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Chief Accountant Jobs (NOW HIRING)

County of Maui

Accountant III (SR-22)

Wailuku, HI · On-site

$5.3K/mo

This class differs from the Chief Accountant in that the Accountant III performs the more difficult and complex accounting work for a fiscal program or a major component of a larger program or in the ...

County Of Maui

Accountant III (SR-22)

Wailuku, HI

$5.3K/mo

This class differs from the Chief Accountant in that the Accountant III performs the more difficult and complex accounting work for a fiscal program or a major component of a larger program or in the ...

Kontakt.io

CFO

New York, NY · On-site

Accounting, revenue recognition, tax posture, cash forecasting, controls, compliance, and risk ... Not a COO-style operational role * Not a narrative-first or optics-driven finance leader What ...

Hampton University

Staff Accountant (General)

Hampton, VA · On-site

$46K - $60K/yr

Other duties as assigned by the Chief Accountant, Associate Comptroller, and Assistant Vice President for Business Affairs and Comptroller Typical Qualifications * Bachelor's degree in Accounting or ...

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Chief Accountant information

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$45.5K

$133.4K

$187.5K

How much do chief accountant jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 30, 2026, the average yearly pay for chief accountant in the United States is $133,418.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $97,000.00 and $164,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a chief accountant do?

A chief accountant oversees an organization’s accounting operations, including financial reporting, compliance, and internal controls. They prepare financial statements, manage accounting staff, and ensure adherence to accounting standards and regulations, often using accounting software and requiring relevant certifications like CPA.

What are the typical challenges Chief Accountants face when managing month-end and year-end closing processes?

Chief Accountants often encounter challenges during month-end and year-end closings, such as coordinating tight deadlines, ensuring accuracy across multiple ledger accounts, and managing last-minute adjustments. They must collaborate closely with various departments to gather required documentation and resolve discrepancies quickly. Additionally, Chief Accountants are responsible for reviewing and approving financial statements, which requires a strong attention to detail and the ability to handle pressure efficiently. Effective communication and proactive planning are key to overcoming these challenges and ensuring a smooth closing process.

Can you make $500,000 a year as an accountant?

Chief accountants in large corporations or specialized fields such as forensic accounting or financial management can potentially earn $500,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, advanced certifications like CPA or CMA, and leadership roles. However, such high salaries are uncommon for standard accounting positions and typically require senior-level responsibilities and a high level of expertise.

What Is a Chief Accountant?

A chief accountant is responsible for a company’s financial management plans. Your job duties as chief accountant include overseeing the accounting department, developing financial strategies, making investment decisions, helping company leadership with strategic planning, and making sure the company complies with state and federal financial regulations. To pursue a career as a chief accountant, you need the following qualifications: a bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related field, significant experience in financial management, licensure as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), and excellent leadership and communication skills.

What is the salary of a chief accountant?

The salary of a chief accountant varies depending on experience, location, and industry, but typically ranges from $60,000 to $120,000 annually. Senior professionals with certifications like CPA or CMA and strong financial management skills tend to earn higher salaries. Compensation may also include bonuses and benefits based on company size and performance.

What is the difference between Chief Accountant vs Senior Accountant?

AspectChief AccountantSenior Accountant
QualificationsTypically requires a CPA or equivalent, with extensive accounting experienceUsually requires a bachelor's degree in accounting or finance, with several years of experience
Work EnvironmentOversees accounting departments, manages financial reporting, and ensures compliancePerforms complex accounting tasks, prepares financial statements, and supports audits
ResponsibilitiesLeadership of accounting team, financial strategy, and reporting oversightDetailed accounting work, reconciliations, and assisting in financial analysis

The main difference between a Chief Accountant and a Senior Accountant lies in their level of responsibility and scope. The Chief Accountant typically holds a leadership role, overseeing the entire accounting department and ensuring compliance with regulations. In contrast, the Senior Accountant focuses on executing complex accounting tasks and supporting the team. Both roles require strong accounting credentials, but the Chief Accountant's position involves more strategic oversight and management.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Chief Accountant, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Chief Accountant, you need a deep understanding of accounting principles, financial reporting, and regulatory compliance, typically supported by a degree in accounting or finance and relevant certifications such as CPA or ACCA. Expertise in accounting software like SAP, Oracle, or QuickBooks is essential, along with proficiency in spreadsheets and financial analysis tools. Strong analytical thinking, leadership, and effective communication skills help manage teams and liaise with stakeholders. These skills ensure accurate financial management, compliance, and strategic decision-making for organizational success.

