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Audit assistant vs accounting technician

The differences between audit assistants and accounting technicians 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 technician. Additionally, an audit assistant has an average salary of $58,744, which is higher than the $41,337 average annual salary of an accounting technician.

The top three skills for an audit assistant include audit reports, CPA and risk assessments. The most important skills for an accounting technician are customer service, financial reports, and payroll.

Audit assistant vs accounting technician overview

Audit AssistantAccounting Technician
Yearly salary$58,744$41,337
Hourly rate$28.24$19.87
Growth rate-5%-5%
Number of jobs12,69239,972
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 51%
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 technician do?

An accounting technician is responsible for evaluating financial information procedures to support accounting and taxation tasks, verifying the accuracy of account statements for the reference of accountants. Accounting technicians manage the payroll processes, generate invoices, perform account reconciliations, analyze account receivables, prepare budget reports, and monitor the company's financial transactions. Accounting technicians should always adhere to taxation legislation, comply with accounting disciplines, and coordinate with the account management for any findings and concerns, requiring them to have excellent communication and analytical skills.

Audit assistant vs accounting technician salary

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

Audit AssistantAccounting Technician
Average salary$58,744$41,337
Salary rangeBetween $49,000 And $70,000Between $31,000 And $53,000
Highest paying CityBoston, MAOakland, CA
Highest paying stateDelawareCalifornia
Best paying companyState StreetW. R. Berkley
Best paying industryTechnologyGovernment

Differences between audit assistant and accounting technician education

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

Audit AssistantAccounting Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 51%
Most common majorAccountingAccounting
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Audit assistant vs accounting technician demographics

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

Audit AssistantAccounting Technician
Average age5151
Gender ratioMale, 38.2% Female, 61.8%Male, 22.7% Female, 77.3%
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, 6.7% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 6.5% White, 68.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage7%7%

Differences between audit assistant and accounting technician 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 technician example responsibilities.

  • Develop expertise in use of PeopleSoft system to manage balance accounts for quarterly investment portfolio.
  • Reconcile the agency SPCC statement each month
  • Audit includes reviewing SPCC invoices and receipts to ensure appropriate tax exemptions are follow.
  • Analyze cases to determine if ICD-9 and CPT codes are covered benefits according to insurance's medical policy.
  • Apply GAAP following applicable federal regulations.
  • Maintain adherence to university accounting and GAAP standards.
  • Show more

Audit assistant vs accounting technician skills

Common audit assistant skills
  • Audit Reports, 30%
  • CPA, 11%
  • Risk Assessments, 8%
  • Audit Procedures, 6%
  • Analytical Review, 5%
  • Sarbanes-Oxley, 4%
Common accounting technician skills
  • Customer Service, 12%
  • Financial Reports, 10%
  • Payroll, 8%
  • Purchase Orders, 7%
  • Data Entry, 6%
  • Reconciliations, 5%

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