Accounting Manager Salary

Created by Henry Steele

By Henry Steele - January 8, 2018
Reading Time: 12 minutes
Reading Time: 12 minutes

The following article discusses the career path of Accounting Manager. Learn about how to become one, education requirements, job duties, traits and qualities, national salary outlook as well as top national employers of Accounting Managers.

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Accounting Manager Job Duties

In the majority of businesses, accounting managers develop and put in place systems that gather, verify, analyze, and report on financial information. Usually, they head a department of other financial staff members, over whom they have line management responsibilities.

There main goal is to ensure the financial status of the organization is properly monitored and kept healthy. They create charts and reports on this, which are then shared with senior managers. They also work together with other departments to ensure their financial operations are in order.

Accounting managers also focus on compliance, ensuring that the organization complies with all relevant legislation, rules, and regulations. In so doing, they help the business avoid significant legal challenges and litigation. This also means keeping their knowledge up to date at all times in relation to new regulations.

Other job duties of an accounting manager include:

  • Being responsible for the processing and maintenance of payroll transactions, the general ledger, and accounts payable
  • Creating statements of financial analysis, including income statements, monthly balance sheets, actual to budget, cash flow statements, and last year variance analysis
  • Helping to develop and put in place policies and procedures that accounting, budget, and financial management staff must adhere to
  • Managing the overall accounting department
  • Assisting in audits

Where Accounting Manager’s Work

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 1.4 million accountants and auditors in 2016. The largest employers of these professionals were:

  • Accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping, and payroll services: 25%
  • Government: 8%
  • Finance and insurance: 8%
  • Management of companies and enterprises: 7%
  • Self-employed workers: 7%

How to Become an Accounting Manager

Accounting managers usually hold a bachelor’s degree in accounting or a finance related field, although many have a master’s or MBA degree. They also need to have several years’ work experience. See 25 Most Affordable Online MBA Programs for 2018.

Accounting Manager Education Requirements

A bachelor’s degree is usually the minimum requirement, with a major in accounting, finance, or related field. Those with a master’s degree are usually in higher demand, particularly those with the master’s in business administration (MBA) with an accountancy concentration.

See 10 Best Online Accounting Degree Programs

If accounting managers need to file reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), they must be a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). This means that they have to complete education beyond their bachelor’s degree and pass the CPA exam. Most accounting managers are expected to be a CPA, which is why most have the master’s degree as this enables them to meet and exceed the 150 semester hours of coursework requirement for the certification examination. The CPA examination is offered by the American Institute for Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). CPA certification must be maintained through continuous education.

Other certifications can also be beneficial for someone working as an accounting manager, including:

  • Certified Management Accountant (CMA) offered by the Institute of Management Accountants
  • Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) offered by the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA)
  • Certified in Control Self-Assessment (CCSA) offered by the IIA
  • Certified Government Auditing Professional (CGAP) offered by the IIA
  • Certified Financial Services Auditor (CFSA) offered by the IIA
  • Certification in Risk Management Assurance (CRMA) offered by the IIA
  • Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) offered by the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA)
  • CPA Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV) offered by AICPA
  • CPA Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP) offered by AICPA
  • CPA Personal Financial Specialist (PFS) offered by AICPA

Accounting managers usually start their career at an entry level position and then grow into supervisory roles, becoming managers and eventually even partners. Some start as junior internal auditors or cost accountants, for instance, rising through the organization over time. It is also common for accounting managers to move between internal auditing and management accounting so that they get more varied experiences.

Accounting Manager Traits & Qualities

The most effective accounting managers have the following traits to some degree or other:

  • Strong analytical skills
  • Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
  • Detail oriented
  • Excellent mathematical skills
  • Strong organizational skills

Accounting Manager Minimum Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Accounting Manager National Salary

The national average salary estimate for Accounting Manager was $81,709. This number is estimated from over 5,411,624 employees, users past and present job advertisements from Indeed.com. This equates to an hourly salary of $42.56 and monthly of $6,809.

