WHAT DOES AN ACCOUNTING TECHNICIAN DO?
Updated: May 07, 2026. The Accounting Technician supports financial operations through accounts payable, accounts receivable, reconciliations, tax preparation, auditing, financial reporting, and transaction processing across multiple accounting systems. This position analyzes financial records, maintains regulatory compliance, manages cash receipts and disbursements, prepares journal entries, and supports audits, budgeting, payroll, and revenue accounting activities to ensure accurate financial management and operational efficiency. The Technician also has expertise in bookkeeping, general ledger maintenance, financial analysis, data entry, account reconciliation, and accounting software to support organizational decision-making and financial reporting objectives.
Key Responsibilities of an Accounting Technician
1. Accounting Technician Overview
- Financial Analysis: Examine financial documents, transactions, and accounting data to determine accuracy, completeness, and overall reasonableness.
- Tax Research: Conduct general and complex research regarding taxability, litigation matters, reconciliations, and customer service inquiries.
- Procedure Development: Draft and implement accounting procedures to support operational consistency, regulatory compliance, and financial reporting requirements.
- Journal Entries: Prepare correcting journal entries and first-of-year journals for accurate financial record maintenance.
- Correspondence Management: Prepare and respond to correspondence, accounting inquiries, and documentation requests from internal and external parties.
- IFAS Data Entry: Enter and update journal entries, accounting records, and financial data within the IFAS system.
- Tax Reporting: Prepare year-end tax reporting documentation, including required forms and supporting financial schedules.
- HUD Budgeting: Prepare HUD budgets, requisitions, and supporting financial documentation for program administration activities.
- Internal Auditing: Conduct internal auditing activities for Section 8 programs through audit program development and implementation.
- HUD Compliance: Access, interpret, and implement HUD regulations to support compliance with housing program requirements.
- Financial Reporting: Provide Section 8 lease updates, financial reporting information, and revenue projections to management.
2. Accounting Technician Functions
- Cash Application: Apply cash receipts to insured accounts within the FAB system and resolve billing discrepancies with insureds and agents.
- Collections Management: Inform business unit management regarding developing collection issues to support timely resolution and risk containment.
- Refund Processing: Process refunds related to endorsements, cancellations, and policy adjustments after verifying refund eligibility and approval requirements.
- Refund Coordination: Discuss refund processing activities with business unit management before releasing payments or account adjustments.
- Account Reconciliation: Reconcile FAB system records with the general ledger to maintain accurate financial reporting and account balances.
- Receivables Collection: Contact insureds and agents regarding overdue receivables and unresolved account balances requiring collection follow-up.
- Aging Management: Manage aging receivables to ensure overdue items receive timely investigation, resolution, and account reconciliation.
- Cash Flow Monitoring: Monitor daily cash flow activities and prepare cash flow reports for management review and operational tracking.
- Journal Preparation: Prepare General Journal Entries related to daily cash inflows and financial transaction recording activities.
- Process Improvement: Support continuous process improvement initiatives through workflow evaluation, operational efficiency monitoring, and performance metric tracking.
3. Accounting Technician Accountabilities
- Ledger Management: Manage month-end ledger close processes related to Revenue, including preparation and review of GL reconciliations.
- Revenue Compliance: Ensure Revenue accounting activities remain accurate and compliant with applicable accounting standards and financial policies.
- WIP Management: Manage the WIP cycle through contract review, invoice preparation, and client payment follow-up activities.
- Relationship Management: Develop professional relationships with Managers and Partners to support collaboration on client engagements and financial matters.
- Bookings Monitoring: Monitor Bookings close activities to ensure transactions are accurately captured within relevant financial systems.
- Audit Support: Support audit requirements by preparing documentation and responding to Revenue-related audit requests and inquiries.
- Control Auditing: Support controls-based audits by maintaining updated control procedures and relevant documented supporting evidence.
- Revenue Forecasting: Work with the Resource team to provide financial inputs and supporting information for Revenue forecasting activities.
- Cash Forecasting: Assist the Financial Accountant with the preparation of accurate monthly cash forecasts and financial planning documentation.
- Financial Analysis: Perform ad hoc finance tasks and financial analysis assignments as requested by the Financial Accountant.
4. Accounting Technician Responsibilities
- Accounts Payable: Manage the Accounts Payable function to ensure timely and accurate processing of inventory and non-inventory invoices.
