Is an accounting specialist an accountant?

Question

Zippia Team · Accepted Answer

No, an accounting specialist is not an accountant. In terms of experience, exposure, and pay, an accounting specialist has a bigger edge than an accountant because they are aware of the key financial areas of the organization, whereas an accountant's job is to maintain the books of one particular financial line item.

Accountants perform financial functions related to the collection, accuracy, recording, analysis, and presentation of a business, organization, or company's financial operations.

Main responsibilities of an accountant include the following:

Prepares asset, liability, and capital account entries by compiling and analyzing account information.
Documents financial transactions by entering account information.
Recommends financial actions by analyzing accounting options.
Summarizes current financial status by collecting information; preparing balance sheets, profit and loss statements, and other reports.
Substantiates financial transactions by auditing documents.
Maintains accounting controls by preparing and recommending policies and procedures.
Guides accounting clerical staff by coordinating activities and answering questions.
Reconciles financial discrepancies by collecting and analyzing account information.
Secures financial information by completing database backups.

Accounting specialists provide accounting support to major financial accounting areas, including the accounts payable desk, general ledger accounting, and account reconciliation.

Main responsibilities of an account specialist include the following:

Provide timely and accurate payment processing by processing accounts payable checks semi-weekly.
Input credit and debits to the accounting system in support of the payables work.
Develop and maintain reports and files on Accounts Payable processing.
Input general ledger entries for account changes.
Develop and maintain reports and files on asset and liability account balances.
Ensure accurate balancing from a corporate perspective of teller input from financial centers.
Develop and maintain regular reports via the company's accounting system.