Accounting associate vs accounting analyst

The differences between accounting associates and accounting analysts can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become an accounting associate, becoming an accounting analyst takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an accounting analyst has an average salary of $58,399, which is higher than the $50,537 average annual salary of an accounting associate.

The top three skills for an accounting associate include reconciliations, customer service and data entry. The most important skills for an accounting analyst are reconciliations, customer service, and account reconciliations.

Accounting associate vs accounting analyst overview

	Accounting Associate	Accounting Analyst
Yearly salary	$50,537	$58,399
Hourly rate	$24.30	$28.08
Growth rate	-5%	6%
Number of jobs	49,143	81,097
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 60%	Bachelor's Degree, 74%
Average age	51	44
Years of experience	6	4

What does an accounting associate do?

An accounting associate is responsible for supporting the operations of the accounting department, ensuring the stability of the financial services and status of an organization. Accounting associates process invoices, update client accounts on the database, manage financial reports, assist with tax auditing and processing, monitoring the financial statements and activities of the organization, escalate financial disputes, and verify accounts receivable. An accounting associate must have excellent knowledge of the accounting industry, as well as exceptional analytical and time-management skills to perform clerical duties as needed under minimal supervision.

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.

Accounting associate vs accounting analyst salary

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

	Accounting Associate	Accounting Analyst
Average salary	$50,537	$58,399
Salary range	Between $34,000 And $74,000	Between $42,000 And $79,000
Highest paying City	Washington, DC	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	New York	New York
Best paying company	Point72	Google
Best paying industry	Finance	Finance

Differences between accounting associate and accounting analyst education

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

	Accounting Associate	Accounting Analyst
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 60%	Bachelor's Degree, 74%
Most common major	Accounting	Accounting
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

Accounting associate vs accounting analyst demographics

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

	Accounting Associate	Accounting Analyst
Average age	51	44
Gender ratio	Male, 26.5% Female, 73.5%	Male, 41.6% Female, 58.4%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 6.8% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Asian, 6.5% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%	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%
LGBT Percentage	7%	7%

Differences between accounting associate and accounting analyst duties and responsibilities

Accounting associate example responsibilities.

Manage revenue ledger including other subsidiary ledgers and responsible for the reconciliation of various income accounts to ensure accuracy of postings.
Reconcile bank statements and prepare company's financial data to be process by outside CPA for tax season.
Assist the firm's CPA in yearly personal and corporate income tax returns, business valuations and audits.
Reconcile cash receipts to the general ledger (lock-boxes, checks, wire transfers, and ACH payments).
Insure preparation and submission of computerize payroll to DFAS for assign personnel.
Develop PowerPoint presentations for use in trials and conferences.

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.

Accounting associate vs accounting analyst skills

Common accounting associate skills

Reconciliations, 11%
Customer Service, 10%
Data Entry, 8%
Account Reconciliations, 4%
General Ledger Accounts, 4%
Purchase Orders, 4%

Common accounting analyst skills

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

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Accounting Associate
Accounting Associate vs Accounting Analyst

Updated January 8, 2025

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