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Audit assistant vs accounting clerk

The differences between audit assistants and accounting clerks 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 clerk. Additionally, an audit assistant has an average salary of $58,744, which is higher than the $38,683 average annual salary of an accounting clerk.

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

Audit assistant vs accounting clerk overview

Audit AssistantAccounting Clerk
Yearly salary$58,744$38,683
Hourly rate$28.24$18.60
Growth rate-5%-5%
Number of jobs12,692106,969
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 49%
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 clerk do?

Accounting clerks are employees assigned to manage administrative and clerical tasks in the accounting department. Accounting clerks handle office accounting records and ensure that files are properly labeled and stored. They validate records and check whether these are updated. They also sort through documents to ensure that they are in their proper storage bins. Aside from document handling, they also help with creating and validating financial statements and bookkeeping. As such, accounting clerks should have a strong background in accounting to manage their tasks better.

Audit assistant vs accounting clerk salary

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

Audit AssistantAccounting Clerk
Average salary$58,744$38,683
Salary rangeBetween $49,000 And $70,000Between $29,000 And $51,000
Highest paying CityBoston, MAWashington, DC
Highest paying stateDelawareNew York
Best paying companyState StreetWilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker Llp
Best paying industryTechnologyGovernment

Differences between audit assistant and accounting clerk education

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

Audit AssistantAccounting Clerk
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Most common majorAccountingAccounting
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Audit assistant vs accounting clerk demographics

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

Audit AssistantAccounting Clerk
Average age5151
Gender ratioMale, 38.2% Female, 61.8%Male, 20.0% Female, 80.0%
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, 6.9% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 6.6% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage7%7%

Differences between audit assistant and accounting clerk 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.
  • Show more

Accounting clerk example responsibilities.

  • Manage revenue ledger including other subsidiary ledgers and responsible for the reconciliation of various income accounts to ensure accuracy of postings.
  • Perform balance sheet reconciliations and resolve open items by notifying employees and vendors of transaction discrepancies.
  • Assist in monthly financial close process by analyzing preliminary departmental expense reports and making necessary adjustments and accruals.
  • Develop a spreadsheet that pulls all data relate to project hours by operation from the ERP system.
  • Process all incoming payments receive via ACH, EFT, or the web; ensure accounts are accurately balance and reconcile.
  • Digitize proof of delivery receipts into ERP system (AS400) serving as an easy backup for employees to verify occurrence.
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Audit assistant vs accounting clerk skills

Common audit assistant skills
  • Audit Reports, 30%
  • CPA, 11%
  • Risk Assessments, 8%
  • Audit Procedures, 6%
  • Analytical Review, 5%
  • Sarbanes-Oxley, 4%
Common accounting clerk skills
  • Data Entry, 15%
  • Customer Service, 10%
  • Purchase Orders, 9%
  • Reconciliations, 6%
  • Vendor Invoices, 6%
  • QuickBooks, 3%

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