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Lead Accountant Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Villanova University

Lead Accountant

Villanova, PA · On-site

Lead Accountant Position Type: Staff Location: Villanova, PA Recruitment Type: Internal/External Applicants Work Schedule: full-time/12-months Avg Hours Week Department: 431-Controller's Office ...

NorthPoint Search Group

Lead Accountant

Athens, GA · On-site

Lead Accountant To Apply Now - email your resume to [email protected] Who: Experienced accountant responsible for managing financial operations in a senior living community. What: Oversee accounting ...

Commercial Cleaning Company

Lead Accountant

Oakmont, PA

$70K - $80K/yr

Lead Accountant Reports To: President What does a Lead Accountant with Paul Davis do? * Oversee and maintain all accounting functions - GL, AP, AR, bank reconciliations, produce monthly financial ...

Airswift

JV Lead Accountant

Houston, TX · On-site

Our client, a major Oil and Gas company, is looking for a JV Lead Accountant to work on a 12 months contract in Houston, TX Primary Focus Lead Accountant, Joint Venture Accounting is responsible for ...

TCG, Inc.

Lead Accountant

Washington, DC · Remote

$90K - $100K/yr

We are seeking a Lead Accountant to join our accounting team. In this position, you will be responsible for overseeing complex accounting tasks, ensuring the accuracy of financial records, preparing ...

McMaster-Carr

Lead Accountant

Chicago, IL · On-site

$231K/yr

Lead the accounting team through full business cycles, such as month-end close, budget and forecast updates, or the annual audit. * Own cash reconciliation and reporting, including daily balancing ...

Liberty Mutual

Lead Accountant

MA

As a Lead Accountant, you will conduct complex assignments involving maintaining ledger accounts and developing financial statements and reports. Responsibilities: * Prepare complex financial reports ...

Robert Half

Lead Accountant

Trenton, NJ · On-site

$65K - $75K/yr

Responsibilities: • Manage daily accounting activity by recording transactions, posting entries, and maintaining complete and accurate financial data. • Lead month-end close tasks, including ...

InstantServe LLC

Team Lead Accountant

Indianapolis, IN · On-site

$30 - $35/hr

Team Lead Accountant Location: Indianapolis, IN (Hybrid/Onsite) Duration: 9+ Months Contract (Through April 2027) Interview Process: Webcam Interview Only Pay Rate : $30-35/hr on 1099 all inlusive ...

CDK Global, Inc.

Lead Accountant

Hoffman Estates, IL · On-site

$110K - $140K/yr

The Lead Accountant's contributions are made through a high-level of engagement and an ability to communicate effectively across multiple audiences. Position Responsibilities & Essential functions:

Instant Serve LLC

Team Lead Accountant

Indianapolis, IN · On-site

$30 - $35/hr

Team Lead Accountant Location: Indianapolis, IN (Hybrid/Onsite) Duration: 9+ Months Contract (Through April 2027) Interview Process: Webcam Interview Only Pay Rate : $30-35/hr on 1099 all inlusive ...

Liberty Mutual

Lead Accountant

Portsmouth, NH

As a Lead Accountant, you will conduct complex assignments involving maintaining ledger accounts and developing financial statements and reports. Responsibilities: * Prepare complex financial reports ...

Liberty Mutual

Lead Accountant

Portsmouth, NH · On-site

$83K - $154K/yr

As a Lead Accountant, you will conduct complex assignments involving maintaining ledger accounts and developing financial statements and reports. Responsibilities: * Prepare complex financial reports ...

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Lead Accountant information

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$42K

$95.7K

$163K

How much do lead accountant jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 30, 2026, the average yearly pay for lead accountant in the United States is $95,676.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $73,500.00 and $109,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

Can you make $100,000 as an accountant?

Lead accountants and senior financial professionals can earn $100,000 or more annually, especially with experience, certifications like CPA, and working in high-cost-of-living areas or large organizations. Entry-level accountants typically earn less, but salaries increase with expertise, specialization, and managerial responsibilities.

What is the difference between Lead Accountant vs Senior Accountant?

