What Does an Accounting Manager Do?

An accounting manager leads the work that keeps an organization’s financial records accurate and ready for reporting. The manager plans and reviews the accounting close so transactions are recorded in the correct accounts and periods. They investigate differences, apply accounting policies, and make sure balances have clear supporting documentation. They also guide the accounting team and coordinate with other departments when financial records depend on operational information. This work gives leaders dependable financial reports and helps the organization maintain consistent review procedures.

What Is a Accounting Manager?

An accounting manager oversees an organization’s accounting operations or a defined part of them. The role combines technical review with responsibility for coordinating the work of other accounting staff. In a smaller organization, the manager may oversee much of the accounting cycle. In a larger one, the position may focus on a particular team or accounting area.

The manager is often responsible for ensuring that recurring accounting work is completed on schedule and that reported balances can be traced to supporting records. The role’s authority varies by organization. In some companies, broader accounting policy and financial reporting decisions sit with senior finance leaders.

What Are the Main Responsibilities of a Accounting Manager?

A central responsibility is managing the monthly or quarterly close. The manager sets the close schedule and assigns review responsibilities. They check that reconciliations and journal entries are supported and follow up on unresolved differences. When a service has been received but its invoice has not arrived, for example, the manager helps determine whether an accrual is needed so the cost is recorded in the appropriate period.

The manager also reviews accounting results and investigates material or unexplained changes. Comparing actual results with earlier periods or the budget can help distinguish a genuine change in the business from a transaction recorded incorrectly. The manager evaluates the facts, applies the organization’s accounting policies, and raises complex issues to senior finance leadership when needed.

Another responsibility is maintaining review procedures and documentation. The manager may require someone other than the preparer to approve certain entries or transactions. They check that required reviews are completed and that explanations and evidence are retained. When auditors request records, the manager coordinates the response and follows up on open questions.

Team leadership is part of the job as well. The manager assigns work and deadlines, reviews employees’ output, and coaches them through difficult accounting questions. They also work with other departments to obtain information and resolve issues that affect financial records.

What Does a Accounting Manager Do on a Daily Basis?

A typical day often starts with checking the close calendar or reporting deadlines and identifying work that is late or blocked. The manager may then review reconciliations or journal entries prepared by the team. If a balance does not match its supporting records, they examine the explanation and decide whether more investigation or a correction is required.

Later, the manager may contact another department for missing transaction details or to clarify a difference between operational records and the general ledger. They may discuss the issue with an employee and explain what documentation would support the accounting treatment. As deadlines approach, they check progress and adjust assignments when necessary.

Time outside the close may go to reviewing financial results, answering questions from leadership, preparing materials for auditors, or addressing recurring documentation problems. The exact routine depends on the organization’s size and reporting cycle.

What Skills Does a Accounting Manager Need?

Accounting knowledge helps a manager judge whether entries and reported balances are supported. For example, when reviewing an accrual, the manager must understand what happened, when the service was received, and which accounting policy applies. Analytical judgment is useful when a variance appears in the reports because the manager needs to investigate its cause rather than assume it is an error.

Organization and planning help the manager coordinate reviews that must be completed in sequence before a reporting deadline. Communication matters when the team needs clear instructions or another department must provide records it does not routinely prepare. Leadership and coaching help the manager address weak documentation while helping staff learn how to handle similar work in the future.

Accounting managers commonly build on education and experience in accounting. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says a bachelor’s degree is typically required for accountants and auditors, but requirements for a particular accounting-manager job depend on the employer and role. A professional credential may be preferred for some positions, but it is not a universal requirement.

How Much Does a Accounting Manager Earn?

There is no single Bureau of Labor Statistics wage figure for the exact job title “accounting manager.” As a broader benchmark, the BLS reported a median annual wage of $81,680 for accountants and auditors in May 2024. This is an occupational-group figure, not an accounting-manager-specific salary, so an individual manager’s pay may differ.

What Is the Career Progression for a Accounting Manager?

Many accounting managers develop their experience in progressively responsible accounting roles before taking on management duties. They may first handle ledger entries, reconciliations, or reporting work, then take responsibility for reviewing work and coordinating close activities. The progression depends on the person’s experience and the organization’s structure.

From accounting management, some professionals move into broader accounting leadership, such as a controller role. Others continue managing a specialized accounting team or function. The scope of advancement depends on the organization and the responsibilities of each position.

How Contingent Workforce Management Helps Businesses Hire Accounting Managers

Contingent workforce management services help a company administer temporary or project-based workers. A business may need an accounting manager for a defined period during an accounting-system conversion or an acquisition, when reconciliations and close coordination add to the permanent team’s workload. If the company has already found the right professional, hiring the worker directly and using third-party payrolling can be a lower-cost alternative to a staffing agency.

TCWGlobal helps companies manage contingent accounting managers through payrolling and workforce support. For a time-limited assignment, this can reduce the company’s administrative work by supporting worker onboarding and payroll administration while the company focuses on its close and financial records. Using third-party payrolling for a directly identified worker can also save money compared with a staffing-agency arrangement.