousands of companies across every industry employ staff accountants, giving these accountants many opportunities to specialize their skills.

The Job Hunt

What's the best way to find staff accountant jobs? Start your job hunt as early as possible. During your accounting degree program, attend job fairs, join professional associations, and network during internships or conferences. These early steps can help you identify opportunities to launch your career.

In particular, many professional associations for accountants offer job boards and career resources. They also often provide a discount membership for students. You can start your job search with the following resources:

• American Accounting Association Career Center: If you're considering academic accounting jobs, the AAA career center is an excellent resource, and it also lists staff accounting and accounting manager roles.
• AICPA Global Career Hub: The professional association for CPAs hosts a career hub that includes job listings and career resources, including career services.
• Robert Half Job Board: A major consulting firm, Robert Half operates a job board that lists remote, hybrid, and on-site opportunities. Recruiters can also help you connect with prospective employers.
• Accounting Today Jobs: Accounting Today runs a job board that connects over 325,000 professionals, including many in the Big Four firms that employ countless staff accountants.

Get tips on job searching:

• How do you professionally network in accounting?
• Is it worth working with a recruiter?
• How do you write a resume?

Upward Mobility

After working as a staff accountant, you can move into senior or management roles.

Staff accountants can advance by gaining experience, pursuing professional certifications, or earning a master's degree. Common titles for staff accountants seeking career advancement include:

Questions About the Staff Accountant Career Path