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$27,000

$165,000

Salary Distribution

Accounting Manager Salary by State

The following section lists Accounting Manager salaries in each state around the country. The figures are based on the total number of job postings through Indeed.com. For example, DC had the largest quoted salary of $97,625 while Wyoming had the smallest quoted salary of $54,082.

AlabamaIllinoisNorth CarolinaSouth Dakota
ArkansasIndianaNebraskaTennessee
ArizonaKansasNew HampshireTexas
CaliforniaKentuckyNew JerseyUtah
ColoradoLouisianaNew MexicoVirginia
ConnecticutMassachusettsNevadaVermont
DCMarylandNew YorkWashington
DelawareMaineOhioWisconsin
FloridaMichiganOklahomaWest Virginia
GeorgiaMinnesotaOregonWyoming
HawaiiMissouriPennsylvania
IowaMississippiRhode Island
IdahoMontanaSouth Carolina
Alabama$65,202Rank: 41st
The average salary ranks 41st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Aerotek, UHY (Client Opportunity), CyberCoders, and PANGEATWO.

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$26,000

$122,000

Salary Distribution
Arkansas$94,319Rank: 4th
The average salary ranks 4th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Hibrid, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, Rayco Technical Solutions, LLC, and Phillips Staffing Solutions.

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$25,000

$208,000

Salary Distribution
Arizona$75,134Rank: 23rd
The average salary ranks 23rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Parker+Lynch, Ledgent Finance & Accounting, Vaco, LLC, and Stephen James Associates, Inc..

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$29,000

$141,000

Salary Distribution
California$88,304Rank: 8th
The average salary ranks 8th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Murdock Martell, Google, Ryan Miller & Associates, and Consultative Search Group.

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$32,000

$172,000

Salary Distribution
Colorado$73,841Rank: 27th
The average salary ranks 27th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Ledgent Finance & Accounting, High Country Executive Search, J2T Recruiting Consultants, and Aclivity.

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$30,000

$137,000

Salary Distribution
Connecticut$93,368Rank: 6th
The average salary ranks 6th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Asset Manager, Alexander Bec, JWM Group, LLC, and The Sylgar Group, LLC.

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$32,000

$184,000

Salary Distribution
DC$97,625Rank: 1st
The average salary ranks 1st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Grant/Morgan Associates, Mangrum Career Solutions, LLC, Gables Search Group, and Vista Talent Sourcing.

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$37,000

$187,000

Salary Distribution
Delaware$95,673Rank: 2nd
The average salary ranks 2nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Parker and Lynch, Adams & Garth, Kforce Finance and Accounting, and Synergy Solutions.

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$36,000

$183,000

Salary Distribution
Florida$71,810Rank: 30th
The average salary ranks 30th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders, Kforce Finance and Accounting, Steven Douglas Associates, and Tru-Bridge, Inc..

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$23,000

$145,000

Salary Distribution
Georgia$83,074Rank: 11th
The average salary ranks 11th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Accounting Career Network, Atlanta, Bertram & Associates, and Bio-Partners.

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$29,000

$164,000

Salary Distribution
Hawaii$59,368Rank: 46th
The average salary ranks 46th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like OD Solutions LLC, Private Client on Hawaii, ALTRES Office, and ISB.

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$26,000

$106,000

Salary Distribution
Iowa$63,063Rank: 42nd
The average salary ranks 42nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Aureus Group, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, Affinity Executive Search, and Bertram & Associates.

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$25,000

$117,000

Salary Distribution
Idaho$54,538Rank: 47th
The average salary ranks 47th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders.

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$19,000

$108,000

Salary Distribution
Illinois$93,990Rank: 5th
The average salary ranks 5th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Infinity Consulting Solutions (ICS), Creative Financial Staffing, Accounting Career Network, and CFS Inc..

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$35,000

$180,000

Salary Distribution
Indiana$79,841Rank: 16th
The average salary ranks 16th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like NewCareers, Direct Hire Pros, Onboard.jobs, and Client Staffing Solutions.