Is chief accountant a high position?

A chief accountant is a senior financial professional responsible for overseeing accounting operations, financial reporting, and compliance within an organization. It is generally considered a high-level position that requires extensive experience, accounting certifications such as CPA, and strong leadership skills.
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Chief Accountant jobs near you

Co-Founder & CEO - AI Accounting Agents for CPA Firms

FutureSight

San Francisco, CA • Remote

$20/hr

Full-time

Posted 20 days ago

Job description

The Opportunity

FutureSight is seeking a Co-Founder & CEO to lead Crossfoot, an AI-native accounting agent platform. This is a co-founder partnership with meaningful founder equity, not a salaried executive role.

Crossfoot is agentic accounting for small-to-mid CPA firms; a segment where accountant shortages are structural, client intake is capped by production headcount, and the manual close and tax prep workflow consumes the majority of senior staff capacity. Crossfoot connects to the tools firms already use (QuickBooks Online, Xero, Drake) and delivers finished work products ready for partner review, without requiring system migration or enterprise-scale implementation.

Market Context
  • We didn't just build a thesis; we validated it directly with the market. We've spoken with CPA firm managing partners, CAS leads, and tax preparers. The key insights:
  • The "why now" is structural, not hype: the profession lost 300,000+ professionals from 2020–2024, and the replacement pipeline has shrunk ~33% in a decade. Firms now cap new-client intake by production headcount rather than demand. They turn away winnable work they can't staff. Meanwhile, CAS (advisory) revenue is projected to reach 30% of the firm's revenue by 2026.
  • Senior accountants spend 40%+ of their time on document intake and workbook compilation — $90K staff doing $20/hour data entry — while month-end close runs 10–15 business days on a pure manual process.
  • Early AI adopters in accounting already earn 39% more revenue per employee. The gap between firms that move and firms that don't is compounding now.
  • We are targeting a large, fragmented, structurally underserved market. The total addressable market is an estimated $1.5B+ across 87,000+ US accounting firms, with a focused beachhead SAM of $400M+ (small/mid firms).
About FutureSight

FutureSight is a leading venture builder that co-creates world-class software companies with values-driven entrepreneurs from inception to exit. We are a team of founders, operators and designers with experience successfully bringing software to market at scale.

You'll co-create with a proven venture building team, including:

  • John Carbrey – 4x founder, bootstrapped to $100M ARR
  • Joshua Auslander – Seasoned CFO and strategic advisor with $200M aggregate exits
  • Alan Smith – Globally recognized early stage validation expert, 24 products launched, an exit, 5M+ books sold
  • Prathna Ramesh – Early-stage investor and capital strategy advisor
The Partnership
  • Founder equity with meaningful ownership from inception
  • Pre-seed capital committed by FutureSight for early hires and MVP development, with potential for follow-on funding
  • Venture building resources, including embedded design, engineering, growth, and fundraising support from day one
  • Investor and advisor network across logistics, vertical AI, and early-stage capital markets
  • A true co-creation model in which you operate as CEO with FutureSight's cross-functional team as your partner
What you'll own

As Co-Founder & CEO, you will set the venture's direction and lead its execution.

  • Strategy — Refine the ICP, size-tiered pricing model, and product positioning
  • Customer Development — Lead pilots with managing partners, CAS leads, and outsourced-accounting/BPO operators at small-to-mid CPA firms, convert them to paid engagements, and build the referral-led go-to-market motion
  • Product — Partner with the FutureSight product and engineering team to ship V1 and iterate on user feedback
  • Capital — Lead the seed raise, supported by FutureSight's network and traction
  • Team — Recruit and lead the founding team, and establish the cultural foundation of the company
Co-Founder Profile
  • Previous founding experience at a venture-backed company
  • Demonstrated success in B2B AI or B2B SaaS go-to-market, including consultative, relationship-driven sales and customer engagement
  • Fundraising fluency, with the ability to develop investor narratives and close capital
  • Proven ability to attract, develop, and retain top talent
  • Clear-eyed understanding of the risks and demands of co-founding a venture-backed company
  • Deep accounting domain expertise, with hands-on experience managing close processes, tax preparation, workpapers, and client accounting services within CPA firms.
How to Apply

Please submit your resume, LinkedIn profile, and a brief note on why this venture aligns with your goals as a founder. We will move quickly for the right candidate.

FutureSight is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds and experiences.