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The differences between finance reporting accountants and certified public 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 finance reporting accountant and a certified public accountant. Additionally, a certified public accountant has an average salary of $76,693, which is higher than the $67,545 average annual salary of a finance reporting accountant.
The top three skills for a finance reporting accountant include GAAP, reconciliations and external auditors. The most important skills for a certified public accountant are CPA, customer service, and IRS.
| Finance Reporting Accountant | Certified Public Accountant | |
| Yearly salary | $67,545 | $76,693 |
| Hourly rate | $32.47 | $36.87 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 112,234 | 78,792 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A finance reporting accountant is responsible for monitoring the efficiency and accuracy of the company's financial reporting procedures. Finance reporting accountants analyze the financial statements of the company, including its expenses, balance sheets, revenues, cash flow, and other related financial information and discuss it to the management. They also provide strategic recommendations to minimize loss through cost-reduction operational processes and identifying business opportunities to increase profits. A finance reporting accountant should have excellent knowledge of the accounting principles and disciplines, evaluating financial forecasts and resolving account discrepancies.
A certified public accountant (CPA) acts as an advisor to small businesses and chief financial officers to Fortune 500 companies. They typically work for both small and large public accounting firms. They offer advice on many issues, such as accounting and taxation. They aid businesses and individuals to plan and achieve their financial goals. There are several requirements to become a CPA, including having a degree in accounting, passing the CPA examination, and obtaining a CPA license to practice.
Finance reporting accountants and certified public accountants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Finance Reporting Accountant | Certified Public Accountant | |
| Average salary | $67,545 | $76,693 |
| Salary range | Between $50,000 And $90,000 | Between $49,000 And $119,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Western Alliance Bank | Applied Materials |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Finance |
There are a few differences between a finance reporting accountant and a certified public accountant in terms of educational background:
| Finance Reporting Accountant | Certified Public Accountant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Accounting | Accounting |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between finance reporting accountants' and certified public accountants' demographics:
| Finance Reporting Accountant | Certified Public Accountant | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 45.3% Female, 54.7% | Male, 43.2% Female, 56.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.4% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.8% Asian, 15.6% White, 60.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.8% Asian, 12.4% White, 64.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |