Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between accounting associates and junior accountants 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 a junior accountant takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an accounting associate has an average salary of $50,537, which is higher than the $50,444 average annual salary of a junior accountant.
The top three skills for an accounting associate include reconciliations, customer service and data entry. The most important skills for a junior accountant are reconciliations, general ledger accounts, and account reconciliations.
| Accounting Associate | Junior Accountant | |
| Yearly salary | $50,537 | $50,444 |
| Hourly rate | $24.30 | $24.25 |
| Growth rate | -5% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 49,143 | 57,892 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 51 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
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.
Junior accountants maintain the financial records of companies through the analysis of their general ledger accounts and balance sheets. The accountant's post journal entries, maintain accounts receivable and payable, and update financial statements. They pay payroll every month, reconcile ledgers, and submit payroll taxes. The skills necessary for this job include analytical skills, problem-solving, information confidentiality, and proficiency in accounting software and technology. They are also expected to be detail-oriented.
Accounting associates and junior accountants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Accounting Associate | Junior Accountant | |
| Average salary | $50,537 | $50,444 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $74,000 | Between $38,000 And $66,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | New York | New York |
| Best paying company | Point72 | Fuhu |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Construction |
There are a few differences between an accounting associate and a junior accountant in terms of educational background:
| Accounting Associate | Junior Accountant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Accounting | Accounting |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between accounting associates' and junior accountants' demographics:
| Accounting Associate | Junior Accountant | |
| Average age | 51 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 26.5% Female, 73.5% | Male, 39.6% Female, 60.4% |
| 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, 7.9% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.2% Asian, 16.6% White, 60.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |