Accountant

Accountant duties and responsibilities

The role of an Accountant is broad, with a job description that covers a range of responsibilities, including:

Examining bank statements and reconciling them with general ledger entries.

Examining expenses submitted by employees.

Liaising with accounts payable/accounts receivable staff to monitor the flows of cash into and out of the organisation.

Generating regular financial reports on a timely basis, and providing special reports when required such as at year-end.

Analysing reports to gauge the company’s financial health, and explaining the key findings to senior management and the Chief Financial Officer.

Reviewing and analysing data to understand where the company is generating or losing revenue, and how regular expenses can be better managed.

Monitoring the effectiveness of the company’s accounting software.

Taking a lead role in the preparation of end of financial year reports, and liaising with company leaders and auditors where necessary.

Accountant qualifications and requirements

It is highly desirable for an Accountant to hold a Bachelor’s degree, preferably in:

Accounting

Business studies

Economics

Management

Additional accounting qualifications to consider include JICPA (Japan Institute of Certified Public Accountants) or Nissho Boki 2.

An Accountant should also have the following personal skills and experience:

Three or more years of accounting experience.

A good understanding of Japanese Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (JGAAP), US GAAP, or International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

Experience with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and accounting software.

Excellent Japanese and English business language skills – both spoken and written.

Strong interpersonal skills to liaise with other members of the finance team.

Are you looking for an Accountant role? View our latest Accountant jobs here.

Looking for an accountant or an accountant job?

Submit your resume or request talent now and our expert recruiters will be with you shortly.

Robert Half is one of the premier accountant

How much should I earn or pay?

Newest jobs

Search all jobs

CFO

Financial Planning & Analysis Manager

Finance Manager

Looking to hire? Start here.

Access the skilled permanent and flexible talent you need, from support roles to C-suite, with precision matching powered by Robert Half recruiters leveraging their experience combined together with our industry-leading AI technology.

Find your next hire

More to explore

2026 Salary Guide Explore our Salary Guide to confidently benchmark 200-plus salaries, plan your budgets and better understand compensation trends.

Why mid-career hiring is challenging in Japan and how to overcome it Hiring mid-career professionals helps secure experienced talent fast, but Japan’s competitive market demands new strategies. Learn key challenges and practical hiring solutions.

Employee retention rate in Japan: why it matters and how to improve it What does retention rate reveal about your company? Learn how to calculate and improve employee retention in Japan—and why it matters for business success.

Retention strategy in Japan: Why it matters and how to strengthen it Struggling with employee turnover in Japan? Discover why having a strong retention strategy is essential and explore actionable ways to keep your top talent engaged and loyal.

How to negotiate salary in Japan Learn how to confidently negotiate your salary with practical tips, timing advice, and example phrases to secure the pay you deserve in your next role or current job in Japan.

Recruiter's Tips for Success: When is the best time to change jobs? When is the ideal time to switch jobs? Many job seekers grapple with this question, and in this article, we delve into it, offering insights from our recruiter and tips to help you pinpoint the best timing for your career transition.

Our starting salary projections come from a detailed, multistep process that ensures our numbers accurately reflect the marketplace. They’re based on real compensation data for job candidates our recruiters have matched with companies across Japan.

The Salary Guide from Robert Half is the original. We’ve been publishing salary forecasts since 1950, and our guide has served as a trusted source for employers, job seekers, industry associations, government and educational institutions, and national and local media.