A treasury accountant helps an organization manage cash and increase profitability.
A treasury accountant is a cash management specialist who helps an organization increase profitability by assessing periodic liquidity needs, determining funding sources and investing excess cash in capital markets. This specialist also ensures that a company's financial statements are correct and in adherence with accounting principles and regulatory rules. A treasury accountant typically holds a bachelor's or a master's degree in finance, accounting or investments and may be a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
Function
A treasury accountant records an organization's cash transactions and ensures that such records are fair ("fair" means "accurate" in accounting and treasury parlance), complete and in adherence with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), company policies, industry guidelines and regulatory requirements. Complete records include four financial statements: a balance sheet, a statement of profit and loss, a statement of cash flows and a statement of shareholders' equity. A treasury specialist also partners with internal and external auditors to ensure that controls and procedures around financial reporting mechanisms are adequate and functional.
Features
A treasury accountant's income levels typically depend on academic training, organization size, professional certification and length of service. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that median wages of treasury accounting clerks were $32,510 in 2008, with the top 10 percent earning more than $49,260 and the bottom 10 percent earning less than $20,950. Senior professionals earn more. According to the Labor Department, median wages of treasury accountants were $59,430 in 2008, with the bottom 10 percent earning less than $36,720, and the top 10 percent earning more than $102,380.
Types
There are four types of treasury accountants. First, a government treasury specialist helps a state or a federal agency manage cash and increase profitability by analyzing budget data and providing recommendations to senior management. Second, a tax treasurer studies trends in a company's fiscal expense levels and advises on tax-saving options. Third, a CPA advising a public client on treasury management strategies works for a public accounting firm. Fourth, a financial treasury specialist helps a corporation report financial data in accordance with accounting principles.
Time Frame
A treasury accountant usually works from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. but could work longer if business conditions require it. For example, a treasury specialist may stay late at the office to help with a company's accounting month-closing procedures, or aid the accounting---or investment---department in completing a merger transaction.
Geography
A treasury accountant typically lives in a metropolitan area close to corporate employment locations. This specialist may travel periodically to meet with branch colleagues domestically or internally. For example, a treasury accountant working at a Wyoming-based bank may visit the New York branch to review accounting policies.
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