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The differences between finance specialists and accountants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a finance specialist has an average salary of $61,666, which is higher than the $54,890 average annual salary of an accountant.
The top three skills for a finance specialist include customer service, phone calls and cash handling. The most important skills for an accountant are reconciliations, general ledger accounts, and account reconciliations.
| Finance Specialist | Accountant | |
| Yearly salary | $61,666 | $54,890 |
| Hourly rate | $29.65 | $26.39 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 97,216 | 60,073 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 43 | 44 |
| Years of experience | - | 4 |
A financial or finance specialist is the person who sells products and services at financial institutions. Finance specialists are financial professionals who use knowledge of accounting, tax laws, and finance for financial assistance. They may assist clients with corporate or personal finances. The primary skills they must have include interpersonal skills, formal accounting, excellent communication skills, management experience, and financial reporting. They should be equipped with vital customer service and analytical skills.
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 specialists and accountants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Finance Specialist | Accountant | |
| Average salary | $61,666 | $54,890 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $100,000 | Between $41,000 And $72,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | New York |
| Best paying company | Meta | |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Technology |
There are a few differences between a finance specialist and an accountant in terms of educational background:
| Finance Specialist | Accountant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Business | Accounting |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between finance specialists' and accountants' demographics:
| Finance Specialist | Accountant | |
| Average age | 43 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 42.1% Female, 57.9% | Male, 38.2% Female, 61.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 10.0% White, 67.6% 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 | 4% | 7% |