AspectLead AccountantSenior Accountant
CertificationsCPA or equivalent often preferredCPA or equivalent often preferred
Work EnvironmentLeads accounting teams, oversees complex tasksPerforms advanced accounting tasks, supports team
ResponsibilitiesSupervises staff, manages reporting, ensures compliancePerforms detailed accounting, audits, reconciliations
Usage in IndustryCommonly used in corporate finance and accounting departmentsWidely used across industries for experienced accountants

The main difference between a Lead Accountant and a Senior Accountant is that the Lead Accountant typically supervises accounting staff and manages complex financial tasks, while the Senior Accountant focuses on detailed accounting work and supporting team members. Both roles often require similar certifications like CPA and are integral to finance teams, but the Lead Accountant has more leadership responsibilities.

What are Lead Accountants?

Lead Accountants are experienced accounting professionals who oversee the financial operations and reporting activities within an organization. They are responsible for managing accounting teams, ensuring compliance with financial regulations, and preparing financial statements and reports. Lead Accountants often supervise daily accounting processes, implement internal controls, and provide strategic financial advice to management. Their leadership role is crucial in maintaining accurate financial records and supporting overall business decision-making.

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

To thrive as a Lead Accountant, you need strong expertise in accounting principles, financial reporting, and regulatory compliance, typically supported by a bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance and often a CPA certification. Proficiency with general ledger software, ERP systems like SAP or Oracle, and advanced Excel skills is essential for managing complex financial data. Leadership, attention to detail, and effective communication are critical soft skills for managing teams and collaborating with stakeholders. These skills ensure accurate financial management, regulatory adherence, and the ability to guide teams toward organizational financial goals.

What jobs make $1,000,000 a year?

Lead accountants in large corporations or financial firms can earn close to or over $1 million annually, especially with bonuses and executive-level responsibilities. High-level executive roles such as CFOs or finance directors often reach this income level, particularly in industries like investment banking, private equity, or corporate finance, where advanced certifications and extensive experience are required.

What are some common challenges faced by a Lead Accountant when managing a team during month-end closing?

One of the main challenges for a Lead Accountant during month-end closing is ensuring accuracy and timeliness while coordinating tasks among team members. Balancing workload distribution, addressing discrepancies quickly, and maintaining clear communication are essential to avoid bottlenecks. Additionally, staying updated with regulatory changes and integrating new technologies can add complexity. Proactive planning and fostering a collaborative environment help mitigate these challenges and ensure a smooth closing process.

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

Lead accountants or senior financial professionals with extensive experience, specialized skills, and certifications such as CPA can potentially earn $500,000 annually, especially in large corporations or high-cost-of-living areas. However, such high salaries are uncommon for entry-level or general accounting roles and typically require advanced expertise, leadership responsibilities, and sometimes bonuses or profit-sharing arrangements.

What is a lead accountant?

A lead accountant is a senior finance professional responsible for overseeing accounting operations, ensuring accurate financial reporting, and managing accounting staff. They often coordinate audits, implement accounting policies, and use accounting software like QuickBooks or SAP. Strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and relevant certifications such as CPA are typically required.
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Lead Accountant jobs near you
Infographic showing various Lead Accountant job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 33% Full Time, 17% Temporary, and 50% Contract. Highlights an 81% Physical, 10% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $95,676 per year, or $46 per hour.
Lead Accountant

Lead Accountant

Villanova University

Villanova, PA • On-site

Full-time, Part-time

Posted 8 days ago

Villanova University rating

7.5

Company rating: 7.5 out of 10

Based on 11 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

268th of 544 rated colleges and universities

Job description

Posting Details
Do you have questions about the application process? If so, please refer to the Applicant FAQ's.
Posting Details (Default Section)
Posting Number:
20260310S
Position Title:
Lead Accountant
Position Type:
Staff
Location:
Villanova, PA
Recruitment Type:
Internal/External Applicants
Work Schedule:
full-time/12-months
Avg Hours Week
Department:
431-Controller's Office
Position Summary:
Why work at Villanova?
  • Join a mission-driven organization. Since Villanova University's founding in 1842, we have been inspired by the values of truth, unity, and love, and are a community dedicated to service to others.
  • Villanova has been included among the nation's best colleges and universities. VU's inclusion again in U.S. News & World Report's 2023 "Best Colleges" rankings is another indication of the University's continued prominence and forward momentum.
  • We believe that an inclusive community fosters an understanding and appreciation for diversity among our students, faculty, staff and administrators. The UNITAS Office of Community Enrichment works to address issues of equity and justice in a variety of ways including workshops, events and employee resource groups.
  • Villanova's most precious asset is our people. Even as a part-time employee, you will receive access to certain benefits, including tuition assistance and more.

