Accounting manager vs accountant

The differences between accounting managers and accountants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-8 years to become an accounting manager, becoming an accountant takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an accounting manager has an average salary of $84,451, which is higher than the $54,890 average annual salary of an accountant.

The top three skills for an accounting manager include reconciliations, CPA and GAAP. The most important skills for an accountant are reconciliations, general ledger accounts, and account reconciliations.

Accounting manager vs accountant overview

	Accounting Manager	Accountant
Yearly salary	$84,451	$54,890
Hourly rate	$40.60	$26.39
Growth rate	17%	6%
Number of jobs	92,089	60,073
Job satisfaction	-	3
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 73%	Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Average age	46	44
Years of experience	8	4

What does an accounting manager do?

An accounting manager is responsible for supervising and monitoring the overall accounting department operations. Duties of an accounting manager include reviewing account information and account statements, processing invoices, analyzing financial data, performing account reconciliations, assisting with tax processing and audit reports, and generating financial reports for presentation with the board. An accounting manager must have excellent knowledge of the accounting principles and legislation to assist the team with the company's financial goals. Accounting managers must have the outstanding analytical, critical thinking, and decision-making skills to develop the best competitive financial strategies.

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 manager vs accountant salary

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

	Accounting Manager	Accountant
Average salary	$84,451	$54,890
Salary range	Between $60,000 And $117,000	Between $41,000 And $72,000
Highest paying City	San Francisco, CA	Washington, DC
Highest paying state	Vermont	New York
Best paying company	Morgan Lewis	Meta
Best paying industry	Finance	Technology

Differences between accounting manager and accountant education

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

	Accounting Manager	Accountant
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 73%	Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Most common major	Accounting	Accounting
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

Accounting manager vs accountant demographics

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

	Accounting Manager	Accountant
Average age	46	44
Gender ratio	Male, 40.4% Female, 59.6%	Male, 38.2% Female, 61.8%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 7.7% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 14.8% Asian, 10.0% White, 63.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%	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	11%	7%

Differences between accounting manager and accountant duties and responsibilities

Accounting manager example responsibilities.

Refine the 'pro forma invoice' system process to manage prepayments of client invoices enhancing efficiency and adding value.
Work independently on line of business projects to automate derivative processes and system enhancement testing.
Manage payroll and all taxation matters, coordinate independent audit; communicate with outside organizations and agencies.
Lead team that develop templates and procedure documentation of key controls within general accounting to comply with Sarbanes-Oxley.
Lead successful international enterprise wide ERP migration and experience in analysis, testing, documentation, design and implementation.
Conduct corporate treasury management planning and analysis, manages controls for inventory and cost accumulation for all products sell.

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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 manager vs accountant skills

Common accounting manager skills

Reconciliations, 10%
CPA, 9%
GAAP, 7%
Customer Service, 5%
Payroll Processing, 4%
Internal Controls, 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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