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Audit assistant vs accounting assistant

The differences between audit assistants and accounting assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both an audit assistant and an accounting assistant. Additionally, an audit assistant has an average salary of $58,744, which is higher than the $39,569 average annual salary of an accounting assistant.

The top three skills for an audit assistant include audit reports, CPA and risk assessments. The most important skills for an accounting assistant are data entry, customer service, and reconciliations.

Audit assistant vs accounting assistant overview

Audit AssistantAccounting Assistant
Yearly salary$58,744$39,569
Hourly rate$28.24$19.02
Growth rate-5%-5%
Number of jobs12,69263,945
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Average age5151
Years of experience66

What does an audit assistant do?

It is the job of an audit assistant to monitor and analyze the financial reports of a business enterprise. Audit assistants prepare the financial reports and ensure compliance with the tax regulations. They determine both the strengths and weaknesses of the finances of an organization. Their job includes checking the accuracy of accounting procedures and systems. They make a review, assessment, and recommendations for changes in business unit accounting systems and controls.

What does an accounting assistant do?

An accounting assistant is responsible for supporting the daily operations of the business' accounting department, from reviewing financial transactions to the submission of financial reports. Accounting assistants' duties include performing data entry and clerical tasks, maintaining a safe record of account statements, updating and analyzing transactions, verifying the accuracy of financial records, and managing customers and vendors' inquiries as immediate as possible. An accounting assistant must have a broad knowledge of the accounting principles and processes, as well as excellent communication and time-management skills, especially on meeting strict deadlines and doing complex tasks as needed.

Audit assistant vs accounting assistant salary

Audit assistants and accounting assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Audit AssistantAccounting Assistant
Average salary$58,744$39,569
Salary rangeBetween $49,000 And $70,000Between $30,000 And $50,000
Highest paying CityBoston, MAWashington, DC
Highest paying stateDelawareNew York
Best paying companyState StreetLos Alamos National Laboratory
Best paying industryTechnologyFinance

Differences between audit assistant and accounting assistant education

There are a few differences between an audit assistant and an accounting assistant in terms of educational background:

Audit AssistantAccounting Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Most common majorAccountingAccounting
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Audit assistant vs accounting assistant demographics

Here are the differences between audit assistants' and accounting assistants' demographics:

Audit AssistantAccounting Assistant
Average age5151
Gender ratioMale, 38.2% Female, 61.8%Male, 20.1% Female, 79.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.8% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Asian, 6.6% White, 67.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%Black or African American, 6.8% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 6.6% White, 67.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage7%7%

Differences between audit assistant and accounting assistant duties and responsibilities

Audit assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage quarterly reviews (10-Q) and annual audit (10-K) of two public companies as per PCAOB standards.
  • Communicate with health facility staff, consultants and CPA regarding the resolution of technical, accounting and conceptual errors.
  • Go on audit with team, work with clients collecting data they already have prepared and pass out to each CPA.
  • Submit payroll information on all associates bi-weekly.
  • Generate PowerPoint presentations as required for various staff members.
  • Participate in SOX compliance audit for an international medical manufacturing company.
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Accounting assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage revenue ledger including other subsidiary ledgers and responsible for the reconciliation of various income accounts to ensure accuracy of postings.
  • Participate in weekly, monthly, quarterly, and yearly audits to ensure SOX compliance and propose opportunities for improvement.
  • Meet with account teams to discuss job structure, new projects, client requests, billing procedures, and SOX requirements.
  • Reconcile departmental report cash against banking ACH transactions.
  • Process mortgage portfolio monthly payments and interest accruals.
  • Utilize online system for calculating payroll and family tuition payments.
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Audit assistant vs accounting assistant skills

Common audit assistant skills
  • Audit Reports, 30%
  • CPA, 11%
  • Risk Assessments, 8%
  • Audit Procedures, 6%
  • Analytical Review, 5%
  • Sarbanes-Oxley, 4%
Common accounting assistant skills
  • Data Entry, 13%
  • Customer Service, 11%
  • Reconciliations, 8%
  • Purchase Orders, 7%
  • Credit Card Payments, 6%
  • General Ledger Accounts, 5%

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