We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Roles

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What does a Junior Accountant do?

By Kathy Green
Updated: Mar 02, 2024
Views: 36,778
Share

A junior accountant's primary responsibility typically is to provide accounting support to senior accountants by performing many of the less-glamorous accounting tasks, thereby freeing up the senior accountants for other duties. People in this position will usually review the company's revenue and expenditures, and make suggestions for maximizing the company's finances. Ultimately, though, the authority to accept or reject those suggestions usually lies with the senior accountant.

Most junior accountants have obtained a bachelor's degree in accounting or a related field, such as math, business, or finance. Often, they have internship experience with a financial services firm or in the accounting department of an organization. Typically, a person in this job has less than five years of experience in the accounting field. There is, however, no industry standard of time, education, or experience for differentiating between junior and senior accountants — this distinction is typically left up to each individual company.

A typical junior accountant has not yet passed the certified public accountant (CPA) exam. As such, he or she is not yet allowed to file reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Although the tasks he or she performs on a daily basis cannot be considered menial, the tasks do require less specialized knowledge than what is required to file an SEC report.

For example, a junior accountant's day might be comprised of reviewing profit and loss statements and balance sheets to analyze a company's financial position. He or she may also prepare projection reports that suggest what the company's financial needs will be at various future points. These reports would ultimately be reviewed by company management, although he or she rarely has direct access to these executives. In most cases, he or she would submit all reports to a supervising accountant, who would approve each report before passing it up the chain of command.

As a junior accountant gains experience within an organization, he or she may begin to recognize an interest in specific areas. These areas could include internal auditing, bookkeeping, or personal finance. The managing senior accountant may mentor the him or her by identifying strengths and weaknesses, and guiding him or her toward a specialization.

In the United States, a junior accountant typically earns a salary that is 60 to 70 percent of a senior accountant's salary. Fortunately, the need for accountants has historically been strong, providing many opportunities for advancement within the field. Junior accountants typically can strengthen their position in the job market by being involved in accounting organizations and seeking certifications to make them more valuable to potential employers.

Share
Practical Adult Insights is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
By MrMoody — On May 23, 2011

@Charred - I think they perform similar lower level functions. Both the junior staff accountant and the bookkeeper keep books. However, the junior accountant takes that detailed information and uses it to get more of a birds-eye view of where the business is going, and understands tax issues as well.

He or she will provide this information to the higher ups so that they can make strategic decisions for managing the business and making sure it’s a success. That’s an oversimplification, but that’s what it boils down to. One sees the trees, the other sees the forest.

By Charred — On May 21, 2011

My mom worked as a bookkeeper for a doctor’s office for some time. She wasn’t an accountant, though. She didn’t get rich, as bookkeeper jobs pay less than accounting jobs. What’s the difference between junior accountant duties and those of the bookkeeper?

By nony — On May 19, 2011

@miriam98 - That’s great that he got his foot in the door with the big accounting firms. That makes a big difference when it comes to salary. A junior accountant salary with the big accounting firms can be substantially more than with other firms.

Another big plus is that if your nephew rises to become a partner in the firm, he can expect six figure bonuses. Again, it depends on the firm and his position in the company, but accounting salaries tend to grow very quickly with experience. Location makes a big difference, too, with bigger cities paying more than smaller towns.

By miriam98 — On May 17, 2011

My nephew just graduated from college with an MBA degree and a focus on accounting. He interned for an accounting firm while he was in school, and he just got a junior accountant job. He landed the job with one of the big accounting firms and is very excited. He’s working on passing his CPA exam, and by his own admission it’s quite difficult. However, he’s got a good head on his shoulders and I’m sure he should be able to pass it with flying colors.

Share
https://www.practicaladultinsights.com/what-does-a-junior-accountant-do.htm
Copy this link
Practical Adult Insights, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

Practical Adult Insights, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.