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Accounting systems analyst vs finance analyst

The differences between accounting systems analysts and finance 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 systems analyst, becoming a finance analyst takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an accounting systems analyst has an average salary of $71,946, which is higher than the $69,887 average annual salary of a finance analyst.

The top three skills for an accounting systems analyst include hyperion, process improvement and financial systems. The most important skills for a finance analyst are financial analysis, financial models, and financial data.

Accounting systems analyst vs finance analyst overview

Accounting Systems AnalystFinance Analyst
Yearly salary$71,946$69,887
Hourly rate$34.59$33.60
Growth rate9%9%
Number of jobs108,704138,600
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 71%Bachelor's Degree, 76%
Average age4340
Years of experience64

What does an accounting systems analyst do?

The advanced systems engineer works to develop and upgrade systems used in a company or provided for customers and clients. System engineers regularly monitor all applications, software, and productivity systems used in the company and evaluate them. The advanced systems engineer's goal is to improve the programs used in the company continually. Working alongside the IT department, the engineer monitors all feedback and promptly provides suggestions, recommendations and, if necessary, orders upgrades in problematic areas in the system.

What does a finance analyst do?

A finance analyst is responsible for evaluating a company's financial data and historical reports to assess investment opportunities and provide accurate financial statements in support of business strategies and company performance prediction. A financial analyst's duties also include suggesting recommendations to boost operations efficiency and grow revenues, researching the current market performance and economic trends to adjust budget goals as needed, and managing client portfolios. Finance analysts must have excellent critical and analytical thinking skills to identify the best actions for the company's profitability.

Accounting systems analyst vs finance analyst salary

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

Accounting Systems AnalystFinance Analyst
Average salary$71,946$69,887
Salary rangeBetween $50,000 And $103,000Between $46,000 And $104,000
Highest paying CityEureka, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateWashingtonConnecticut
Best paying companyeBayThe Citadel
Best paying industry-Finance

Differences between accounting systems analyst and finance analyst education

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

Accounting Systems AnalystFinance Analyst
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 71%Bachelor's Degree, 76%
Most common majorAccountingBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Accounting systems analyst vs finance analyst demographics

Here are the differences between accounting systems analysts' and finance analysts' demographics:

Accounting Systems AnalystFinance Analyst
Average age4340
Gender ratioMale, 47.6% Female, 52.4%Male, 56.2% Female, 43.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.5% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 14.5% White, 58.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 5.6% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.7% Asian, 14.1% White, 68.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
LGBT Percentage8%7%

Differences between accounting systems analyst and finance analyst duties and responsibilities

Accounting systems analyst example responsibilities.

  • Manage human resources, payroll, customer ordering, and inside sales.
  • Manage business requirements gathering for functionality development and interface definition from the legacy systems to the CRM and SA management applications.
  • Work on a team to improve the month end close process by more effectively utilizing the ERP system.
  • Experience with database querying and VBA macros.
  • Assist in SOX audit requests and procedure walk through.
  • Support the EFT and FEDI files for all electronic vendors and payroll.
  • Show more

Finance analyst example responsibilities.

  • Manage company asset accounts, wire funds to clients and record and structure amounts into QuickBooks.
  • Manage the UAT team involve in the testing of an enterprise accounting and project management software.
  • Manage customer portfolio to department KPI's, target balance, aging metrics, cash recovery and write-off tolerance.
  • Manage contract database and SalesForce for historical research and financial reporting purposes.
  • Manage and maintain information in worldwide-military database which include exemptions, transfers, retirements, and payroll records.
  • Accomplish project accounting functions including project costing, time reporting, project accruals and proper capitalization of development costs.
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Accounting systems analyst vs finance analyst skills

Common accounting systems analyst skills
  • Hyperion, 15%
  • Process Improvement, 8%
  • Financial Systems, 6%
  • Financial Reports, 5%
  • Financial Data, 5%
  • System Issues, 4%
Common finance analyst skills
  • Financial Analysis, 9%
  • Financial Models, 5%
  • Financial Data, 5%
  • Strong Analytical, 4%
  • Variance Analysis, 4%
  • Hyperion, 3%

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