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$27,000

$160,000

Salary Distribution
Kansas$74,519Rank: 25th
The average salary ranks 25th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Accounting Career Network, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, Morgan Hunter Companies, and CRTechnical.

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$31,000

$136,000

Salary Distribution
Kentucky$69,439Rank: 37th
The average salary ranks 37th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Robert Half Management Resources, TOP GROUP, Aquarius Professional Staffing, and Talis Group Inc..

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$23,000

$139,000

Salary Distribution
Louisiana$65,659Rank: 39th
The average salary ranks 39th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Robert Half Finance & Accounting, Personnel Consulting Group, Accountemps, and Franchise Career Advisors.

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$24,000

$126,000

Salary Distribution
Massachusetts$94,550Rank: 3rd
The average salary ranks 3rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Gateway Recruiting, Huxley Associates, Liberty Mutual, and Morgan Philips Group.

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$36,000

$179,000

Salary Distribution
Maryland$80,685Rank: 12th
The average salary ranks 12th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Ledgent Finance & Accounting, Cordia Recruiting and Staffing, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, and Howard County.

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$32,000

$150,000

Salary Distribution
Maine$74,071Rank: 26th
The average salary ranks 26th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Robert Half Finance & Accounting, Pratt-Abbott Uniform & Linen, Michael Page, and Remedy Intelligent Staffing.

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$22,000

$156,000

Salary Distribution
Michigan$77,938Rank: 19th
The average salary ranks 19th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders, Venteon, Parker and Lynch, and Kforce Finance and Accounting.

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$24,000

$160,000

Salary Distribution
Minnesota$79,910Rank: 15th
The average salary ranks 15th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like SALO, LLC, Baker Tilly Search & Staffing, LLC, EQ Recruiters, and Robert Half Finance & Accounting.

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$29,000

$154,000

Salary Distribution
Missouri$71,679Rank: 31st
The average salary ranks 31st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Burchard and Associates, Accounting Career Consultants, SearchAccountingJobs, and Burchard & Associates, Inc..

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$23,000

$145,000

Salary Distribution
Mississippi$60,354Rank: 45th
The average salary ranks 45th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Personnel Services, Inc. and Robert Half Finance & Accounting.

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$20,000

$121,000

Salary Distribution
Montana$54,262Rank: 48th
The average salary ranks 48th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like LC Staffing, State of Montana, and Montana State University.

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$21,000

$103,000

Salary Distribution
North Carolina$76,449Rank: 22nd
The average salary ranks 22nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Client Staffing Solutions, Professional Recruiting Partners, LLC, Ploeger Recruiting Services, and Direct Hire Pros.

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$24,000

$157,000

Salary Distribution
Nebraska$69,567Rank: 36th
The average salary ranks 36th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like InSearch Recruiting, Aureus Group, $75k salary + Excellent work-life balance! ** Hemphill Exclusive!, and Robert Half Finance & Accounting.

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$18,000

$153,000

Salary Distribution
New Hampshire$80,208Rank: 14th
The average salary ranks 14th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CIG, KBW Financial Staffing & Recruiting, KBW Financial, and Leddy Group.

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$29,000

$156,000

Salary Distribution
New Jersey$92,486Rank: 7th
The average salary ranks 7th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Gas Unlimited, Wilben Search Group, GSP International, and Open Systems Professional.

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$34,000

$178,000

Salary Distribution
New Mexico$60,390Rank: 44th
The average salary ranks 44th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Employers Pro Advantage, City of Albuquerque, Parker and Lynch, and Robert Half Finance & Accounting.

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$22,000

$116,000

Salary Distribution
Nevada$70,491Rank: 33rd
The average salary ranks 33rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, Randstad Professionals, and Parker and Lynch.

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$26,000

$135,000

Salary Distribution
New York$87,120Rank: 9th
The average salary ranks 9th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Pascale & LaMorte, Global Interworks, Accounting and Finance, and Northbound Search.

