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What does a finance/administrative assistant do?

Updated January 8, 2025
6 min read
What does a finance/administrative assistant do

A finance administrative assistant is responsible for performing clerical duties and basic bookkeeping tasks to support financial operations under the supervision of financial executives. Finance administrative assistants generate financial and business reports, update account information on the database, assist with payroll release, and help the accounting staff in resolving financial discrepancies and disputes. They also reach out to the clients for payments and billing, respond to their inquiries and concerns, and escalate their complaints to the supervisor for immediate resolution.

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Finance/administrative assistant responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real finance/administrative assistant resumes:

  • 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.
  • Help students and officials file and summit FAFSA application forms and develop and maintain spreadsheets for documenting cases.
  • Process accounts payable and receivable utilizing QuickBooks.
  • Generate financial reports for company accountant and input invoices into QuickBooks.
  • Work closely with consultants to ensure timely dissemination of information via PowerPoint and timely arrival of materials to clients.
  • Register new patients and update existing patient's demographics by collecting patient detail patient's information including personal and financial information.
  • Input, distribute and follow up on all freight and ACH invoices.
  • Post and reconcile insurance, Medicare, Medicaid and patient payments.
  • Organize and maintain files for AP: invoices, copies of checks and all backup.
  • Provide all facets of AR accounting, administrative and field support for small commercial construction company.
  • Follow up on AR by contacting customers by phone, email and mail regarding overdue accounts and determine reasons for non-payment.
  • Manage FEDEX delivery requirements ensuring compliance with company policy.

Finance/administrative assistant skills and personality traits

We calculated that 11% of Finance/Administrative Assistants are proficient in Data Entry, PowerPoint, and Travel Arrangements. They’re also known for soft skills such as Interpersonal skills, Organizational skills, and Writing skills.

We break down the percentage of Finance/Administrative Assistants that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Data Entry, 11%

    Created PowerPoint presentations including importing graphics, inputting and pivoting MS Excel spreadsheets and data entry of corresponding information.

  • PowerPoint, 10%

    Enabled Director of Finance to successfully conduct strategic business meetings by analyzing data, facilitating meetings, and creating PowerPoint presentations.

  • Travel Arrangements, 7%

    Coordinated consultants domestic & international travel arrangements, ensuring all documents and materials were delivered prior to destination.

  • Purchase Orders, 6%

    Originated and administered spreadsheet-based purchase order system for monitoring of janitorial supplies purchased by properties cleaned.

  • Financial Aid, 5%

    Assisted in areas such as completing financial aid applications and forms and determining eligibility requirements with a high degree of confidentiality.

  • Expense Reports, 5%

    Provide extensive calendar management, customer meeting coordination, domestic and international travel coordination, and submission of related expense reports.

Most finance/administrative assistants use their skills in "data entry," "powerpoint," and "travel arrangements" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential finance/administrative assistant responsibilities here:

Interpersonal skills. One of the key soft skills for a finance/administrative assistant to have is interpersonal skills. You can see how this relates to what finance/administrative assistants do because "secretaries and administrative assistants interact with clients, customers, or staff." Additionally, a finance/administrative assistant resume shows how finance/administrative assistants use interpersonal skills: "maintain data entry possess customer service and interpersonal skills. "

Organizational skills. Another essential skill to perform finance/administrative assistant duties is organizational skills. Finance/administrative assistants responsibilities require that "secretaries and administrative assistants keep files, folders, and schedules in order so that an office runs efficiently." Finance/administrative assistants also use organizational skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "prepared and maintain monthly financial reports maintained accurate financial records using organizational skills responsible for accounts receivable"

Writing skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of finance/administrative assistants is writing skills. This skill is critical to many everyday finance/administrative assistant duties, as "secretaries and administrative assistants write memos and emails when communicating with managers, employees, and customers." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "improved data entry by writing macros in word for speed and accuracy with keyboard shortcuts. "

See the full list of finance/administrative assistant skills

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Compare different finance/administrative assistants

Finance/administrative assistant vs. General assistant

General Assistants are responsible for providing administrative assistance to department teams and executive management of an organization. Their duties include organizing meetings and event schedules, book meeting rooms, answer incoming phone calls, reply emails, and respond to queries. They are responsible for replenishing office supplies and undertaking clerical tasks such as printing, scanning, and photocopying. General Assistants also liaise with contractors and building managers to ensure maintenance work is handled promptly without inconvenience.

The annual salary of general assistants is $2,038 lower than the average salary of finance/administrative assistants.Even though finance/administrative assistants and general assistants are distinct careers, a few of the skills required for both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require powerpoint, travel arrangements, and expense reports in the day-to-day roles and responsibilities.

