Working as a General Ledger Accountant

Ensuring the Accuracy and Completeness of the Company's Books

The general ledger is basically the end result of the company's accounting process, and is the source from which all the company's financial reporting is generated. Therefore, the general ledger accountant is responsible for ensuring that all business transactions have been properly accounted for and accurately and completely reflected on the company's books. A general accountant may also be referred to as a corporate accountant or management accountant.�

What Does the General Ledger Accountant Do?

The role that the general ledger accountant plays, and the range of functions performed and level of responsibility assigned, will depend on the size and nature of the organization. In a larger organization, a general ledger accountant may specialize in certain areas of the overall accounting operation, while in a smaller organization, the position may involve a wider range of duties and responsibilities.�

Day-To-Day Bookkeeping

The general ledger accountant may be directly involved in the day-to-day bookkeeping process, that is, he or she may be responsible for actually recording all the business transactions in terms of purchases and sales, cash receipts and disbursements, payroll, and other accounting entries. Or the general ledger accountant may have a supervisory role and be responsible for directing other accountants or clerks, and reviewing the bookkeeping.