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$29,000

$176,000

Salary Distribution
Ohio$74,630Rank: 24th
The average salary ranks 24th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Ringside Search Partners, CyberCoders, Cameron Craig Group, and MMS Group.

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$28,000

$143,000

Salary Distribution
Oklahoma$69,971Rank: 34th
The average salary ranks 34th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Parker+Lynch, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, Principal Technologies Inc., and Agri-associates.

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$26,000

$135,000

Salary Distribution
Oregon$84,219Rank: 10th
The average salary ranks 10th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Phillips Staffing Solutions, PMG Employment Consultants, The Pursell Group, and MedExec International.

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$37,000

$150,000

Salary Distribution
Pennsylvania$80,564Rank: 13th
The average salary ranks 13th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like firstPROIncPhiladelphia, North Star Staffing Solutions, Kforce Finance and Accounting, and firstPROA&F.

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$27,000

$162,000

Salary Distribution
Rhode Island$71,451Rank: 32nd
The average salary ranks 32nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Kforce Finance and Accounting, Complete Staffing Solutions, Complete Staffing Solutions, Inc., and Randstad Professionals.

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$14,000

$190,000

Salary Distribution
South Carolina$65,486Rank: 40th
The average salary ranks 40th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like AccountSource, Inc., THE BEACH HOUSE, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, and DHG.

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$24,000

$127,000

Salary Distribution
South Dakota$71,962Rank: 29th
The average salary ranks 29th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Executive Recruiting Services, Inc. and Franchise Career Advisors.

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$18,000

$160,000

Salary Distribution
Tennessee$68,794Rank: 38th
The average salary ranks 38th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Parker+Lynch, Patrick Accounting and Tax Services, Rezult Financial, and PPS, LLC.

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$27,000

$130,000

Salary Distribution
Texas$79,650Rank: 17th
The average salary ranks 17th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like PASONA N A, INC., Alliance Resource Group, Vaco, LLC, and Lucas Group.

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$27,000

$158,000

Salary Distribution
Utah$61,274Rank: 43rd
The average salary ranks 43rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Nigel Frank International, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, CyberCoders, and University of Utah.

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$24,000

$116,000

Salary Distribution
Virginia$76,564Rank: 21st
The average salary ranks 21st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Search Pro Group, SNI Financial, Kforce Finance and Accounting, and Avanti Group, LLC.

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$26,000

$152,000

Salary Distribution
Vermont$69,662Rank: 35th
The average salary ranks 35th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Robert Half Finance & Accounting, JE Group of Companies, JE Compliance, and Cedar Hill Health Care Corporation.

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$22,000

$144,000

Salary Distribution
Washington$78,014Rank: 18th
The average salary ranks 18th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Robert Half Management Resources, Parker+Lynch, Sound Transit, and Matrix Finance and Accounting.

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$28,000

$152,000

Salary Distribution
Wisconsin$73,168Rank: 28th
The average salary ranks 28th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Opendoor Search, Parker+Lynch, Extension, Inc., and Baker Tilly Search & Staffing, LLC.

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$26,000

$142,000

Salary Distribution
West Virginia$76,706Rank: 20th
The average salary ranks 20th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like NewCareers, MJ Recruiters, LLC, Professional Recruiting Partners, LLC, and Ploeger Recruiting Services.

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$37,000

$130,000

Salary Distribution
Wyoming$54,082Rank: 49th
The average salary ranks 49th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like State of Wyoming.

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$27,000

$82,000

Salary Distribution

Top 20 Accounting Manager National Employers

According to Indeed.com, the following states had employers looking to hire a Accounting Manager. The quoted salary figure represents the average salary from all job postings by this employer.

Employer NameLocationAverage Salary

Accounting Manager Learn More

Career NameAverage Salary

Henry Steele
Managing Editor
Henry is Managing Editor of BusinessStudent.com. He is a seasoned business professional who regularly consults with local business's throughout Southern California. Henry pursued his undergrad in Business and Economics at the University of San Diego and gained valuable life changing experience through a unique internship upon graduation.

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