Top 38 best paying accounting jobs
Top 38 best paying accounting jobs
Positions in the accounting field exist to record, predict or strategize finances for an organization or individual.
There are a variety of lucrative positions in the accounting field, from those at banks and insurance companies to those with specialized knowledge at organizations like Greenpeace or Amnesty International. It’s important to chose an occupation that you’re passionate about and have a good working environment, as well as opportunities for advancement.
Many careers in business, accounting, and other related fields require at least a bachelor’s degree. Many also require you to receive a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) designation. Review job descriptions to understand which credentials you need for a specific position.
Top accounting jobs
Here are 38 accountant jobs in order from least to greatest national average salary.
1. Bookkeeper
National average salary: $43,861 per year
The primary duties of a bookkeeper are to keep track of financial transactions and reports, ensuring the smooth running of a company’s finances.
Companies with this position: Intuit, Supporting Strategies, DunlapSLP PC
Bookkeeper
2. Auditor
National average salary: $49,889 per year
An auditor reviews a company’s or individual’s financial filings to ensure that the calculations are correct and that all of the finances are accounted for. Auditors may be called to audit companies randomly, in cases where there is suspicion of financial crimes, or both.
Companies with this position: Verizon, Interstate Premium Auditing LLC, AvantStay
Auditor
3. Accounting clerk
National average salary: $51,702 per year
Accounting clerks are responsible for a variety of tasks that help accountants keep financial records at an organization. Some tasks might include filing paperwork, tracking income and debts, creating reports, and maintaining records.
Companies with this position: PwC, Hilton, Simply Hired
Accounting clerk
4. Credit analyst
National average salary: $55,250 per year
Credit analysts evaluate an individual’s credit history to determine if they are eligible for a loan. They may work for banks or insurance companies.
Companies with this position: American Express, CorTrust Bank, BHG Financial
Credit analyst
5. Compliance officer
National average salary: $59,894 per year
Compliance officers are responsible for ensuring their organization’s financial filings, decisions, and tasks are in compliance with national laws. These officers may also be responsible for distributing information about compliance throughout the organization, implementing compliance policies and procedures, and evaluating the company’s compliance performance.
Companies with this position: Panorama Mortgage Group LLC, Ad Hoc Team, Meta
Compliance officer
6. Tax accountant
National average salary: $66,463 per year
Tax accountants are responsible for completing and filing tax returns on behalf of individuals or businesses, depending on their position. They collect all necessary information and submit data accurately in order to calculate the proper outcome of the tax return, annually.
Companies with this position: Intuit, H&R Block, Gelfand Rennert & Feldman
Tax accountant
7. Accounts payable manager
National average salary: $66,867 per year
Accounts payable managers are responsible for ensuring that all bills and invoices are paid on time, following company policies. They also manage a team of employees and oversee the processing of checks.
Companies with this position: Plumb, Fivetran, Leeds Professional Resources
Accounts payable manager
8. Financial analyst
National average salary: $72,061 per year
Financial analysts are responsible for monitoring the stock, bond and other investments markets in order to provide recommendations and predictions to their organizations. They consider company goals as well as the individual portfolios of their clients in order to make sound financial decisions.
Companies with this position: Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Power Home Remodeling
Financial analyst
9. Budget analyst
National average salary: $73,167 per year
Budget analysts are responsible for making informed decisions about how much money an organization should spend, based on specific criteria. They are often required to manage multiple budgets in order to ensure that money is being spent efficiently.
Companies with this position: U.S. Air Force, Army Corps of Engineers, California State University
Budget analyst
10. Certified financial planner
National average salary: $74,189 per year
Certified financial planners are typically employed by individuals, though they may also work in a firm setting. Their job is to help clients achieve financial goals such as education and retirement. Specific tasks may include helping clients with their taxes, offering investment advice, and guiding them through estate planning.
Companies with this position: Alera Group, Wealth Enhancement Group, Robert W. Baird
Certified financial planner
11. Personal finance adviser
National average salary: $77,552 per year
Personal financial advisers work with individuals to help them develop a financial plan that meets their individual goals. They might provide investment recommendations, set up accounts, or suggest ways to save money in different areas.