Reporting to the Assistant Controller, the Lead Accountant is responsible for the accounting of the University's investments and investment activity, gifts, and a variety of general accounting and financial functions, ensuring accurate and timely recording and reporting of financial data in compliance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and donor and other restrictions. The Lead Accountant is also responsible for supervising the Cash Accountant and providing daily visibility into University operating fund flows for leadership.
The Lead Accountant works with appropriate functional areas to review, and develop, policies and procedures, to ensure compliance with applicable regulatory requirements, as well as University business processes and internal controls. The Lead Accountant will assist with preparation of various tax forms and ensure payments and filings are completed in a timely and accurate manner. The individual in this position will also assist in developing financial reports to use in reviewing financial performance, as well as assist departments by providing financial system data as needed. The Lead Accountant will maintain strong functional knowledge of the University's financial information system, assist in testing new system functionality and upgrades, and provides support and training to the University community.
Villanova is a Catholic university sponsored by the Augustinian Order. The University is an equal opportunity employer and seeks candidates who understand, respect and can contribute to the University's mission and values.
Duties and Responsibilities:
  • Endowment: Oversee and maintain the accounting related to the University's investments and investment activity in accordance with GAAP. On a monthly basis, reconcile the G/L to the third-party custodian statements, making required journal entries as necessary, and book entries related to investment activity, accurately classifying income, gains, expenses, etc. Provide required and requested information to third-party service providers for inclusion in monthly reports for upper management and the Board. Throughout the year, ensure that endowment net assets are properly accounted for in the accounting system, based on donor and other restrictions. Work in conjunction with the Investments Office for proper maintenance of all investment accounts.

Specific tasks include but are not limited to:
  • Maintain fund records.
  • Reconciliation of General Ledger with records of outside funds custodians.
  • Provide required and requested information to third party service providers.
  • Provide accounting support to the Investments Office as needed.
  • Oversight of receipts and disbursements in and out of the funds, including managing reimbursement of Investment Office management expenses.
  • Prepare management reports on endowment fund activity for senior financial management and for departments within the University.
  • Coordinate the preparation and monthly distribution of reports on activity in individual endowment funds to the Advancement Office.
  • Work with third party service providers to ensure liquidity information on custodians and funds are updated and maintained accurately.
  • Assist Investment Office with surveys relating to investments, endowments, etc.
  • Continued review of accounting entries and account structure, to determine best practices for reporting and consolidation.
  • Preparation of the Endowment Spending Budgets and activation of fully funded endowments in our ERP in partnership with Stewardship.

  • Gifts/Pledges: Oversee and maintain the accounting related to the University's gifts and pledges in accordance with GAAP. On a monthly basis, review and reconcile the Development Office's FASB reports, making required journal entries on a quarterly basis to reconcile to the G/L, and maintain external work-papers relating to pledges by fiscal year and restriction. Calculate the pledge allowance and discount percentages on an annual basis, determining an appropriate discount factor. Maintain and provide upper management requested information on pledge status of donor restricted capital projects for use in projections and analyses. Throughout the year, ensure that gift net assets are properly accounted for in the accounting system, based on donor and other restrictions.

Specific tasks include but are not limited to:
  • Prepare and reconcile the daily feed to the general ledger from the Advancement Office.
  • Prepare journal entries and perform financial analysis related to gifts to the University, including pledges.
  • Calculate pledge allowance and discount percentages.
  • Prepare aging of pledges reports.
  • Monthly pledge receivable entries.
  • Provide Assistant Controller and Controller monthly pledge detail on donor funded capital projects.
  • Accounting for stock donation payments and reconciliation to stock bank account statements.
  • Annual Capital Campaign Reconciliation.

  • Various Month-End tasks and entries are to be performed timely and accurately related to areas of responsibility and other assigned balance sheet accounts. This involves the preparation and processing of monthly general ledger close transactions and preparation and distribution of monthly management reports. All entries need to be completed and reconciliations provided for review and approval, by stated deadlines.

