[KeepUPosted]

Hi,

I am a CPA who is an industry Staff Accountant with about 3 years total experience (2 yrs in my current company). I work for a great company, and have found that I have a passion for systems and AIS. For example, I have LOVED working on special projects where:

– I test our new budgeting software, assess how it meets our reporting needs (and how we can tailor it on the back-end)

– I write macros in Excel to format our financials

– I have even developed a system to automate our whole accounting department’s G/L entry approval process (and store our journal entries and backup electronically rather than using paper).

My manager recognizes that I am a good financial accountant, but feels that tech/systems related areas are where I really stand out and contribute the most to the company. This is because I have a strong understanding of accounting AND systems. This allows me to assess how to make the systems meet our financial reporting needs and create new efficiencies.

I believe that I could assist our controller in assessing accounting systems/process design from a SOX/Internal Control perspective too (we don’t have an Internal Auditor, but I could maybe perform some duties like one). I asked my manager if I could start shifting my role towards systems related duties, however she wants to know how other companies approach such a role (if at all).

So here are my questions:

– What are the titles of roles that fit such a position? (ie: I searched “Systems Accountant”, but got very little guidance).

– What are their duties?

– Is it commonplace for companies to implement a “hybrid” role where one performs AIS duties, AND serves as a Staff Accountant? How do other companies approach this?

I currently don’t have any interest in being a Business Systems Analyst, because that role is new, seems to stray too far from accounting, and in my research seems to be a dead-end job at many companies (allows for no upward movement).

I would love to help my manager get more direction in developing a role for me, but have searched the Internet near and far, and have come up with little guidance! Your help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

[zooyuka]

Sounds like you may have a great opportunity and that your manager is willing to entertain it. I wouldn't worry about if its common or what other companies are doing. That may be her question, but ultimately she is wanting to know what you can do and how will they benefit. I'd focus on those two things. Sell yourself! Keep us posted and good luck!

BEC 71,77
REG 65,85
FAR 7/1/13
AUD 8/24/13

[so1913]

Try searching for titles and roles under “Financial Systems”, that may give you better results! This is what it is called at my company, and my old accounting manager transitioned to that side and is now a Director over there (I've seen a few others at my company over the years make the transition from accounting over to the systems side as well).

AUD - 90 Pass
REG - 70,61,81 Pass DONE DONE DOOOOONNEEE!!!!!!!!
BEC - 79 - Pass
FAR - 70,82 - Pass

[OttoNeubauer]

My company has a Financial Technologies Manager whose job sounds a lot like what you are looking for. He is the administrator of our ERP system (about 50 users between finance and operations), and is responsible for integrating it with our various other systems (inventory, shipping, website sales, warehouse automation). In addition to this role, he has a second title as Director of Retail Finance, in which he supervises a staff of five (including me) that does all of the accounting for our 35-ish retail locations.

FAR - 84 (08/25/14)

[KeepUPosted]

This is all VERY helpful, thank you so much! I have researched the roles that you all have sent me, and this really helps give me more direction. If any of you have anything to share, please keep it coming! Thank you again.

[Anonymous]

@keepuposted could you go into more detail about how you automated the G/L entry approval process and store journal entries and backup electronically? My company is currently looking to go paperless and it would be nice to have ideas from a company that has already integrated a paperless system. Thanks!

[KeepUPosted]

@BHDave10 – Sorry for the late response. My ideas are still in the testing phase, but it's very simple. Basically, Adobe Acrobat is used to print the G/L entries in electronic form, and Microsoft SharePoint (using the Nintex Workflow add-on) is used to automate the approval process. So, our paperless process looks like this:

-Print the entry from the accounting software in PDF format (using the “Adobe PDF” printer that is installed on the computer with Adobe Acrobat)

-Make any markups, tickmarks, and comments to the entry using Acrobat's annotation feature (rather than marking up with a pencil/pen/highlighter like you would on an entry printed out).

-Upload the entry in PDF form to a SharePoint library, and assign a Nintex workflow to the entry (this routes the entry to the accountant's assigned manager for approval with e-mail notification, and allows him/her to route back to with any review notes/comments).

-Once the manager approves the entry, the PDF file is locked down in the SharePoint library, and is assigned a retention policy (for instance, it may be automatically deleted by SharePoint after 6 years….depending on what our retention requirements would be for that entry).

There are more things that come into play here (i.e.: the Nintex workflow must be designed with segregation of duties in mind, so an accountant can't approve his/her own entry), but that is a general description of the process that we are testing. Please let me know if you would like any more info!

[Author]

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