Companies with this position: The Bowen Group, Captrust, CUNA Mutual
Personal finance adviser
12. Forensic accountant
National average salary: $78,123 per year
Forensic accountants are responsible for investigating financial occurrences in a criminal case. They may work with financial institutions to fully understand how the parties involved spent, sent or received money during key timeframes.
Companies with this position: Friedman LLP, Guernsey Schneider LLP, New York State Office of the Attorney General
Forensic accountant
13. Risk analyst
National average salary: $78,284 per year
Risk analysts are responsible for estimating the financial risks associated with business decisions. They use software to calculate the potential consequences of various outcomes.
Companies with this position: Fidelity Investments, Meta, Baldwin Risk Partners
Risk analyst
14. Accounting professor
National average salary: $78,862 per year
Accounting professors are responsible for teaching accounting and finance courses at colleges and universities. They also create quizzes, tests, presentations, and homework assignments to help students learn the material.
Companies with this position: Valencia College, California State University, Texas Tech University
Accounting professor
15. Finance manager
National average salary: $92,073 per year
The finance manager is responsible for tracking expenses, ensuring managers stay within their department’s budget, and creating accurate and timely financial reports. They need strong analytical skills in order to do this effectively.
Companies with this position: VMware, Johnson & Johnson, LaFontaine Automotive Group
Finance manager
16. Finance director
National average salary:$96,751 per year
Finance directors are responsible for overseeing and managing an organization’s finances, ensuring that it remains profitable and able to meet its financial goals. They make high-level decisions to achieve long-term financial stability.
Companies with this position: County of Ventura Government, YMCA, S&P Global
Finance director
17. Accounting software developer
National average salary: $96,573 per year
The primary duties of accounting software developers include creating, maintaining, and improving on software that accounting organizations use to manage finances. They work closely with the teams or individuals who use these tools to ensure they are providing a beneficial product and are easy to work with.
Companies with this position: Comcentric, Indeed, Ad Hoc Team
Accounting software developer
18. International tax manager
National average salary: $100,486 per year
An international tax manager is responsible for ensuring that an organization is following all applicable global tax laws. This includes staying up to date on changes in the law so as not to violate any regulations.
Companies with this position: Simply Hired, KerberRose S.C., DHG
International tax manager
19. Corporate controller
National average salary: $110,943 per year
The corporate controller is responsible for overseeing the accounting department, ensuring compliance, preparing and maintaining budgets, creating financial reports, and more.
Companies with this position: Skilljar, 8020 Consulting, Car and Credit Master
Corporate controller
20. Actuarial analyst
National average salary: $112,381 per year
An actuarial analyst is a professional who uses data to help assess risk for companies and organizations. They work for insurance companies and financial services businesses, and are responsible for creating charts and graphs to communicate risk evaluation, interpreting data analysis results, and ensuring all relevant reports are accurate.
Companies with this position: Munich Re, Kaiser Permanente, PwC
Actuarial analyst
21. Chief financial officer
National average salary: $122,499 per year
The chief financial officer is responsible for overseeing an organization’s financial operations. They forecast and analyze finances, make long-term goals and projections, support company decision making, and keep track of financial records. They often work closely with a company’s chief operating officer to manage budgets, create forecasts, secure funding and more.
Companies with this position: Textio, BairesDev, James Moore & Co.
Chief financial officer
22. Vice president of finance
National average salary: $146,573 per year
The Vice President of Finance typically works hand-in-hand with the company’s president or CEO to coordinate budgets, set financial goals and oversee lower-level employees in the finance department.
Companies with this position: Directive, Karbon, HSBC
Vice president of finance
23. Accounting Professor
Average Income: $77,400
Pursue a career in academic accounting if you have a passion for the profession and are prepared to dedicate yourself to it, as well as spend many hours per day working with students. You’ll need at least a master’s degree to teach at the university level, and it is recommended that you complete a PhD for optimum job prospects. College professors typically earn a salary of around $86,000. However, this will depend on your employer and the specific field in which you work. Additionally, many college professors choose to continue working in the non-profit or private sectors after completing their degrees.
