Public finance accountant
Also known as: treasury accountant, treasury officer, treasury manager, finance accountant of government administration, public finance officer, public finance manager
About this occupation
Public finance accountants head the treasury department of a governmental institution. They manage the institution's financial administration, expenditure and income generation, and compliance with taxation and other financial legislation. They perform administrative duties to ensure record keeping, develop plans for budget management and perform financial forecasts.
A specialisation of accountant.
Essential skills and knowledge
- control financial resources
- tax legislation
- accounting techniques
- budgetary principles
- develop account strategy
- monitor financial accounts
- inspect government expenditures
- create a financial report
- financial forecasting
- public finance
- conduct financial audits
- inspect government incomes
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Accountants and Auditors (O*NET 13-2011.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Prepare, examine, or analyze accounting records, financial statements, or other financial reports to assess accuracy, completeness, and conformance to reporting and procedural standards.
- Process invoices for payment.
- Review accounts for discrepancies and reconcile differences.
- Compute taxes owed and prepare tax returns, ensuring compliance with payment, reporting, or other tax requirements.
- Prepare adjusting journal entries.
- Inspect account books and accounting systems for efficiency, effectiveness, and use of accepted accounting procedures to record transactions.
- Preparation
- Job Zone 4 of 5
- Interests
- Conventional, Enterprising, Investigative
Top skills: Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Writing, Critical Thinking, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making
US median pay: US$83,680 a year (2025), 1,449,500 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- Economics or AccountingO*NET: Economics and AccountingVery important (4.4)
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageVery important (3.6)
- Mathematics or StatisticsO*NET: MathematicsImportant (3.5)
- Government and PoliticsO*NET: Law and GovernmentImportant (3.3)
- Business Studies or EntrepreneurshipO*NET: Administration and ManagementImportant (3.3)
- Computer StudiesO*NET: Computers and ElectronicsImportant (3.1)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks
- Financial Examiners
- Treasurers and Controllers
- Tax Preparers
- Financial Managers
- Budget Analysts
- Credit Analysts
- Personal Financial Advisors
- Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents
- Financial and Investment Analysts
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.