Finance administrator vs accountant

The differences between finance administrators and accountants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-8 years to become a finance administrator, becoming an accountant takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a finance administrator has an average salary of $55,541, which is higher than the $54,890 average annual salary of an accountant.

The top three skills for a finance administrator include customer service, financial aid and powerpoint. The most important skills for an accountant are reconciliations, general ledger accounts, and account reconciliations.

Finance administrator vs accountant overview

	Finance Administrator	Accountant
Yearly salary	$55,541	$54,890
Hourly rate	$26.70	$26.39
Growth rate	17%	6%
Number of jobs	130,256	60,073
Job satisfaction	-	3
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 61%	Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Average age	46	44
Years of experience	8	4

What does a finance administrator do?

A finance administrator is responsible for supporting the financial operations of an organization, handling the accuracy of financial transactions, and resolving discrepancies in the company's financial statements. Finance administrators analyze the company's financial performance, including its losses and revenues, writing financial reports, and providing recommendations for cost-reduction processes to minimize financial risks. They also handle the allocation of departmental budgets, assist in tax audits, and process invoices and payroll release. A finance administrator must have excellent analytical skills and an extensive knowledge of the financial industry.

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.

Finance administrator vs accountant salary

Finance administrators and accountants have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Finance Administrator	Accountant
Average salary	$55,541	$54,890
Salary range	Between $38,000 And $80,000	Between $41,000 And $72,000
Highest paying City	Dover, DE	Washington, DC
Highest paying state	Delaware	New York
Best paying company	State Street	Meta
Best paying industry	Manufacturing	Technology

Differences between finance administrator and accountant education

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

	Finance Administrator	Accountant
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 61%	Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Most common major	Business	Accounting
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

Finance administrator vs accountant demographics

Here are the differences between finance administrators' and accountants' demographics:

	Finance Administrator	Accountant
Average age	46	44
Gender ratio	Male, 29.3% Female, 70.7%	Male, 38.2% Female, 61.8%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 7.7% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 14.8% Asian, 9.2% White, 63.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%	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 Percentage	11%	7%

Differences between finance administrator and accountant duties and responsibilities

Finance administrator example responsibilities.

Manage the design and implementation of appropriate controls as per Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) and internal corporate procedures.
Manage key logistics and secure necessary resources within budget constraints.
Monitor all transactions in assign inventory finance portfolio to manage invoice funding approval decision.
Do A/P, A/R and G/L.
Prepare daily, weekly and monthly reports including fund loans, commissions, titles, A/P & A/R.
Assist families with Medicaid applications.

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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.

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Finance administrator vs accountant skills

Common finance administrator skills

Customer Service, 17%
Financial Aid, 12%
PowerPoint, 7%
Rehabilitation, 7%
Balance Sheet, 4%
Human Resources, 4%

Common accountant skills

Reconciliations, 14%
General Ledger Accounts, 6%
Account Reconciliations, 6%
GAAP, 5%
Payroll Tax Returns, 5%
Customer Service, 5%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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