Accounting Professor
24. Director of Finance & Administration
Average Income: $88,900
MBA holders with a concentration in accounting or finance are often given directorships within the industry. This is because their knowledge of the industry and accounting specifically will make them an excellent choice for this type of position. Directorships often require a master’s degree, but an MBA with a concentration in accounting or finance will be more applicable than one without such specialization.
The financial manager for a business will be responsible for managing the financial and administrative life of that company. They will need to work with other management professionals to come up with budgets and make sure costs are accounted for accurately. These skills are necessary in order to keep the business running smoothly.
Reviewing financial statements can help you identify any potential problems with the company’s finances. There are several other professionals who work for the company, such as an internal auditor, a forensic accountant if fraud is a concern, and directors in both the non-profit and private sector. Your income may look different depending on which sector you choose to work in.
Director of Finance & Administration
25. Audit Partner
An audit partner is an experienced accountant who has a financial interest in the company they are auditing. They must have a long history of building strong client relationships and possess skills and qualifications to lead a team of actuaries. Their job duties include monitoring the firm’s finances and ensuring its public audits are up-to-date.
Audit Partner
26. Interim Controller
An interim controller is a financial leader who helps oversee an organization’s finances when the regular controller is out of town, or the organization is in the process of finding a permanent replacement. Your duties as an interim controller may include reviewing financial data, creating reports based on your analysis and research, and presenting them to top-level managers.
You typically work with the company’s CFO and compliance specialists to ensure that the business is complying with all state and federal laws.
Interim Controller
27. Chartered Accountant
As a Chartered Accountant, you are responsible for providing advice on business transactions and tax planning, auditing accounts, and presenting honest information regarding financial records to your clients. Your responsibilities require expertise in taxation and corporate finance.
You are responsible for managing financial systems, reviewing systems and risks, and maintaining accounting records. You may need to provide regular reporting on company accounts.
Chartered Accountant
28. Senior Finance Manager
As a senior finance manager, your job is to help develop financial goals for your company and oversee the financial managers and analysts who study economic data. You also prepare reports and collaborate with top executives to devise strategies to reduce costs, increase profits, or optimize cash flow.
To be successful as a senior finance manager, you will need at least a bachelor’s degree in accounting, business, economics, or finance and several years of experience in the finance industry.
Senior Finance Manager
29. Regional Controller
A financial controller is responsible for overseeing a company’s financial and accounting activities within a specific geographical area. This includes ensuring accurate bookkeeping, preparing financial reports, and planning tax strategies. Additionally, the controller evaluates operating information to identify business trends and ensure compliance with industry standards.
In order to pursue a career in accounting or finance, you will typically need at least a bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance and relevant work experience. Additional qualifications may include excellent analytical, organizational, and computer skills.
Regional Controller
30. Commercial Finance Manager
Commercial finance managers analyze company data to identify ways to improve profits. They may develop strategies to reduce waste and decrease costs, or implement strategies to improve financial stability.
Commercial finance managers work with sales and marketing departments to create new promotions and marketing campaigns that will bring in new revenue. They typically have a bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, or a related field, and several years of experience in the industry.
Commercial Finance Manager
31. Payroll Director
A payroll director is responsible for overseeing the payroll department and ensuring that accounting is accurate. They also pay all payroll taxes for their organization. This can include reconciling payroll ledgers, confirming tax laws and regulations are met, and managing employee compensation and benefits.
Payroll Director
32. Internal Audit Manager
An internal audit manager ensures that company audits are conducted in accordance with auditing standards and practices. The manager supports the auditing team by overseeing a variety of internal audits, including financial, operational, and management reviews. In addition to following standard auditing procedures, the manager monitors practices to ensure they meet financial risk management guidelines
As a financial auditor, you are responsible for completing individual audit projects, conducting fieldwork, and reporting results. You use a variety of methods to analyze data, including financial research and interviews. You also ensure your company complies with the regulation of requirements and policies.