While similarities exist, there are also some differences between finance/administrative assistants and general assistant. For instance, finance/administrative assistant responsibilities require skills such as "data entry," "purchase orders," "financial aid," and "provides administrative support." Whereas a general assistant is skilled in "customer service," "hr," "payroll," and "general assistance." This is part of what separates the two careers.

General assistants really shine in the hospitality industry with an average salary of $34,445. Comparatively, finance/administrative assistants tend to make the most money in the professional industry with an average salary of $44,720.On average, general assistants reach similar levels of education than finance/administrative assistants. General assistants are 0.8% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 1.3% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Finance/administrative assistant vs. Administrative support

Administrative support specialists provide different types of governmental assistance. They carry out varied clerical duties in almost all industries. Most of these duties revolve around supervising and distributing information within an organization. This typically includes taking memos, answering phone calls, and managing, storing, and organizing files. They are also responsible for receiving and sending correspondence and greeting customers and clients. Some administrative support may be required to have vast professional knowledge as their duties are more specialized than the others.

A career as a administrative support brings a lower average salary when compared to the average annual salary of a finance/administrative assistant. In fact, administrative supports salary is $2,064 lower than the salary of finance/administrative assistants per year.A few skills overlap for finance/administrative assistants and administrative supports. Resumes from both professions show that the duties of each career rely on skills like "data entry," "powerpoint," and "travel arrangements. "

In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, finance/administrative assistant responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "financial aid," "credit card," "journal entries," and "fafsa." Meanwhile, an administrative support has duties that require skills in areas such as "customer service," "payroll," "phone calls," and "patients." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.

Administrative supports may earn a lower salary than finance/administrative assistants, but administrative supports earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $40,623. On the other hand, finance/administrative assistants receive higher pay in the professional industry, where they earn an average salary of $44,720.administrative supports earn similar levels of education than finance/administrative assistants in general. They're 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.3% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Finance/administrative assistant vs. Administrative staff

As the administrative staff, they primarily provide administrative and secretarial support for the department. Typically, they do report-writing, filing and scheduling, and payroll. They plan department weekly meetings, schedule conference calls, and work on solving administrative related concerns and issues. They do a complex task that involves multi-tasking from the preparation of department reports, analyzing data, and finding solutions. It is a requirement to be an experienced, collaborator, and trained cross-functional communicator. Moreover, other duties will include scheduling company-initiated activities, meetings, and events.

On average scale, administrative staff bring in higher salaries than finance/administrative assistants. In fact, they earn a $37,345 higher salary per year.finance/administrative assistants and administrative staff both have job responsibilities that require similar skill sets. These similarities include skills such as "powerpoint," "travel arrangements," and "purchase orders," but they differ when it comes to other required skills.

There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a finance/administrative assistant is likely to be skilled in "data entry," "financial aid," "provides administrative support," and "credit card," while a typical administrative staff is skilled in "payroll," "personnel actions," "front desk," and "resource management."

Administrative staff earn the best pay in the professional industry, where they command an average salary of $73,642. Finance/administrative assistants earn the highest pay from the professional industry, with an average salary of $44,720.administrative staff typically earn similar educational levels compared to finance/administrative assistants. Specifically, they're 3.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 1.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Finance/administrative assistant vs. Finance assistant

A finance assistant is responsible for supporting the financial department with daily operations by doing administrative and clerical tasks as needed. Finance assistants' duties include sorting financial records, updating account spreadsheets, assisting on bank statements reconciliation, processing payments, generating an invoice, auditing financial statements, escalating financial discrepancies for review, and reviewing cost analysis reports. A finance assistant must be knowledgeable of the financial industry and accounting processes, as well as have strong analytical and organizational skills.

Finance assistants average a lower salary than the annual salary of finance/administrative assistants. The difference is about $1,830 per year.While their salaries may vary, finance/administrative assistants and finance assistants both use similar skills to perform their duties. Resumes from both professions include skills like "data entry," "powerpoint," and "travel arrangements. "Each job also requires different skills to carry out their responsibilities. A finance/administrative assistant uses "word processing," "clerical support," "event planning," and "human resources." Finance assistants are more likely to have duties that require skills in "customer service," "payroll," "financial assistance," and "hr. "finance assistants enjoy the best pay in the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $39,521. For comparison, finance/administrative assistants earn the highest salary in the professional industry.In general, finance assistants hold similar degree levels compared to finance/administrative assistants. Finance assistants are 1.2% more likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.2% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of finance/administrative assistant

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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