Post job

Control accountant vs accountant

The differences between control accountants and 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 control accountant and an accountant. Additionally, a control accountant has an average salary of $66,563, which is higher than the $54,890 average annual salary of an accountant.

The top three skills for a control accountant include reconciliations, general ledger accounts and payroll taxes. The most important skills for an accountant are reconciliations, general ledger accounts, and account reconciliations.

Control accountant vs accountant overview

Control AccountantAccountant
Yearly salary$66,563$54,890
Hourly rate$32.00$26.39
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs75,70260,073
Job satisfaction-3
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 73%Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Average age4444
Years of experience44

What does a control accountant do?

A Control Accountant is in charge of managing a company's accounting records and spearheads the development of financial reports. Although the extent of their responsibilities depends on their place or industry of employment, it typically includes coordinating with different teams to gather and analyze data, conduct audits and risk analyses, monitor budgets and expenditures, review documents and other transactions and develop strategies to optimize operations. A Control Accountant leads and encourages staff to reach goals while implementing the company's policies and regulations.

What does an accountant do?

An accountant is an individual whose primary task is to prepare, keep, examine, and interpret financial records. Most accountants are in charge of a wide scope of finance-related tasks, either for private individuals or for large-scale businesses and organizations they are employed with. They make sure that financial statements and records are accurate and comply with laws and regulations. They also compute for taxes, prepare tax returns, and ensure being paid properly and on time. As they keep track and record the flow of money, they can offer guidance on how to reduce costs, enhance revenue, and help in profit maximization.

Control accountant vs accountant salary

Control accountants and accountants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Control AccountantAccountant
Average salary$66,563$54,890
Salary rangeBetween $48,000 And $91,000Between $41,000 And $72,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYWashington, DC
Highest paying stateNew YorkNew York
Best paying companyMarathon OilMeta
Best paying industryFinanceTechnology

Differences between control accountant and accountant education

There are a few differences between a control accountant and an accountant in terms of educational background:

Control AccountantAccountant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 73%Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Most common majorAccountingAccounting
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Control accountant vs accountant demographics

Here are the differences between control accountants' and accountants' demographics:

Control AccountantAccountant
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 49.2% Female, 50.8%Male, 38.2% Female, 61.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.8% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 12.1% White, 63.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.9% Asian, 15.0% White, 61.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage7%7%

Differences between control accountant and accountant duties and responsibilities

Control accountant example responsibilities.

  • Prepare internal financial reports for treasury manage accounts include in external compliance reports.
  • Collect, analyze, interpret, and document information to support quarterly SOX reviews.
  • Ensure proper accounting in compliance with GAAP, regulatory reporting requirements and joint ownership contracts.
  • Identify variances between corporations, establish payable/receivable ledgers, and clear open variances in accordance with GAAP.
  • Control regional account analysis, provide explanations and backup to SOX reporting department.
  • Perform domestic and international roll forwards, quarterly schedules for goodwill, trademarks and acquisition activities utilizing Hyperion.
  • Show more

Accountant example responsibilities.

  • Manage preparation of the statutory financial statements and financial aggregates in compliance with IFRS and local applicable norms.
  • Manage personnel financial matters including salaries, taxation procedures and other relate issues.
  • Manage and monitor accounting procedures for compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley and coordinate and facilitate external audit requirements.
  • Reconstruct and improve many balance sheet account reconciliations for easier reading and interpretation by senior level management.
  • Perform complex general accounting functions, including preparation of journal entries, account analysis and balance sheet reconciliations.
  • Maintain general ledgers and preparation of monthly and other periodic financial reports in accordance with GAAP and international accounting standards.
  • Show more

Control accountant vs accountant skills

Common control accountant skills
  • Reconciliations, 11%
  • General Ledger Accounts, 7%
  • Payroll Taxes, 6%
  • Account Reconciliations, 5%
  • Accruals, 5%
  • Internal Controls, 5%
Common accountant skills
  • Reconciliations, 14%
  • General Ledger Accounts, 6%
  • Account Reconciliations, 6%
  • GAAP, 5%
  • Payroll Tax Returns, 5%
  • Customer Service, 5%

Browse business and financial jobs