The accountant is responsible for ensuring the proper maintenance of accounts and finances on behalf of several clients or his company. But this profession is not only made of figures and calculations: it also has an advisory role. The missions and tasks of an accountant vary significantly depending on his work environment (firm, company, freelance, etc.).


Let's see in detail the daily tasks of the accountant, the skills and qualities required as well as the prospects for development.


What are the missions and tasks of an accountant?

The accountant begins by carrying out an accounting audit. On the basis of this audit of the accounts, it submits its recommendations and possibly resumes accounting, temporarily or indefinitely.


In addition to auditing and consulting, the duties of the accountant include :


Preparation of monthly statements of the company's accounting situation

Daily recording of accounting transactions

Employee payroll management

Preparation of tax and social declarations

Invoice processing (customers or suppliers)

Recording of accounting transactions in the accounting books

Preparation for the closing of the annual accounts

Following up on customers who have not paid their invoices





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What skills and qualities are required?


Rigor is one of the essential qualities of the accounting profession. . Keeping the accounts requires almost constant vigilance. He must demonstrate flexibility and dynamism, and have a good sense of organization and a team spirit.


Skills an accountant should have:

Perfect knowledge of accounting, legal and tax laws

Good knowledge of office software

Mastery of accounting and tax processing software

Fluency in English is always a plus. If you work for an international company, it is often an obligation.


What training to become an accountant?


The training offer to become an accountant is quite wide, whether in the public or the private sector:


Bac Pro Accounting / Management-Administration

BTS Accounting and Management (Bac+2)

DUT Management of Companies and Administrations (GEA) accounting and financial management option

DCG – Diploma in Accounting and Management (Bac+3)

DSCG – Higher Diploma in Accounting and Management (Bac + 5)

It is therefore a job that can be exercised quickly after the Bac. A work-study program will be interesting to test your knowledge and understand the professional environment.


In which sectors to practice?


The accounting and management professions are omnipresent: in a bank, an accounting firm, an insurance company, an SME, a large company, an association, etc.


Accounting firms logically group together a third of jobs in accounting and tax management.


In an SME, the accountant will be on all fronts and will work independently. Within a large company, he will be under the direction of the chief accountant and will obey a hierarchy and predefined processes. Both environments have advantages: choose according to your personality. Here again, the work-study program makes it possible to discover different working methods.