| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Finance and Accounts |
| Level | Manager |
| Reports to | Head of Accounts |
| Direct reports | Senior Accountant, Accounts Executive, Accounts Officer |
| Experience | 5 to 8 years in accounting with 2 years supervising |
Accounts Manager job description template
Copy this job description, replace the text in square brackets and post it on your careers page or a job portal.
Job title: Accounts Manager
Department: Finance and Accounts
Reports to: Head of Accounts
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
An Accounts Manager runs the accounting team and keeps the books accurate and current. They supervise general ledger, payables, receivables and bank work, close the month on time and hand clean numbers to the finance head. The role sits in the accounts function and manages accountants and executives. A good Accounts Manager keeps reconciliations tidy, catches errors before they reach the trial balance and keeps the accounts ready for audit and tax at all times.
Key responsibilities
- Supervise daily accounting for the general ledger, payables, receivables and bank entries.
- Run the monthly close for the accounts team and hand over the trial balance on time.
- Review and clear vendor, customer, bank and inter-company reconciliations every month.
- Check journal entries, provisions and accruals before they are posted.
- Ensure GST and TDS are booked correctly and match the returns filed.
- Manage payment runs, credit control follow up and expense booking.
- Maintain the fixed asset register and support physical verification.
- Prepare schedules and support statutory, tax and internal audits.
- Coach accountants and executives and review their work for accuracy.
- Keep accounting documentation filed and audit ready through the year.
Requirements
- B.Com or M.Com
- Sound knowledge of accounting and GST
- CA Inter is an advantage
- 5 to 8 years in accounting with 2 years supervising
KRAs and KPIs for a Accounts Manager
Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.
| Key result area | How to measure it |
|---|---|
| Close on time | Team trial balance handed over by the agreed working day each month |
| Reconciliations | All ledgers reconciled monthly with no item open beyond 45 days |
| Accuracy | Error corrections after close held below 1 percent of entries each month |
| Tax matching | GST and TDS ledgers matched to returns every month with no carried mismatch |
| Payables discipline | Approved invoices paid within terms with no avoidable late payment |
| Audit support | Audit schedules ready before field work with observations cleared on time |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: Tally Prime, SAP FICO, Advanced Excel, GST portal, Bank portals.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: Head of Accounts, Finance Manager, Financial Controller
Interview questions for a Accounts Manager
- How do you keep the general ledger clean through the month, not just at close?
- How do you handle a bank reconciliation that will not tie out?
- How do you make sure GST input credit is booked correctly?
- What do you review before a junior's journal entry is posted?
- How do you keep the team on track through a tight close?
- How do you get the books ready for a statutory audit?
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What does an Accounts Manager do?
An Accounts Manager runs the accounting team and keeps the books accurate. They supervise ledger, payables, receivables and bank work, close the month on time, clear reconciliations, ensure GST and TDS are booked correctly and support audits. They manage accountants and executives and hand clean numbers to the finance head.
What is the difference between an Accounts Manager and a Finance Manager?
An Accounts Manager focuses on recording and closing the books: ledgers, reconciliations, payables and receivables. A Finance Manager has a wider brief that includes MIS, budgets, banking and analysis. The accounts role is about accuracy and compliance; the finance role adds planning and business support.
What qualifications does an Accounts Manager need?
Most Accounts Manager roles ask for a B.Com or M.Com with sound accounting and GST knowledge and five or more years of experience, including some supervision. CA Inter or a working knowledge of an accounting system such as Tally or SAP is an advantage for handling the close and audit.