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Accountant assistant vs finance assistant

The differences between accountant assistants and finance assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become an accountant assistant, becoming a finance assistant takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, an accountant assistant has an average salary of $40,537, which is higher than the $37,926 average annual salary of a finance assistant.

The top three skills for an accountant assistant include customer service, data entry and payroll taxes. The most important skills for a finance assistant are customer service, data entry, and payroll.

Accountant assistant vs finance assistant overview

Accountant AssistantFinance Assistant
Yearly salary$40,537$37,926
Hourly rate$19.49$18.23
Growth rate6%-8%
Number of jobs63,247118,749
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 57%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Average age4450
Years of experience42

What does an accountant assistant do?

An accountant assistant is responsible for assisting the operations of a finance department, performing administrative and clerical tasks as advised. Accountant assistants create budget reports, process invoices, and manage accounts receivable. They also document purchase orders, monitor the payroll release, complete bank reconciliations, update the company's account statements and escalate discrepancies, assist with audit preparations, and sort financial documents. An accountant assistant must be familiar with the accounting processes and financial industry, as well as have strong analytical and time-management skills to perform tasks under minimal supervision.

What does a finance assistant do?

A finance assistant is responsible for supporting the financial department with daily operations by doing administrative and clerical tasks as needed. Finance assistants' duties include sorting financial records, updating account spreadsheets, assisting on bank statements reconciliation, processing payments, generating an invoice, auditing financial statements, escalating financial discrepancies for review, and reviewing cost analysis reports. A finance assistant must be knowledgeable of the financial industry and accounting processes, as well as have strong analytical and organizational skills.

Accountant assistant vs finance assistant salary

Accountant assistants and finance assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Accountant AssistantFinance Assistant
Average salary$40,537$37,926
Salary rangeBetween $28,000 And $58,000Between $27,000 And $52,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCWashington, DC
Highest paying stateNew JerseyConnecticut
Best paying companyRodeo RealtyBoston Consulting Group
Best paying industryProfessionalManufacturing

Differences between accountant assistant and finance assistant education

There are a few differences between an accountant assistant and a finance assistant in terms of educational background:

Accountant AssistantFinance Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 57%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Most common majorAccountingBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Accountant assistant vs finance assistant demographics

Here are the differences between accountant assistants' and finance assistants' demographics:

Accountant AssistantFinance Assistant
Average age4450
Gender ratioMale, 24.9% Female, 75.1%Male, 24.9% Female, 75.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.1% Asian, 16.8% White, 60.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.3% Asian, 3.8% White, 66.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage7%6%

Differences between accountant assistant and finance assistant duties and responsibilities

Accountant assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage international client's accounts by contacting leads and entering contacts into SalesForce database.
  • Monitor daily competitors blogs, twitter handles, Facebook pages.
  • Create wire frame and conceive design of home page call-out and Facebook page.
  • Publish content regularly on Instagram and YouTube as a part of the social media strategy.
  • Maintain internal pricing standards by using tariffs, customer contracts and regulations from ACH and IATA.
  • Develop innovative PowerPoint presentation used by the agent as marketing tools as well as spreads sheets for larger risk.
  • Show more

Finance assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage finance operations of assign USPS location.
  • Manage patient and insurance account receivables, perform patient account reconciliations, account audits, process insurance billing/correspondence.
  • Maintain cash receipts and disbursement records using QuickBooks and prepare bank reconciliations.
  • Provide emergency Medicaid screening for undocument patients, and perform necessary follow-up calls pertaining to NYC Medicaid applications.
  • Interpret information requests and correspond with patients and agencies in accordance with hospital, state and HIPAA regulations.
  • Schedule appointments, request prior authorization with appropriate CPT and ICD-9 codes, coordinate surgeries, procedures, etc.
  • Show more

Accountant assistant vs finance assistant skills

Common accountant assistant skills
  • Customer Service, 18%
  • Data Entry, 13%
  • Payroll Taxes, 7%
  • Purchase Orders, 6%
  • General Ledger Accounts, 5%
  • Credit Card, 4%
Common finance assistant skills
  • Customer Service, 21%
  • Data Entry, 10%
  • Payroll, 9%
  • Purchase Orders, 6%
  • Financial Assistance, 5%
  • Credit Card, 4%

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