*Specific tasks include but are not limited to:
  • Endowment market value adjustments and investment activity.
  • Endowment Investments Cost Reconciliation.
  • Endowment unitization process.
  • Student Managed Funds entries and reconciliations.
  • Planned Giving Reconciliations.
  • Maintain and perform account analyses and reconciliations of assigned balance sheet accounts.

  • Manage Cash Accountant in daily activities of general and cash and accounting and manage internal reporting related to operating cash and other items. Identify tasks to be performed, establish performance standards including timeliness and accuracy, and monitor quality of output and performance. Review the journal entries and reports prepared by the Cash Accountant on a daily basis. Review the bank reconciliations and other deliverables created by the Cash Accountant on a monthly basis.

  • Various Year-End tasks and entries related to areas of responsibility, and reconciliation and analysis of assigned accounts. Provides requested information to external auditors as assigned per the annual financial statement, Uniform Guidance, and NCAA audits.

  • Preparation of Federal tax forms (Form 990-T and Form 990) and local tax forms (Radnor Township BPT) for the University, with assistance from the Assistant Controller. Acquire the appropriate data to prepare the calculation for Federal tax form 4720, Return of Certain Excise Taxes. Provide data to PwC for review of accuracy and tax form preparation. Ensure that tax payments are made accurately and in a timely manner. Work directly with PwC Tax on all related tax issues and be responsible for any additional taxes/forms that are required due to new legislation.

  • Enhances design of, and maintain Chart of Accounts to meet changing institutional needs, including creation of new indexes, restricted funds, accounts, etc.
  • Assists with training University-wide staff to understand available financial system functions, basic budget reporting, and transaction review.
  • Other accounting tasks as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:
Formal Education:
  • Bachelor's Degree required, with a major in accounting.
  • 5 years of accounting experience, preferably in a university or similar environment; including in-depth knowledge of enterprise-wide accounting/administrative applications.

Specific Job Knowledge
  • Knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles, especially in a not-for-profit higher education environment.
  • Specific knowledge of accounting for investments and investment activity, particularly in a not-for-profit organization.
  • Working knowledge of managerial accounting, reporting, and control. Knowledge of fund accounting concepts preferred.
  • Experience with enterprise financial software (experience using Ellucian Banner is desirable). Experience with customized report writing.
  • As relating to job responsibilities, keep up with new technology and new accounting pronouncements.
  • Strong knowledge of current Microsoft Office suite, particularly Excel, and perform complex analysis using advanced spreadsheet functions and/or other analysis tools.

Work Skills:
  • Strong oral and written communication skills, demonstrated aptitude in accounting, accuracy, and ability to work independently under general supervision.
  • Ability to problem solve, multi-task, and effectively prioritize work in a deadline-driven environment is critical.
  • Ability to clearly and effectively communicate (verbally and in writing) financial and technical information to diverse audiences with varying levels of financial understanding.
  • Ability to establish and develop effective working relationships within a large, complex organization.
  • Ability to adapt to new software and policy/procedure changes implemented to better manage job duties and time allocation.

Equipment Knowledge:
  • Standard office equipment, including PC and common software packages.

Preferred Qualifications:
Formal Education:
  • CPA preferred but not required.

Physical Requirements and/or Unusual Work Hours:
N/A
Special Message to Applicants:
Posting Date:
06/22/2026
Closing Date (11:59pm ET):
Salary Posting Information:
This position falls within salaried grade 17 and the range is $97,000-107,800. The final salary will be determined with consideration of several factors including the selected candidate's qualifications, department budget availability, market data, and internal equity.
Salary Grade:
17
Job Classification:
exempt

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About Villanova University

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Villanova University, located in Villanova, Pennsylvania, United States, operates within the higher education industry. Its establishment traces back to 1842 by the Augustinians, a Catholic religious order. The university offers a wide range of academic programs in various disciplines, including Liberal Arts and Sciences, Engineering, Nursing, Business, and Law, serving over 10,000 undergraduate, graduate, and law students. Guided by its Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition, it is committed to community service, and it seeks to cultivate knowledgeable, thoughtful, and ethical leaders. The university’s mission is to empower students to ignite change, with a vision for a just and peaceful world.

Industry

Colleges, universities, and professional schools

Company size

1,001 - 5,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Villanova, PA, US

Year founded

1842

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