Corporate Accountant Salary

Created by Henry Steele

By Henry Steele - April 15, 2018
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The following article discusses the career path of Corporate Accountant. Learn about how to become one, education requirements, job duties, traits and qualities, national salary outlook as well as top national employers of Corporate Accountants.

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Job Duties

Corporate accountants make sure that a business adheres to its own policies and to the various tax laws and other regulations. They generate information that is given to the executive team, who use this to make decisions on the way the company operates. Usually, these accountants do two things:

  1. Prepare financial statements by gathering finance information and ledgers from the different groups, projects, teams, and offices. This is then consolidated to create a financial statement.
  2. Prepare budgets based on the financial goals of the executive team, ensuring that parameters have been set. They also audit the different departments to ensure they stick to the budget.

Generally, they work during regular office hours, although overtime is often required during specific accounting periods. They must be highly organized and analytical, while also having excellent communication skills.

Other duties of the corporate accountant are:

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Where We Work

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 1,397,700 accountants and auditors in 2016. The largest employers of these professionals are:

  • 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

Generally, a business will require a corporate accountant to hold a bachelor’s degree as a minimum in a field related to finance, including accounting. Some will only hire those who are Certified Public Accountant or Certified Management Accountant, which requires further studies.

If they 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 corporate accountants 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.

Corporate accountants 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 corporate accountants to move between internal auditing and management accounting so that they get more varied experiences.

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 a master in business administration (MBA) with an accountancy concentration.

Aside from the CPA designation, other certifications can also be beneficial for someone working as a corporate accountant, 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 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

Traits & Qualities

The most effective corporate accountants 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

Minimum Education

Bachelor’s Degree

National Salary

The national average salary estimate for Corporate Accountant was $62,157. This number is estimated from over 441,836 employees, users past and present job advertisements from Indeed.com. This equates to an hourly salary of $32.37 and monthly of $5,180.

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$23,000

$120,000

Salary Distribution

Salary by State

The following section lists Corporate Accountant salaries in each state around the country. The figures are based on the total number of job postings through Indeed.com. For example, Washington had the largest quoted salary of $76,724 while Louisiana had the smallest quoted salary of $34,809.

AlabamaKansasNew York
ArkansasKentuckyOhio
ArizonaLouisianaOklahoma
CaliforniaMassachusettsOregon
ColoradoMarylandPennsylvania
ConnecticutMichiganSouth Carolina
DCMinnesotaSouth Dakota
DelawareMissouriTennessee
FloridaNorth CarolinaTexas
GeorgiaNebraskaUtah
IowaNew HampshireVirginia
IllinoisNew JerseyWashington
IndianaNew MexicoWisconsin
Alabama – $57,679Rank: 23rd
The average salary ranks 23rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Robert Half Finance & Accounting, Vaco, and PANGEATWO.

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$19,000

$117,000

Salary Distribution
Arkansas – $53,249Rank: 30th
The average salary ranks 30th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Robert Half Finance & Accounting.

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$24,000

$94,000

Salary Distribution
Arizona – $56,210Rank: 27th
The average salary ranks 27th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like ACCENT Hiring Group, Randstad Professionals, Randstad, and Parker and Lynch.

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$28,000

$90,000

Salary Distribution
California – $70,658Rank: 6th
The average salary ranks 6th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Kforce Finance and Accounting, AppleOne, Ledgent Finance & Accounting, and Marcum Search LLC.

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$30,000

$128,000

Salary Distribution
Colorado – $62,518Rank: 10th
The average salary ranks 10th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Accounting Career Network, VincentBenjamin, and Accountemps.

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$31,000

$102,000

Salary Distribution
Connecticut – $71,063Rank: 5th
The average salary ranks 5th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Execu|Search, Creative Financial Staffing, Recruit Universe, and Marcum Search LLC.

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$31,000

$126,000

Salary Distribution
DC – $74,963Rank: 3rd
The average salary ranks 3rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Robert Half Finance & Accounting and Green Key Resources.

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$35,000

$129,000

Salary Distribution
Delaware – $75,917Rank: 2nd
The average salary ranks 2nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Kforce Finance and Accounting and Robert Half Finance & Accounting.

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$38,000

$115,000

Salary Distribution
Florida – $51,749Rank: 34th
The average salary ranks 34th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Triumph Group, Inc., Triumph Staffing, Ascendo Resources, and Randstad Professionals.

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$14,000

$130,000

Salary Distribution
Georgia – $60,793Rank: 14th
The average salary ranks 14th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like firstPRO Inc., CIG, Accountants One, and Vaco.

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$30,000

$100,000

Salary Distribution
Iowa – $35,443Rank: 38th
The average salary ranks 38th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Accountemps.

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$9.30

$28.00

Salary Distribution
Illinois – $59,961Rank: 18th
The average salary ranks 18th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CFS Inc., IFG Project Resourcing, CFS, Inc., and Infinity Consulting Solutions, Inc..

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$25,000

$110,000

Salary Distribution
Indiana – $52,377Rank: 32nd
The average salary ranks 32nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Robert Half Finance & Accounting.

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$22,000

$94,000

Salary Distribution
Kansas – $59,524Rank: 21st
The average salary ranks 21st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Morgan Hunter Companies and Accountemps.

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$30,000

$97,000

Salary Distribution
Kentucky – $61,176Rank: 12th
The average salary ranks 12th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Robert Half Finance & Accounting, University of Kentucky, and Accountemps.

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$19,000

$126,000

Salary Distribution
Louisiana – $34,809Rank: 39th
The average salary ranks 39th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Accountemps.

