Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Accounting Officer

🎯 Role Definition

As an Accounting Officer, you will sit at the heart of the finance function, ensuring that day‑to‑day accounting operations run smoothly, that financial data is accurate and timely, and that the organisation’s financial controls and reporting meet internal and external requirements. You will process invoices, maintain the general ledger, reconcile accounts, assist with audits, and support budgeting and forecasting efforts. Your contributions will drive confidence in financial information, support business decisions and underpin strong compliance and governance.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Junior Accountant
Accounts Payable/Receivable Specialist
Financial Administrator

Advancement To:

Senior Accounting Officer
Accounting Supervisor
Assistant or Deputy Finance Manager

Lateral Moves:

Financial Reporting Analyst
Budget & Forecasting Analyst
Finance Business Partner

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Maintain and update financial records including sales, purchases, receipts and payments to ensure accuracy of the ledger.
Reconcile bank statements, sub‑ledgers, fixed assets, accruals and prepayments on a monthly basis and follow up on discrepancies.
Assist with preparation of financial statements, including balance sheets, income statements and cash flow statements, in line with accounting standards.
Process accounts payable and accounts receivable transactions: validate invoices, issue payments, record receipts, ensure timely collection and disbursement.
Support month‑end, quarter‑end and year‑end closing processes by completing journal entries, accruals, deferrals, inter‑company entries and final reconciliations.
Monitor and process daily general ledger entries, ensure all business transactions are posted correctly, and maintain the chart of accounts and supporting documentation.
Assist in preparation of budgets, forecasts and variance analysis by collecting actuals, comparing budgeted to actual performance and presenting findings.
Implement, maintain and recommend improvements for internal controls, accounting policies and procedures to ensure compliance and mitigate risk.
Support external audits, provide auditors with schedules, documentation, and responses to queries, and execute audit‑adjusting entries as needed.
Assist in tax preparation, regulatory filings and statutory financial reporting, ensuring compliance with local laws, GAAP/IFRS or other standards.
Maintain fixed asset register, update asset acquisitions and disposals, perform depreciation calculations and reconcile asset sub‑ledger to general ledger.
Handle cash flow monitoring, petty cash management, inter‑company transactions, and ensure proper treatment of inter‑entity entries.
Prepare and deliver financial reports, statistical analysis, management dashboards, and variance explanations to internal stakeholders.
Liaise with other departments (e.g., procurement, operations, human resources) to ensure accounting entries reflect business activities and maintain alignment with organisational strategy.
Participate in system implementations, upgrades and process automation projects to improve the efficiency, accuracy and timeliness of the accounting function.
Ensure confidentiality and security of financial and accounting data, adhere to company policies on data protection and internal governance.
Identify process improvement opportunities, drive standardisation across financial processes and contribute to the continuous development of the finance team.
Monitor and assist in ensuring compliance with financial regulations, tax laws, accounting standards and company policies, and stay updated with changes in the regulatory environment.
Manage vendor and customer account reconciliations, follow up on aged receivables, ensure accurate reporting of liabilities and receivables.
Provide training and support to junior accounting staff or assistants, sharing best practices, resolving queries and fostering a team environment.

Secondary Functions

Support ad‑hoc financial data requests and exploratory data for special projects, including business cases and operational reviews.
Contribute to the organisation’s finance and accounting roadmap, including policy updates, system enhancements and process documentation.
Collaborate with business units to translate accounting needs into operational workflows and improvements.
Participate in cross‑functional projects, budget initiatives and strategic initiatives beyond the accounting department.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Strong knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) or IFRS and their application in daily accounting operations.
Proficiency in maintaining general ledgers, sub‑ledgers, fixed asset modules, accruals and prepayments.
Ability to prepare and reconcile monthly, quarterly and annual financial statements and disclosures.
Experience with accounting software and ERP systems (e.g., QuickBooks, SAP, Oracle) including journal entry processing, ledger maintenance and reporting.
Advanced Microsoft Excel skills including pivot tables, formulas, data manipulation and reporting.
Strong budgeting, forecasting and variance analysis capabilities.
Ability to perform audits, tax filings, regulatory compliance and internal control review.
Ability to interpret financial data, identify discrepancies and drive corrective actions.
Experience with bank reconciliations, cash flow monitoring, expense control and vendor/customer ledger maintenance.
Capability to contribute to system implementation, automation and process improvement within the finance function.

Soft Skills

Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy in preparing financial records and reporting.
Strong organisational and time‑management skills with the ability to prioritise tasks in a fast‑paced environment.
Analytical mindset and problem‑solving ability to identify root causes of financial variances and recommend solutions.
Effective verbal and written communication skills; able to present financial information clearly to non‑financial stakeholders.
Integrity, ethical conduct and professionalism in managing confidential financial information.
Proactive, flexible and adaptable; comfortable working with evolving systems, regulatory changes and business priorities.
Collaborative team player who works across functions, supports junior staff and contributes to the overall finance team culture.
Business‑oriented mindset: able to understand how accounting impacts operations, supports decision‑making and aligns with organisational goals.
Self‑motivated and accountable: able to work under minimal supervision, take ownership of tasks and deliver consistent quality.
Eager to learn and develop: shows initiative for continuous improvement, process automation and professional growth within accounting.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:
Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance or a related field.

Preferred Education:
Professional accounting qualification (e.g., CPA, ACCA) or master’s in Accounting/Finance.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Accounting
Finance
Business Administration
Economics

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:
2‑5 years of progressive accounting or finance experience in a similar role.

Preferred:
Experience with multi‑entity or international accounting operations, ERP system implementation, audit support or regulatory reporting.

Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Accounting Officer