Accounting analyst vs accountant

The differences between accounting analysts and accountants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an accounting analyst and an accountant. Additionally, an accounting analyst has an average salary of $58,399, which is higher than the $54,890 average annual salary of an accountant.

The top three skills for an accounting analyst include reconciliations, customer service and account reconciliations. The most important skills for an accountant are reconciliations, general ledger accounts, and account reconciliations.

Accounting analyst vs accountant overview

	Accounting Analyst	Accountant
Yearly salary	$58,399	$54,890
Hourly rate	$28.08	$26.39
Growth rate	6%	6%
Number of jobs	81,097	60,073
Job satisfaction	-	3
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 74%	Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Average age	44	44
Years of experience	4	4

What does an accounting analyst do?

An accounting analyst is responsible for supporting the accounting operations of an organization, analyzing financial transactions and financial statements, and resolving account discrepancies. Accounting analysts interpret financial data by consolidating account transactions, performing account reconciliation, and managing account receivables. They also assist in preparing and releasing invoices, issuing billing statements, and creating comprehensive financial reports on the company's budget and expenses. An accounting analyst must have excellent knowledge of the accounting principles and disciplines, as well as extensive analytical and communication skills to perform duties and meet deadlines under minimal supervision.

What does an accountant do?

An accountant is an individual whose primary task is to prepare, keep, examine, and interpret financial records. Most accountants are in charge of a wide scope of finance-related tasks, either for private individuals or for large-scale businesses and organizations they are employed with. They make sure that financial statements and records are accurate and comply with laws and regulations. They also compute for taxes, prepare tax returns, and ensure being paid properly and on time. As they keep track and record the flow of money, they can offer guidance on how to reduce costs, enhance revenue, and help in profit maximization.

Accounting analyst vs accountant salary

Accounting analysts and accountants have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Accounting Analyst	Accountant
Average salary	$58,399	$54,890
Salary range	Between $42,000 And $79,000	Between $41,000 And $72,000
Highest paying City	San Francisco, CA	Washington, DC
Highest paying state	New York	New York
Best paying company	Google	Meta
Best paying industry	Finance	Technology

Differences between accounting analyst and accountant education

There are a few differences between an accounting analyst and an accountant in terms of educational background:

	Accounting Analyst	Accountant
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 74%	Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Most common major	Accounting	Accounting
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

Accounting analyst vs accountant demographics

Here are the differences between accounting analysts' and accountants' demographics:

	Accounting Analyst	Accountant
Average age	44	44
Gender ratio	Male, 41.6% Female, 58.4%	Male, 38.2% Female, 61.8%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 8.7% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.0% Asian, 14.3% White, 61.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%	Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.9% Asian, 15.0% White, 61.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage	7%	7%

Differences between accounting analyst and accountant duties and responsibilities

Accounting analyst example responsibilities.

Manage and process all ACH, EFT and wire transfer transactions daily (debit or credits).
Manage reconciling monthly discrepancies between ERP transfers.
Manage budget submissions by subsidiaries in Europe/AFNE region in Hyperion.
Establish investment objectives to efficiently manage IPO proceeds within state risk parameters.
Maintain accounting controls by following GAAP and internal accounting policies; maintain financial security by following internal controls.
Review and approve monthly general ledger and bank account reconciliations for special condition accounts to ensure procedural consistency and compliance.

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Accountant example responsibilities.

Manage preparation of the statutory financial statements and financial aggregates in compliance with IFRS and local applicable norms.
Manage personnel financial matters including salaries, taxation procedures and other relate issues.
Manage and monitor accounting procedures for compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley and coordinate and facilitate external audit requirements.
Reconstruct and improve many balance sheet account reconciliations for easier reading and interpretation by senior level management.
Perform complex general accounting functions, including preparation of journal entries, account analysis and balance sheet reconciliations.
Maintain general ledgers and preparation of monthly and other periodic financial reports in accordance with GAAP and international accounting standards.

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Accounting analyst vs accountant skills

Common accounting analyst skills

Reconciliations, 12%
Customer Service, 7%
Account Reconciliations, 6%
GAAP, 5%
Strong Analytical, 4%
Payroll, 4%

Common accountant skills

Reconciliations, 14%
General Ledger Accounts, 6%
Account Reconciliations, 6%
GAAP, 5%
Payroll Tax Returns, 5%
Customer Service, 5%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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