Accountant Jobs in Tucson, AZ
Accountants in Tucson keep the books for hospitals, the VA, mining clients and the firms that serve them. Recent Tucson VA accountant postings paid about $51,000 to $99,000 a year. Current openings are below, followed by who is hiring, what it pays and how Arizona's CPA rules change in 2027.
Current Accountant Openings in Tucson, AZ
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Accountant Work in Tucson
Tucson's hospitals keep accountants in-house. Tucson Medical Center on Grant Road in midtown is hiring a Senior Accountant for its research operation, managing clinical trial budgets, sponsor invoicing, reconciliations and month-end close under GAAP. On the south side, the Tucson VA Medical Center on South Sixth Avenue posted GS-7 to GS-11 accountant openings in July 2026 with the pay range published to the dollar.
Contract and temp-to-hire roles are another way in. Robert Half's Tucson listings in October 2026 included staff accountants on month-end close, receivables and affiliate billing, plus staff and senior accountant roles with a mining client doing cost analysis and forecasting. Mining is a real employer here: Freeport-McMoRan's Sierrita operation near Green Valley and Sahuarita, off I-19, is one of the largest private employers in the metro.
Top Tucson Employers Hiring Accountants
These Tucson employers have posted accountant jobs on their own careers sites in recent months:
- Tucson Medical Center - senior accountant for research finance, covering study budgets, sponsor billing and GAAP reporting.
- Southern Arizona VA Health Care System - GS-7 to GS-11 accountants at the Tucson VA Medical Center.
- Robert Half - a staffing firm placing staff and senior accountants with Tucson clients on contract and temp-to-hire terms.
Accountant Salaries in Tucson
- Entry level (staff accountant, 0-3 years): roughly $50,000 to $62,000 per year.
- Experienced (senior accountant, CPA): roughly $62,000 to $85,000 per year.
- Senior (accounting manager, controller): roughly $85,000 to $115,000 per year.
These are estimates that vary by employer and experience. Federal data put the average Tucson accountant and auditor at about $76,120 a year (May 2023). The VA's July 2026 range ran $51,417 to $98,928 depending on grade, and Robert Half's October contract listings ran $24 to $30 an hour for staff accountants and $32 to $42 an hour for senior work. A CPA license and a move into management are the two biggest raises.
How to Become an Accountant in Tucson
Most accountant jobs require a bachelor's degree in accounting. The University of Arizona's Dhaliwal-Reidy School of Accountancy at the Eller College of Management offers the BSBA in Accounting, a Master of Accounting and a Master of Science in Accounting, on campus or online. Pima Community College's Accounting AAS, offered online or hybrid at the Downtown and Northwest campuses, is a common lower-cost start. CPAs are certified by the Arizona State Board of Accountancy. Through 2026 that means 150 semester hours, including 36 hours of accounting, plus 2,000 hours of experience. Senate Bill 1181 (Laws 2026, chapter 17) takes effect January 1, 2027 and replaces those rules for first-time applicants with three routes: a bachelor's degree and two years of experience, a bachelor's plus 30 semester hours and one year, or a graduate degree and one year, on top of passing the CPA exam.
What the Job Involves
Accountants record and check transactions, reconcile balance sheet and bank accounts, close the books each month, prepare financial statements and support audits. In a hospital or research setting that adds budgets, sponsor or grant billing and compliance reporting. Tax season and year-end close are the busy stretches.
Skills Employers Look For
- U.S. GAAP and financial statement preparation
- Advanced Excel
- ERP and general ledger systems
- Balance sheet and bank reconciliations
- Audit preparation and internal controls
- CPA, CMA or progress toward one
Career Path and Advancement
The Tucson ladder runs staff accountant, senior accountant, accounting manager and controller, with director roles at the larger systems; TMC has posted both a senior research accountant and a Director of Accounting. Federal accountants climb the GS scale at the VA, and many local accountants start in contract roles and convert to permanent jobs with the client.
Related Careers in Tucson
These Tucson guides cover the closest alternatives for accountants:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a CPA to work as an accountant in Tucson?
No. Staff, senior and government accountant jobs in Tucson are open without a CPA, and TMC lists the CPA as preferred rather than required for its senior research accountant. The license matters for signing audit opinions and for moving into management.
How do you become a CPA in Arizona?
Pass the CPA exam and meet the Arizona State Board of Accountancy's education and experience rules. Through 2026 that is 150 semester hours and 2,000 hours of experience. From January 1, 2027, first-time applicants can qualify with a bachelor's degree and two years of experience, among other routes.
How much do accountants make in Tucson?
Roughly $50,000 to $62,000 to start, $62,000 to $85,000 for senior accountants and CPAs, and $85,000 to $115,000 for managers and controllers. These are estimates; the federal Tucson average for accountants and auditors is about $76,000.
Which Tucson employers hire accountants?
Tucson Medical Center and the Tucson VA Medical Center have both posted accountant jobs in 2026. Staffing firm Robert Half also places staff and senior accountants with Tucson clients, including a mining client.
Where can I study accounting in Tucson?
The University of Arizona's Dhaliwal-Reidy School of Accountancy offers the BSBA in Accounting and master's programs on campus and online. Pima Community College's Accounting AAS is offered online or hybrid at the Downtown and Northwest campuses.
Ready to apply? Browse all accountant jobs in Tucson, AZ on TucsonHIRED and apply today.