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Administrative assistant vs finance/administrative assistant

The differences between administrative assistants and finance/administrative assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an administrative assistant and a finance/administrative assistant. Additionally, a finance/administrative assistant has an average salary of $39,756, which is higher than the $34,945 average annual salary of an administrative assistant.

The top three skills for an administrative assistant include customer service, data entry and powerpoint. The most important skills for a finance/administrative assistant are data entry, powerpoint, and travel arrangements.

Administrative assistant vs finance/administrative assistant overview

Administrative AssistantFinance/Administrative Assistant
Yearly salary$34,945$39,756
Hourly rate$16.80$19.11
Growth rate-8%-8%
Number of jobs65,769127,379
Job satisfaction4.14-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 47%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Average age5050
Years of experience22

What does an administrative assistant do?

Administrative assistants, or admin assistants, do general clerical and administrative activities. Their duties involve organizing and maintaining files and records, preparing documents, scheduling meetings and appointments, and providing general support in the office. Administrative assistants handle incoming and outgoing official correspondences, take minutes of important meetings and manage calls to the main office number. They also assist executives in providing structure to their day by managing their schedule, drafting e-mails, and other activities that executives may need assistance in. Administrative assistants should have the following skills: organizing, business writing, decision-making, and communication.

What does a finance/administrative assistant do?

A finance administrative assistant is responsible for performing clerical duties and basic bookkeeping tasks to support financial operations under the supervision of financial executives. Finance administrative assistants generate financial and business reports, update account information on the database, assist with payroll release, and help the accounting staff in resolving financial discrepancies and disputes. They also reach out to the clients for payments and billing, respond to their inquiries and concerns, and escalate their complaints to the supervisor for immediate resolution.

Administrative assistant vs finance/administrative assistant salary

Administrative assistants and finance/administrative assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Administrative AssistantFinance/Administrative Assistant
Average salary$34,945$39,756
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $46,000Between $29,000 And $52,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CAWashington, DC
Highest paying stateCaliforniaConnecticut
Best paying companyWestfield State UniversityTALENT Software Services
Best paying industry-Professional

Differences between administrative assistant and finance/administrative assistant education

There are a few differences between an administrative assistant and a finance/administrative assistant in terms of educational background:

Administrative AssistantFinance/Administrative Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 47%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeWestern Carolina UniversityUniversity of Pennsylvania

Administrative assistant vs finance/administrative assistant demographics

Here are the differences between administrative assistants' and finance/administrative assistants' demographics:

Administrative AssistantFinance/Administrative Assistant
Average age5050
Gender ratioMale, 12.7% Female, 87.3%Male, 12.8% Female, 87.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.0% Asian, 3.8% White, 66.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.4% Asian, 3.8% White, 65.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between administrative assistant and finance/administrative assistant duties and responsibilities

Administrative assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage time and attendance using Kronos software for entire department.
  • Participate in national projects, manage new customer conversions to MCI from other carriers.
  • Manage FEDEX delivery requirements ensuring compliance with company policy.
  • Manage and update social media outlets including Facebook and LinkedIn.
  • Manage company finances using QuickBooks software, including monitoring the operating budget and collecting on unpaid invoices.
  • Manage and develop the daily clinical schedule for the in-patient rehabilitation staff taking into consideration Medicare guidelines and staffing ratios.
  • Show more

Finance/administrative assistant example responsibilities.

  • Initiate both domestic and international wire transfers as well as ACH payments to manage vendor payments.
  • Manage all AR, AP, sales orders, work orders, and prepay inventory reconciliation.
  • Orchestrate special events and reservations; manage customer relations and provide exemplary service to all customers.
  • Alphabetize, sort, files FAFSA's code, and assemble letters for mass mailing.
  • Help students and officials file and summit FAFSA application forms and develop and maintain spreadsheets for documenting cases.
  • Process accounts payable and receivable utilizing QuickBooks.
  • Show more

Administrative assistant vs finance/administrative assistant skills

Common administrative assistant skills
  • Customer Service, 14%
  • Data Entry, 11%
  • PowerPoint, 6%
  • Travel Arrangements, 5%
  • Database Management, 5%
  • Word Processing, 5%
Common finance/administrative assistant skills
  • Data Entry, 11%
  • PowerPoint, 10%
  • Travel Arrangements, 7%
  • Purchase Orders, 6%
  • Financial Aid, 5%
  • Expense Reports, 5%

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