Internal Audit Manager
33. Property Controller
As a property controller, you are responsible for ensuring accurate financial reporting by the accounting department. You review data regularly and produce reports to upper management on the current financial status of assets and investments.
To become a certified public accountant (CPA), you need to have several years of experience in accounting and property management. These reports are used to help the company develop ways to be more productive and profitable.
Property Controller
34. Business Unit Controller
Your responsibilities as a business unit controller include overseeing the management of company finances, including payroll, accounts receivable and accounts payable. You also lead financial planning and analysis, ensure compliance with financial controls and audits, and report cash flow information to external financial institutions.
A career in business typically requires at least a bachelor’s degree in business administration, finance, or a related field and relevant work experience. You may also need certification as a public accountant. Additional qualifications may include excellent interpersonal, organizational, and leadership skills, as well as strong analytical and mathematical abilities.
Business Unit Controller
35. Internal Audit Consultant
Internal audits are used to identify risks and improve the operations of a company. The consultant looks at risk factors and determines where improvements can be made.
As a member of management team responsible for reviewing procedures and overseeing compliance, you are responsible for performing audits to identify potential risks and recommending solutions. You also develop audit programs to help ensure the safety of company assets, as well as preventing fraud.
Internal Audit Consultant
36. Senior Accounting Manager
A senior accounting manager oversees the financial operations of an organization, preparing and examining statements and reports for accuracy. Depending on the size of the business, different individuals may work in a single department or handle all accounts.
You provide guidance and support to executives in financial decisions and long-range planning. You ensure that company follows all regulations and laws, some specializing in one aspect such as payable information, insurance, or risk management while others focus on reporting, budgeting, or cost reduction.
Senior Accounting Manager
37. Cost Controller
Cost controllers are responsible for tracking and controlling the costs associated with a project. They work in many different industries, including business, construction, and health care. To become a cost controller, you need a bachelor’s degree in business, finance, or a related field and several years of industry experience.
Cost Controller
38. Controller
A controller is a high-level accounting position in a company or firm. They are responsible for budgets, audits, and financial reports as well as ensuring the company complies with all tax codes and regulations.
What is the best job in accounting?
With this in mind, here are the top seven accounting careers for 2022 (with salary estimates from Glassdoor):Auditor. … Information and Technology Accountant. … Senior Financial Analyst. … Forensic Accountant. … Managerial Accountant. … Controller. … Chief Financial Officer (CFO)Top 7 Jobs in Accounting for 2022 | Business Blog | Ottawa Universitywww.ottawa.edu › online-and-evening › blog › december-2020 › top-7-ac…About Featured Snippets
Do accountants make 100k?
Yes, you can make $100,000 per year as a senior accountant.
The average annual salary is $70,681 for senior accountant jobs. For example, senior accountants in District of Columbia whose salaries are in the 90th percentile earn an average salary of $113,000Can a senior accountant make 100k? – Zippiawww.zippia.com › answers › can-a-senior-accountant-make-100kAbout Featured Snippets
Which company pays accountants the most?
Top 10 Highest-Paying Accountant CompaniesCompanySalary for AccountantsWithum$78,483Grant Thornton$71,730Deloitte$68,500Grassi$65,115Top Companies Hiring Accountants in 2022 – Career Karmacareerkarma.com › Blog › Career AdviceAbout Featured Snippets
What are the highest paying accounting jobs?
What Are Some of The Best Paying Accounting Jobs?Accounting Professor. Average Income: $77,400. … Director of Finance & Administration. Average Income: $88,900. … Corporate Controller. … Internal Auditing Manager. … Investment Banker. … Financial Planning & Analysis Manager. … Finance Director. … Director of Risk Management/Risk Control.Top 10 Highest Paying Jobs in Accounting | UniversityHQuniversityhq.org › … › Become an Accountant or CPAAbout Featured Snippets
