Accountant Jobs in Phoenix, AZ
Accountants in the Phoenix area earn a median of about $80,820 a year, and the Valley's banks, Big Four offices and state agencies are hiring from staff to senior level. Here are the current openings, followed by who is hiring, what it pays and how the CPA path works in Arizona.
Current accountant Openings in Phoenix, AZ
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Accountant Work in Phoenix
Phoenix accounting jobs cluster in three places. Downtown Phoenix holds the corporate and government work: Western Alliance Bank is headquartered on East Washington Street, the Arizona Auditor General runs its financial audit teams from its Phoenix office, and the Arizona State Board of Accountancy sits at 100 N 15th Ave near the Capitol. Tempe is the public accounting hub, with Deloitte's Arizona office on Mill Avenue and big finance employers such as JPMorgan Chase on University Drive. The Chandler Price Corridor along Loop 101 and Loop 202 adds large corporate finance operations, including Wells Fargo and Bank of America, which the City of Chandler counts at about 5,500 and 3,600 employees.
What makes the Valley different is the mix. A new graduate can start in audit at a national firm, move into industry at a Phoenix-headquartered company such as U-Haul, APS or Western Alliance, or take a public-sector audit job with the state. Arizona is also changing how CPAs qualify, which opens the license to more working accountants from 2027.
Top Phoenix Employers Hiring Accountants
These Valley employers have current accounting and audit openings:
- Western Alliance Bank - the Phoenix-headquartered bank lists both Accountant and Senior Accountant openings in Phoenix.
- EY - the Big Four firm recruits entry-level assurance and audit analysts for Phoenix, with a posted national base range of $78,000 to $100,000.
- Deloitte - the firm's Arizona office on Mill Avenue in Tempe hires audit and assurance assistants for its distributed audit practice.
- Eide Bailly - the regional CPA firm's Phoenix office is hiring assurance senior associates.
- Arizona Auditor General - the state audit agency hires financial auditors in Phoenix, with pay set by degree and CPA status.
Accountant Salaries in Phoenix
- Entry level: about $58,000 to $68,000 a year for staff accountants and first-year audit associates.
- Experienced: roughly $70,000 to $95,000 a year, around the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler median of $80,820.
- Senior: $105,000 to $130,000 or more for senior accountants, accounting managers and controllers.
These are estimates based on BLS 2025 wage data for the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler metro and current Valley postings. The CPA license moves pay the most: the Arizona Auditor General's posted range for a financial auditor runs from $68,000 with a bachelor's degree to $77,000 with a CPA. Big Four and regional firms tend to pay more at the top in exchange for busy season hours, while banks, utilities and government offer steadier schedules.
How to Become an Accountant in Phoenix
Most accountant jobs require a bachelor's degree in accounting. In the Valley that usually means the ASU W. P. Carey School of Business BS in Accountancy (Tempe and West Valley campuses, with an accelerated path into the Master of Accountancy), or the Grand Canyon University Colangelo College of Business BS in Accounting on Camelback Road. Maricopa Community Colleges offers an Accounting AAS at all 10 colleges, and Paradise Valley Community College has a four-year BBA in Accounting.
You do not need a license to work as a staff or corporate accountant. The CPA license, issued by the Arizona State Board of Accountancy, is what lets you call yourself a CPA and sign audit reports. The board's current rules call for 150 semester hours including 36 hours of accounting, the Uniform CPA Exam, an ethics exam and 2,000 hours of experience. Arizona's SB1181, signed in April 2026 and effective after December 31, 2026, adds a path of a bachelor's degree plus two years of experience; the board is still writing the coursework rules for it.
What the Job Involves
Accountants record and reconcile transactions, close the books each month, prepare financial statements and support audits and tax filings. A typical week includes journal entries, account reconciliations, variance analysis for managers and pulling documents for auditors. In public accounting the work is client audits and tax returns on a deadline calendar; in industry it is the company's own close, budget and reporting.
Skills Employers Look For
- Knowledge of GAAP and month-end close
- Account reconciliation and journal entries
- Advanced Excel, including pivot tables and lookups
- ERP experience such as Oracle, SAP or Workday Financials
- Audit and internal control basics
- Clear writing for managers and clients
- Progress toward the CPA license
Career Path and Advancement
In Phoenix the ladder usually runs staff accountant, senior accountant, accounting manager, then controller. Many local accountants start in audit at a firm in Tempe or Downtown Phoenix, earn the CPA in two or three years, then move into industry at a Valley bank, utility or headquarters company. Others go the public route through the Arizona Auditor General or city and county finance departments.
Related Careers in Phoenix
If accounting interests you, these related Phoenix roles are close matches:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a CPA license to work as an accountant in Phoenix?
No. Staff, corporate and government accountant jobs do not require a state license. You need the CPA, issued by the Arizona State Board of Accountancy, only to hold yourself out as a CPA or sign audit reports, though many Phoenix employers prefer or pay more for it.
How much do accountants make in Phoenix?
BLS 2025 data puts the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler median at about $80,820 a year. Entry-level staff accountants generally start near $58,000 to $68,000, and experienced senior accountants and managers can pass $105,000.
Does Arizona still require 150 credit hours for the CPA?
For now, yes. SB1181, signed in April 2026, takes effect after December 31, 2026 and adds a bachelor's degree plus two years of experience as another route to the license. Check the Arizona State Board of Accountancy for the coursework rules before you apply.
Where can I study accounting in the Phoenix area?
ASU's W. P. Carey School of Business offers the BS in Accountancy in Tempe and the West Valley, plus a Master of Accountancy. Grand Canyon University offers a BS in Accounting on Camelback Road, and every Maricopa Community College offers an Accounting AAS.
When is busy season for Phoenix accountants?
At CPA firms, tax busy season runs January through April, and audit work peaks after the calendar year-end. Corporate and government accountants feel the pressure at each month-end close and the annual audit instead.
Ready to apply? Browse all Accountant jobs in Phoenix, AZ on LocalJobPage and apply today.