General ledger accountants prepare journal entries, reconcile financial statements and accounts, and ensure data accuracy. They typically report to a supervisor or manager and work with management in other departments including IT, sales operations, engineering, and legal. Most general ledger accountants work full time in an office setting; they may occasionally work overtime to accommodate the needs of their company. Since this position involves analyzing and ensuring accuracy of data, those who are well-suited to a career as a general ledger accountant are detail-oriented, organized, and accurate.
While a general ledger accountant’s day-to-day duties and responsibilities are determined by where they work, there are many core tasks associated with the role. Based on our analysis of job listings, these include:
Ensure Data Accuracy
General ledger accountants check that data is accurate. They conduct audits to maintain truthful and precise data in documents.
Analyze Financial Information
Analyzing and interpreting financial information, general ledger accountants provide assurance that information complies with professional and regulatory standards. They ensure that data supports budgeting and forecasting requirements, and they provide solutions to control issues.
Support Monthly and Annual Close Processes
At the end of the month or year, general ledger accountants record information such as accrual, deferral, reclass, and interdepartmental entries into the company’s accounting ledger. They perform account analysis to make sure that entries and balances are correct.
Reconcile Accounts
On a regular basis, general ledger accountants reconcile accounts with the general ledger. They ensure that all entries are accurate and that transactions are reported in accordance with accounting standards and government regulations. When they find errors, they make changes as necessary.
Prepare Journal Entries
With appropriate supporting documentation, general ledger accountants prepare journal entries relating to amortization, depreciation, accruals, and a variety of other information. They ensure that entries align with generally accepted accounting principles.
General ledger accountants are highly organized and manage multiple priorities and assignments at the same time. Working with financial documents, they display a high degree of integrity and professionalism. In addition to one to five years of general ledger accounting experience, the following skills and qualifications are necessary to the job:
Source: JobHero