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$9.15

$27.75

Salary Distribution
Massachusetts – $67,626Rank: 7th
The average salary ranks 7th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Liberty Mutual, Kforce Finance and Accounting, Daley And Associates, LLC, and Michael Page US.

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$32,000

$116,000

Salary Distribution
Maryland – $50,553Rank: 35th
The average salary ranks 35th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Robert Half Finance & Accounting and Accountemps.

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$13.30

$39.95

Salary Distribution
Michigan – $63,609Rank: 9th
The average salary ranks 9th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Parker and Lynch, Kforce Finance and Accounting, Venteon, and Sanford Rose Associates.

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$22,000

$125,000

Salary Distribution
Minnesota – $49,228Rank: 36th
The average salary ranks 36th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Accountemps.

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$13.00

$40.55

Salary Distribution
Missouri – $57,529Rank: 24th
The average salary ranks 24th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like True Auto LLC and Accountemps.

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$28,000

$97,000

Salary Distribution
North Carolina – $57,758Rank: 22nd
The average salary ranks 22nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Fairview Search Group, LLC, Parker and Lynch, and Accountemps.

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$24,000

$105,000

Salary Distribution
Nebraska – $60,222Rank: 17th
The average salary ranks 17th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Blue chip company that never has turnover! Gorgeous, brand new West Omaha office! and Hemphill Staffing Solutions.

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$30,000

$91,000

Salary Distribution
New Hampshire – $40,070Rank: 37th
The average salary ranks 37th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Accountemps.

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$10.50

$31.50

Salary Distribution
New Jersey – $66,609Rank: 8th
The average salary ranks 8th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Green Key Resources, Parker and Lynch, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, and Alta Finance.

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$15,000

$155,000

Salary Distribution
New Mexico – $57,527Rank: 25th
The average salary ranks 25th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Parker and Lynch and Accountemps.

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$29,000

$88,000

Salary Distribution
New York – $71,718Rank: 4th
The average salary ranks 4th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like MISSION STAFFING, Accounting and Finance, NEXTLEVEL PRACTICE, and Robert Half Finance & Accounting.

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$27,000

$137,000

Salary Distribution
Ohio – $59,748Rank: 20th
The average salary ranks 20th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Regal Hospitality, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, Alliance Solutions Group, and Capitol Search Consultants, LLC.

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$22,000

$115,000

Salary Distribution
Oklahoma – $59,758Rank: 19th
The average salary ranks 19th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Principal Technologies Inc., Seres Smith Consulting, Parker and Lynch, and Fuse3 Solutions.

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$30,000

$98,000

Salary Distribution
Oregon – $60,758Rank: 15th
The average salary ranks 15th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Robert Half Finance & Accounting and Parker and Lynch.

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$30,000

$101,000

Salary Distribution
Pennsylvania – $61,149Rank: 13th
The average salary ranks 13th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like firstPROIncPhiladelphia, Contemporary Staffing Solutions, Hire Impact, USA, and firstPROAccounting&Finance.

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$26,000

$110,000

Salary Distribution
South Carolina – $57,471Rank: 26th
The average salary ranks 26th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like American Personnel, Management Recruiters of Columbia, CIG, and AppleOne.

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$25,000

$103,000

Salary Distribution
South Dakota – $52,572Rank: 31st
The average salary ranks 31st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Black Hills Corporation and Premier Employment Solutions.

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$25,000

$89,000

Salary Distribution
Tennessee – $54,458Rank: 29th
The average salary ranks 29th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Parker and Lynch, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, Rezult Financial, and Creative Financial Staffing.

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$27,000

$91,000

Salary Distribution
Texas – $61,794Rank: 11th
The average salary ranks 11th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like DONOVAN & WATKINS, Vaco, Kforce Finance and Accounting, and The Bolton Group.

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$26,000

$112,000

Salary Distribution
Utah – $52,028Rank: 33rd
The average salary ranks 33rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Accountemps.

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$15,000

$110,000

Salary Distribution
Virginia – $60,357Rank: 16th
The average salary ranks 16th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Capitol Search Consultants, LLC, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, Vaco, and Randstad Professionals.

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$28,000

$105,000

Salary Distribution
Washington – $76,724Rank: 1st
The average salary ranks 1st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Parker and Lynch and Accountemps.

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$29,000

$145,000

Salary Distribution
Wisconsin – $54,903Rank: 28th
The average salary ranks 28th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Infinity Consulting Solutions (ICS) and Accountemps.

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$26,000

$94,000

Salary Distribution

Top 20 National Employers

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

Employer NameLocationAverage Salary
Access Staffing LLC Corporate AccountantNew Jersey$132,140
Infinity Consulting Solutions (ICS) Corporate AccountantIllinois$125,000
Ramax Search Corporate AccountantNew York$101,802
MISSION STAFFING Corporate AccountantNew York$98,424
Kforce Finance and Accounting Corporate AccountantCalifornia$96,181
AppleOne Corporate AccountantCalifornia$95,541
CFS Inc. Corporate AccountantIllinois$95,000
Liberty Mutual Corporate AccountantMassachusetts$93,754
Ledgent Finance & Accounting Corporate AccountantCalifornia$93,484
Robert Half Finance & Accounting Corporate AccountantAlabama$89,861
Execu|Search Corporate AccountantConnecticut$86,696
IFG Project Resourcing Corporate AccountantIllinois$84,870
Accounting and Finance Corporate AccountantNew York$84,514
DONOVAN & WATKINS Corporate AccountantTexas$83,917
Creative Financial Staffing Corporate AccountantConnecticut$81,471
Vaco Corporate AccountantTexas$81,278
CFS, Inc. Corporate AccountantIllinois$80,661
Recruit Universe Corporate AccountantConnecticut$80,000

Learn More

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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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