- Document Management: Maintain organized filing systems for Accounts Payable documents and supporting financial records.
- Invoice Distribution: Sort and distribute sales invoices daily to support timely processing and customer account management activities.
- Internal Auditing: Perform auditing activities related to Internal Controls Processes to support compliance and operational accuracy.
- Vendor Coordination: Follow up with vendors regarding RMA credits and unresolved payable adjustment issues.
- Account Reconciliation: Reconcile accounts payable aging reports with vendor open invoice statements to maintain accurate account balances.
- Administrative Support: Perform routine administrative tasks supporting internal operations and external vendor service requirements.
- Issue Resolution: Research and resolve payable issues through account analysis, vendor communication, and documentation review activities.
- Finance Support: Support Finance department operations through additional assignments directed by the Accounting Manager or Plant Controller.
- Backup Support: Provide backup support for other Accounts Payable functions to maintain workflow continuity and operational efficiency.
5. Accounting Technician Details
- Financial Review: Review and analyze financial data, accounting records, and manual or automated accounting systems for investigative purposes.
- Data Entry: Scan and input high volumes of financial data from bank statements, credit card statements, and investment account records.
- Document Processing: Process financial documents, including checks, deposit tickets, wire transfer reports, ACH reports, and debit memos.
- Transaction Entry: Input financial transaction records from money orders, teller receipts, invoices, and related supporting documentation.
- Record Review: Review financial records from reporting documents, accounting software, spreadsheets, and travel itinerary documentation.
- Financial Reconciliation: Reconcile financial statements and prepare queries, charts, and reports for multiple reporting output formats.
- Data Upload: Upload financial data into database programs and analytical software to support investigation and reporting activities.
- Report Extraction: Extract reports from financial systems for use in additional software applications supporting legal and investigative teams.
- Pivot Tables: Prepare pivot tables summarizing financial information contained within spreadsheet reports and accounting documentation.
- Document Examination: Gather and examine financial statements, accounting records, operating reports, invoices, and banking documentation from multiple sources.
- Systems Review: Review financial reports and automated systems to evaluate transactions, account activity, and investigative findings.
- Trial Support: Assist with the preparation of charts, financial summaries, and supporting materials for trial proceedings and legal presentations.
6. Accounting Technician Duties
- Tax Preparation: Complete compilation working paper files and prepare personal and corporate income tax returns.
- Accounting Analysis: Perform ongoing accounting analysis in accordance with established internal procedures and accounting guidelines.
- Bank Reconciliation: Complete bank reconciliations and prepare technical accounting working papers supporting financial reporting activities.
- Query Resolution: Respond to queries identified by team members and update accounting files with revised information and documentation.
- Financial Reporting: Prepare working paper files, management financial reports, amortization tables, and additional client-requested financial reports.
- Payroll Support: Prepare or assist with client payroll processing and payroll-related accounting support activities.
- Receivables Processing: Process receipts related to grant activity, cash transactions, and non-grant pledges within Accounts Receivable records.
- Ledger Posting: Post general ledger entries, including entries related to endowment and financial activity.
- Credit Reconciliation: Reconcile credit card activity on a quarterly basis to maintain accurate financial records and account balances.
- Statement Reconciliation: Work with credit card holders to obtain transaction receipts and reconcile monthly credit card statements accurately.
7. Accounting Technician Details and Accountabilities
- Year-End Engagements: Prepare year-end engagements, including compilations and notices to readers for clients across various industries.
- Tax Preparation: Prepare tax returns for clients across various industries while maintaining accuracy and compliance with filing requirements.
- Bookkeeping Support: Perform bookkeeping tasks for a variety of organizations to support complete and reliable accounting records.
- Client Relations: Build positive working relationships with clients and respond professionally to requests, questions, and suggestions.
- Business Development: Participate in business development initiatives and identify new business opportunities with existing clients.
- Team Communication: Communicate with team members regarding progress updates, outstanding issues, and engagement-related follow-up requirements.
- Invoice Processing: Create and distribute invoices for pledges to support accurate billing and receivables tracking.
- Records Management: Maintain digital and hardcopy financial records in accordance with documentation and retention requirements.
- Audit Preparation: Assist the Accounting Supervisor with annual financial audit preparation, documentation, and supporting schedules.
