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What is a finance/administrative assistant and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted expert
Anne McConnell Ph.D.
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Companies often have a lot of administrative work that needs to be done. These may involve logistics, documentation, government-related filing, among others. While there may be a lot of activities to be done, some companies cannot really hire additional manpower due to constraints. This leads to some of the administrative assistants needing to handle more. At times, administrative assistants may also handle finance-related administrative work.

Finance/administrative assistants handle administrative work for the admin team and the finance team. They handle paperwork, filling out the necessary ones and filing them for proper processing. They may also coordinate with regulatory bodies to ensure that all necessary documentation is submitted on time. They may also handle administrative activities related to accounting, such as releasing payments or accepting receivables.

If you want to work as a finance/administrative assistant, you need to be dependable, and you have to be trustworthy. You need to work with integrity at all times, and you also need to be detail-oriented.

What general advice would you give to a finance/administrative assistant?

Anne McConnell Ph.D.

Professor, West Virginia State University

I would say it's important to be very attentive to the way you communicate with your employers, managers, and co-workers. Even sending an e-mail can be an opportunity to demonstrate your professionalism and communication skills. Some people think that no one knows how to write anymore, or how to communicate in a professional way. I don't think that's true. But we don't always think about how our writing can be a tool to communicate our competence and seriousness. If you know how to write and communicate professionally-which college grads do-then make sure to demonstrate that in the workplace.
ScoreFinance/Administrative AssistantUS Average
Salary
3.1

Avg. Salary $39,756

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
6.0

Growth rate -8%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
3.1
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.73%

Asian 3.85%

Black or African American 9.37%

Hispanic or Latino 16.40%

Unknown 3.88%

White 65.77%

Gender

female 87.16%

male 12.84%

Age - 52
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 52
Stress level
6.0

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
4.4

Complexity level is basic

7 - challenging

Work life balance
7.6

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Finance/administrative assistant career paths

Key steps to become a finance/administrative assistant

  1. Explore finance/administrative assistant education requirements

    Most common finance/administrative assistant degrees

    Bachelor's

    54.6 %

    Associate

    24.5 %

    High School Diploma

    8.0 %
  2. Start to develop specific finance/administrative assistant skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Data Entry10.58%
    PowerPoint9.67%
    Travel Arrangements7.42%
    Purchase Orders5.80%
    Financial Aid5.42%
  3. Complete relevant finance/administrative assistant training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New finance/administrative assistants learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a finance/administrative assistant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real finance/administrative assistant resumes.
  4. Gain additional finance/administrative assistant certifications

    Finance/administrative assistant certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific finance/administrative assistant certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for finance/administrative assistants include Medical Assistant and Certified Management Accountant (CMA).

    More About Certifications
  5. Research finance/administrative assistant duties and responsibilities

    • Initiate both domestic and international wire transfers as well as ACH payments to manage vendor payments.
    • Manage all AR, AP, sales orders, work orders, and prepay inventory reconciliation.
    • Orchestrate special events and reservations; manage customer relations and provide exemplary service to all customers.
    • Alphabetize, sort, files FAFSA's code, and assemble letters for mass mailing.
  6. Prepare your finance/administrative assistant resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your finance/administrative assistant resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a finance/administrative assistant resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable finance/administrative assistant resume templates

    Build a professional finance/administrative assistant resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your finance/administrative assistant resume.
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    Finance/Administrative Assistant Resume
  7. Apply for finance/administrative assistant jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a finance/administrative assistant job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first finance/administrative assistant job

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Average finance/administrative assistant salary

The average finance/administrative assistant salary in the United States is $39,756 per year or $19 per hour. Finance/administrative assistant salaries range between $29,000 and $52,000 per year.

Average finance/administrative assistant salary
$39,756 Yearly
$19.11 hourly

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How do finance/administrative assistants rate their job?

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Finance/administrative assistant reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2022
Pros

Writing a message,Organizing receipts and expenses and sending them out when needed

Cons

Failure to comply with working hours, theft and fraud,


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A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2020
Pros

It my passion to help people in need. It makes me feel good to see people the Youth do well in the life

Cons

I don't like to see anyone stuck in between and not being helped.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2020
Cons

phones - because of my accent

Pros

everything except phones : Meeting,greeting, customer service, interviewing, on boarding, recruiting, presenting, etc.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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