Post job

Cash accountant vs project accountant

The differences between cash accountants and project accountants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a cash accountant and a project accountant. Additionally, a project accountant has an average salary of $60,467, which is higher than the $57,971 average annual salary of a cash accountant.

The top three skills for a cash accountant include reconciliations, cash management and general ledger accounts. The most important skills for a project accountant are reconciliations, project management, and contract terms.

Cash accountant vs project accountant overview

Cash AccountantProject Accountant
Yearly salary$57,971$60,467
Hourly rate$27.87$29.07
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs40,76543,672
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 69%Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Average age4444
Years of experience44

What does a cash accountant do?

Cash accountants are accounting professionals who are responsible for recording revenues and expenses during the period when cash is received and paid, respectively. These accountants are required to prepare journal entries and perform cash account reconciliations to balance bank and book balances during month-end closing activities. They must prepare all bank deposits and generate financial and payroll reports that are submitted to the operational and executive management team. Cash accountants must also provide analysis and resolution about the discrepancies in the bank and general ledger entries to internal departments and bank representatives.

What does a project accountant do?

A project accountant is primarily in charge of overseeing the budget and expenditures allocated for various projects within a company. Their responsibilities revolve around reviewing financial data and work plans, managing billing and financial reports, monitoring the flow of revenue, filing purchase orders and invoices, and processing payments to subcontractors, suppliers, and more. It is also vital to coordinate with all managing personnel to prepare necessary reports such as costs and taxes. Furthermore, it is essential to maintain data and records of all transactions, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.

Cash accountant vs project accountant salary

Cash accountants and project accountants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Cash AccountantProject Accountant
Average salary$57,971$60,467
Salary rangeBetween $44,000 And $76,000Between $46,000 And $79,000
Highest paying City-Washington, DC
Highest paying state-New Jersey
Best paying company-Perficient
Best paying industry-Professional

Differences between cash accountant and project accountant education

There are a few differences between a cash accountant and a project accountant in terms of educational background:

Cash AccountantProject Accountant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 69%Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Most common majorAccountingAccounting
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Cash accountant vs project accountant demographics

Here are the differences between cash accountants' and project accountants' demographics:

Cash AccountantProject Accountant
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 31.2% Female, 68.8%Male, 36.8% Female, 63.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.0% Asian, 12.2% White, 63.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black or African American, 8.7% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 12.3% White, 63.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage7%7%

Differences between cash accountant and project accountant duties and responsibilities

Cash accountant example responsibilities.

  • Manage complex pricing structure and maintain SalesForce CRM funnel for forecasting accuracy.
  • Download disbursements into PeopleSoft and upload bank files for release.
  • Assist the department in quarterly internal/external audits and SOX compliance audits.
  • Assist auditors by pulling documents for the annual audit to ensure SOX compliance
  • Initiate all electronic fund transfers (same day wires and next day ACH).
  • Generate 1,530 bills monthly through PeopleSoft A/R interfacing with upstream and downstream delivery systems.
  • Show more

Project accountant example responsibilities.

  • Maintain general ledgers, manage cash flow, prepare financial statements and bank reconciliations for multiple development and construction projects.
  • Assure timely accurate filing of all Medicare, Medicaid and commercial insurance claims.
  • Review the collection of Medicare, Medicaid and other receivables to ensure monthly goals are met.
  • Used DelTek to find discrepancies in employee charge hours.
  • Serve as major contributor in system conversion to new web-base ERP system.
  • Identify and rectify accounting errors that have incurred in the past and ensure adherence to IFRS.
  • Show more

Cash accountant vs project accountant skills

Common cash accountant skills
  • Reconciliations, 14%
  • Cash Management, 7%
  • General Ledger Accounts, 6%
  • Account Reconciliations, 5%
  • ACH, 5%
  • Data Entry, 5%
Common project accountant skills
  • Reconciliations, 8%
  • Project Management, 6%
  • Contract Terms, 5%
  • Purchase Orders, 4%
  • Deltek, 4%
  • Revenue Recognition, 4%

Browse business and financial jobs