- Vendor Communication: Ensure prompt, professional communication with internal fund managers and external vendors regarding financial business matters.
8. Accounting Technician Tasks
- Data Entry: Scan and input high volumes of financial data from bank statements, credit card statements, and investment account records.
- Transaction Processing: Process checks, deposit tickets, wire transfer reports, ACH reports, debit memos, and cash transaction documents.
- Document Input: Input invoices, phone records, payment records, travel documents, regulatory reports, subpoenas, and payroll journals into investigation software.
- Financial Reconciliation: Reconcile statements and prepare queries, charts, and reports for extraction into common electronic reporting formats.
- Data Upload: Upload financial data into analytical software and database programs to support investigation and reporting activities.
- Report Extraction: Extract reports for use in other software applications supporting legal teams and financial investigation activities.
- Pivot Tables: Prepare pivot tables summarizing information contained within spreadsheet-based financial records and supporting documentation.
- Document Examination: Gather and examine financial statements, accounting records, operating reports, billing records, invoices, and bank records from multiple sources.
- Investigation Review: Review documents related to transactions, events, allegations, and post-judgment asset investigations.
- Systems Analysis: Use financial reports and automated systems to review data, transactions, and account activity.
- Legal Coordination: Work with Paralegal Specialists, Automated Litigation Support Specialists, and others to compile financial documents and physical evidence.
- Trial Preparation: Create detailed charts, graphs, and summaries for court documents, motions, trials, and related proceedings.
- Inquiry Response: Answer inquiries regarding case-related information maintained within investigation databases and financial records.
9. Accounting Technician Roles
- Financial Documentation: Prepare complex financial documents for trust fund account transactions and routine account maintenance activities.
- Account Reconciliation: Reconcile accounts and determine required adjustments to bring account balances into alignment.
- Disbursement Processing: Process trust account disbursements and ensure disbursements are correctly encoded according to authorization and regulations.
- Beneficiary Support: Provide beneficiary contact services to internal and external stakeholders through calls, visitors, and appropriate direction.
- Agency Coordination: Coordinate work with area programs, public agencies, municipal offices, and tribal agencies regarding trust accounts.
- Outreach Support: Represent the office and provide support for outreach activities involving account services and stakeholder communication.
- File Management: Establish and maintain individual account files throughout the full life cycle of each account.
- Account Auditing: Audit account files to ensure transactions follow applicable regulations, internal policies, and processing requirements.
- Regulatory Compliance: Ensure regulatory compliance to maintain the confidentiality of trust funds, documents, records, and account information.
- Information Gathering: Obtain additional information from agencies and organizations to support account review and case processing.
- Status Tracking: Maintain internal status information regarding the disposition of designated information, files, and assets.
- Data Analysis: Ensure information accuracy and perform analytical computations necessary to process financial and accounting data.
- Administrative Assistance: Provide administrative information and assistance concerning cases or files to agencies and organizations.
10. Accounting Technician Additional Details
- Cash Application: Identify and apply incoming premium cash receipts to appropriate customer accounts within the FACETS system.
- Payment Processing: Process miscellaneous receipts, vendor refunds, recoveries, and related payment transactions with accuracy and timeliness.
- Check Research: Research, analyze, and resolve unidentified checks to ensure proper application within the correct accounting system.
- Operational Support: Provide guidance and operational support to Accounting Technicians processing and researching cash receipt activities.
- Department Coordination: Collaborate with Enrollment, Billing, Sales, and Accounting departments to resolve cash receipt discrepancies and payment issues.
- Reconciliation Support: Provide follow-up support regarding unresolved cash receipt matters and interdepartmental account reconciliation activities.
- System Testing: Support testing and implementation of system modifications to improve payment processing efficiency and operational effectiveness.
- Process Improvement: Identify process improvement opportunities and collaborate with the Supervisor regarding evaluation and implementation activities.
- Documentation Management: Organize and maintain documentation related to premium payments, vendor refunds, and recoveries according to retention requirements.
- Audit Support: Support research activities and audit requests through accurate financial record maintenance and documentation management.
- Financial Statements: Prepare financial statements for complex business entities, including investment-holding corporations and related group companies.
- Tax Preparation: Prepare corporate tax returns and complete complex tax schedules related to investment income and taxable capital.
- Operational Support: Perform additional related tasks supporting operational requirements, financial processes, and organizational objectives.
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