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Finance officer vs finance leader

The differences between finance officers and finance leaders can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-8 years to become both a finance officer and a finance leader. Additionally, a finance leader has an average salary of $117,284, which is higher than the $68,822 average annual salary of a finance officer.

The top three skills for a finance officer include real estate, financial data and origination. The most important skills for a finance leader are financial analysis, financial management, and business development.

Finance officer vs finance leader overview

Finance OfficerFinance Leader
Yearly salary$68,822$117,284
Hourly rate$33.09$56.39
Growth rate17%17%
Number of jobs140,73093,582
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 66%Bachelor's Degree, 69%
Average age4646
Years of experience88

What does a finance officer do?

A finance officer is responsible for monitoring the financial department and the transactions of an organization. Finance officers analyze financial reports, update account statements, and oversee the budget allocation for business operations. They also resolve billing discrepancies and banking issues, assist in cash statement release, and manage payroll disputes. A finance officer conducts data and statistical analysis to evaluate the company's financial performance and stability and identifying opportunities to increase revenues and grow more profits.

What does a finance leader do?

The duties of a finance leader depend on one's place or industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around monitoring the sales and financial operations in a company, preparing financial reports and statements, finding new sales opportunities, identifying the market and client needs, and maintaining records of all financial transactions. There are also instances where a finance leader may set and allocate budgets, perform audits in costs and expenditures, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.

Finance officer vs finance leader salary

Finance officers and finance leaders have different pay scales, as shown below.

Finance OfficerFinance Leader
Average salary$68,822$117,284
Salary rangeBetween $42,000 And $110,000Between $78,000 And $174,000
Highest paying CityBoston, MASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateDelawareOregon
Best paying companyCitiApple
Best paying industry-Finance

Differences between finance officer and finance leader education

There are a few differences between a finance officer and a finance leader in terms of educational background:

Finance OfficerFinance Leader
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 66%Bachelor's Degree, 69%
Most common majorAccountingAccounting
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Finance officer vs finance leader demographics

Here are the differences between finance officers' and finance leaders' demographics:

Finance OfficerFinance Leader
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 52.7% Female, 47.3%Male, 60.0% Female, 40.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 7.6% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 10.1% White, 63.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 7.5% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 10.0% White, 63.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage11%11%

Differences between finance officer and finance leader duties and responsibilities

Finance officer example responsibilities.

  • Lead financial aspects of unit responsible for development and management of diverse company portfolio.
  • Collaborate with insurance company representatives, case managers and physicians to obtain treatment authorization for potential kidney and kidney/pancreas transplant patients.
  • Provide medical records to the division as needed while ensuring compliance with HIPAA guidelines.
  • Review and sign CAPEX projects and perform payback calculations, ROI analysis, as well as impairment calculations.
  • Develop targeted business plans for new business opportunities including profit projections, capital requirements, and require ROI and IRR targets.
  • Review FAFSA information for verification requirements.
  • Show more

Finance leader example responsibilities.

  • Manage and coordinate annual GAAP audit of corporation financial statements.
  • Manage impairment and trouble debt restructures identification & measurement process in compliance with regulatory and GAAP guidance.
  • Participate in Lawson ERP implementation and training resources for corporate and site finance group.
  • Create superior back office business processes in conjunction with JD Edwards ERP implementation team.
  • Recruit by the CFO to support the growth and development of the Americas business.
  • Review, interpret, and approve budgets for all trade promotion events in the Americas.
  • Show more

Finance officer vs finance leader skills

Common finance officer skills
  • Real Estate, 29%
  • Financial Data, 29%
  • Origination, 23%
  • Financial Procedures, 2%
  • Financial Management, 2%
  • Financial Analysis, 2%
Common finance leader skills
  • Financial Analysis, 8%
  • Financial Management, 5%
  • Business Development, 5%
  • Financial Performance, 4%
  • Strong Analytical, 4%
  • HR, 4%

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