Accounts Executive

An Accounts Executive owns a complete sub-ledger. Where an assistant processes what arrives, an executive is accountable for whether the ledger is right — that AP is fully accrued, AR is fully applied, GST codes are correct, and the reconciliations behind them will survive an auditor reading them cold.

In Singapore the title sits slightly below Finance Executive in most organisations, though small companies use the two interchangeably. The practical distinction is the close: an Accounts Executive supports month-end, while a Finance Executive is measured on it.

This is the role where careers separate. Candidates who stay purely in processing tend to plateau within five years. Candidates who take on reconciliations, GST preparation and audit schedules become the obvious internal choice when a Finance Executive seat opens.

Where this sits: the usual previous role is Accounts Assistant and the usual next step is Finance Executive. Alternative paths include a move into audit, or specialising towards Accountant if statutory reporting appeals more than operations.

• Own the accounts payable or accounts receivable sub-ledger end to end, including ageing accuracy and cut-off.
• Post journals for accruals, prepayments, provisions and recurring allocations.
• Prepare monthly bank, intercompany and balance sheet reconciliations with supporting schedules.
• Apply correct GST treatment at transaction level and prepare data for the quarterly return.
• Maintain the fixed asset register, additions, disposals and depreciation runs.
• Prepare audit schedules and respond to first-level auditor queries.
• Support the month-end close timetable and flag risks to the close owner early.
• Improve routine processes — templates, automation of recurring journals, tighter approval trails.
• Supervise or review the work of an accounts assistant in larger teams.

• A Diploma or Degree in Accountancy or Finance is the standard requirement, with diploma holders competitive when experience is strong.
• Two to five years of hands-on accounting experience covering at least one full audit cycle.
• Part-qualified ACCA or Singapore CA candidates are preferred where the role feeds a Finance Executive pipeline.
• Demonstrable exposure to a mainstream ERP is expected in mid-sized and regional companies.
• Candidates from outsourced accounting firms are valued for breadth across multiple client entities.

• Walk one reconciliation end to end. Pick your hardest balance sheet account and explain how you clear it and what you do with an unexplained difference.
• Separate what you owned from what you supported. Hiring managers listen specifically for this distinction.
• Be exact on GST. Expect at least one question on zero-rated versus exempt supplies, or on input tax claims.
• Bring an improvement. A recurring journal you templated or a schedule you automated demonstrates readiness for the next seat.
• Clarify the close role. Ask whether you support the close or own parts of it — that single answer tells you whether the role progresses.