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The differences between accounting managers/controller and general ledger 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 manager/controller and a general ledger accountant. Additionally, an accounting manager/controller has an average salary of $93,973, which is higher than the $60,034 average annual salary of a general ledger accountant.
The top three skills for an accounting manager/controller include reconciliations, CPA and internal controls. The most important skills for a general ledger accountant are reconciliations, GAAP, and balance sheet accounts.
| Accounting Manager/Controller | General Ledger Accountant | |
| Yearly salary | $93,973 | $60,034 |
| Hourly rate | $45.18 | $28.86 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 58,292 | 81,408 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
An accounting manager/controller is responsible for spearheading and overseeing the daily operations in a company's accounting department. They monitor the company's budgets, including its costs and expenditures, and produce financial reports. It is also their duty to establish objectives and guidelines, manage accounting staff, monitor financial activities, review and assess financial statements, approve expenditures, and resolve issues promptly and efficiently. Furthermore, as an accounting manager/controller, it is essential to lead and encourage the workforce to reach goals, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
A general ledger accountant is in charge of ensuring the accuracy of a company's overall accounting processes and information. It is their responsibility to communicate with different departments and officials to gather necessary data, conduct extensive audits, prepare documentation and reports, maintain financial data on the company ledger, and interpret financial information. Furthermore, like a general ledger accountant, it is essential to monitor the progress of accounting processes, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Accounting managers/controller and general ledger accountants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Accounting Manager/Controller | General Ledger Accountant | |
| Average salary | $93,973 | $60,034 |
| Salary range | Between $66,000 And $133,000 | Between $47,000 And $76,000 |
| Highest paying City | Albany, NY | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | New York | California |
| Best paying company | Amazon | Citi |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between an accounting manager/controller and a general ledger accountant in terms of educational background:
| Accounting Manager/Controller | General Ledger Accountant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Most common major | Accounting | Accounting |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between accounting managers/controller' and general ledger accountants' demographics:
| Accounting Manager/Controller | General Ledger Accountant | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 48.4% Female, 51.6% | Male, 36.9% Female, 63.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.7% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 12.1% White, 63.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 8.4% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.8% Asian, 15.0% White, 61.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |