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What does a finance technician do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read

Finance technicians are professionals who perform various tasks that are related to financial accounting for an organization. These technicians are required to provide monthly transaction reports and perform forecasts on their future budget requirements to ensure proper financial management for the organization. They must assist in preparing financial statements to analyze and summarize accounting data for the organization's senior management. Finance technicians must also research and resolve any disputes that involve financial transactions while informing the senior management about any financial discrepancies.

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Finance technician responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real finance technician resumes:

  • Develop expertise in use of PeopleSoft system to manage balance accounts for quarterly investment portfolio.
  • Transmit data to MAJCOM, HQ USAF, & DoD timely.
  • Provide debt management for the DOD and service members.
  • Process and review documents associate with PCS, ETS, retirement and/or separation.
  • Ensure that obligations are correct, record, and submits vouchers to DFAS for processing.
  • Network and coordinate with DFAS, civilian personnel or other resources to resolve complex problems.
  • Compile DTS travel and funding data monthly for command headquarters reports as well as Citibank travel card reporting requirements.
  • Maintain payment file data base for obligation, invoices, electronic wire transfers (EFT), and treasury payments.
  • Review all DTS requirements for all travel requests for accuracy, completeness and availability of funds before travel orders issue.
  • Perform other miscellaneous tasks in support of accounting functions to provide correct fund cites/accounting appropriations for TDY and PCS entitlement vouchers.
  • Process PCS/TDY computations in accordance with JFTR that determine the accurate travel time, leave time, TDY and processing time.
  • Examine accounts or resolves difficult reconciliations requiring an analysis of adjustments and corrections in accounts.
  • Prepare a variety of monthly balance sheet reconciliations and bank statements timely and accurately each month.
  • Close patient contact, appropriate decision-making concerning patient financial affairs and coordination between patients and third-party sponsorship for further financial assistance.
  • Ensure all tax documents are updated accordingly to IRS regulations and forward updated tax documents to IRS for distribution.

Finance technician skills and personality traits

We calculated that 15% of Finance Technicians are proficient in Financial Reports, Financial Management, and Review Contracts. They’re also known for soft skills such as Computer skills, Detail oriented, and Integrity.

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

  • Financial Reports, 15%

    Receive and post documents to accounting/budget systems and process treasury checks for payments and invoices-Maintain files and prepare financial reports

  • Financial Management, 13%

    Perform accounting, budgeting and all other financial management relevant duties for appropriated funds supporting the operating forces and supporting establishments.

  • Review Contracts, 10%

    Displayed a clear concise knowledge and ability to expertly review contracts, invoices and receive reports.

  • Financial Transactions, 8%

    Researched and resolved disputes involving financial transactions and kept senior management abreast of any discrepancies.

  • Treasury, 6%

    Received Tax Preparation certification from the Department of Treasury

  • Bonds, 4%

    Worked with senior staff in all bond issues which included being support staff to all state issuers.

"financial reports," "financial management," and "review contracts" are among the most common skills that finance technicians use at work. You can find even more finance technician responsibilities below, including:

Computer skills. The most essential soft skill for a finance technician to carry out their responsibilities is computer skills. This skill is important for the role because "bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks need to be comfortable using computer spreadsheets and bookkeeping software." Additionally, a finance technician resume shows how their duties depend on computer skills: "oversee data entry adjustments into computerized accounting system. "

Detail oriented. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling finance technician duties is detail oriented. The role rewards competence in this skill because "bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks are responsible for producing accurate financial records." According to a finance technician resume, here's how finance technicians can utilize detail oriented in their job responsibilities: "recorded details of financial transactions on accounting forms and entered data in the department of defense military pay systems. "

Integrity. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of finance technicians is integrity. This skill is critical to many everyday finance technician duties, as "bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks have control of an organization’s financial documentation, which they must use properly and keep confidential." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "ensured the accuracy and integrity of all financial data. "

Math skills. A big part of what finance technicians do relies on "math skills." You can see how essential it is to finance technician responsibilities because "bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks deal with numbers daily and should be comfortable with basic arithmetic." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical finance technician tasks: "analyzed data captured and provided reports and statistics to dfas headquarters. "

All finance technician skills

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Compare different finance technicians

Finance technician vs. Accounts payable assistant

An accounts payable assistant is responsible for monitoring the company's billing transactions, ensuring the accurate and efficient completion of the business' financial obligations. Accounts payable assistants process invoices, resolve account discrepancies, manage bank reconciliation, create expense reports, and updating account information on the company's database. They work within a team of the accounting and finance department, assisting with tax filing and audit processes as needed. An accounts payable assistant must have excellent knowledge of the financial industry and accounting principles to perform various duties, as well as doing administrative and clerical tasks as needed.

We looked at the average finance technician salary and compared it with the wages of an accounts payable assistant. Generally speaking, accounts payable assistants are paid $8,106 lower than finance technicians per year.Even though finance technicians and accounts payable assistants are distinct careers, a few of the skills required for both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require financial reports, financial data, and data entry in the day-to-day roles and responsibilities.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, finance technician responsibilities require skills like "financial management," "review contracts," "financial transactions," and "treasury." Meanwhile a typical accounts payable assistant has skills in areas such as "purchase orders," "vendor invoices," "payroll," and "vendor statements." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

Accounts payable assistants earn the highest salaries when working in the construction industry, with an average yearly salary of $40,242. On the other hand, finance technicians are paid more in the government industry with an average salary of $44,280.accounts payable assistants tend to reach similar levels of education than finance technicians. In fact, accounts payable assistants are 4.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

Finance technician vs. Bookkeeper

Bookkeepers are employees who are in charge of the company's general ledger. They are well-versed in basic accounting principles, and they apply these in their work. Bookkeepers manage the entry of items in the general ledger, assign items into their proper categories, and ensure that the entries are balanced. They also act as auditors by checking the accuracy and veracity of the receipts or vouchers in their possession before entering them into the system. Bookkeepers ensure that their files are up to date and free of errors.

On average, bookkeepers earn a $4,914 lower salary than finance technicians a year.A few skills overlap for finance technicians and bookkeepers. Resumes from both professions show that the duties of each career rely on skills like "financial reports," "financial transactions," and "customer service. "

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that finance technician responsibilities requires skills like "financial management," "review contracts," "treasury," and "bonds." But a bookkeeper might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "payroll tax returns," "general ledger accounts," "hr," and "purchase orders."

Bookkeepers may earn a lower salary than finance technicians, but bookkeepers earn the most pay in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $42,063. On the other hand, finance technicians receive higher pay in the government industry, where they earn an average salary of $44,280.In general, bookkeepers achieve similar levels of education than finance technicians. They're 3.9% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Finance technician vs. Secretary-book keeper

A payment processor is responsible for managing and informing the clients of their payment obligations for the services offered by a financial institution or other related organizations. Payment processors record transactions and ensure the timely completion of account statements. They discuss the terms and conditions of the service contract with the clients and respond to their inquiries and concerns. A payment processor must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in coming up with repayment plans and solutions for clients who are not able to pay services in time.

An average secretary-book keeper eans a lower salary compared to the average salary of finance technicians. The difference in salaries amounts to secretaries-book keeper earning a $5,881 lower average salary than finance technicians.Using the responsibilities included on finance technicians and secretaries-book keeper resumes, we found that both professions have similar skill requirements, such as "financial reports," "financial transactions," and "customer service.rdquo;

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, finance technicians are more likely to have skills like "financial management," "review contracts," "treasury," and "bonds." But a secretary-book keeper is more likely to have skills like "process payroll," "bank accounts," "bank statements," and "balance sheet."

Secretaries-book keeper earn the highest salary when working in the energy industry, where they receive an average salary of $42,054. Comparatively, finance technicians have the highest earning potential in the government industry, with an average salary of $44,280.When it comes to education, secretaries-book keeper tend to earn similar degree levels compared to finance technicians. In fact, they're 4.3% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Finance technician vs. Payment processor

Payment processors typically earn lower pay than finance technicians. On average, payment processors earn a $11,221 lower salary per year.While their salaries may vary, finance technicians and payment processors both use similar skills to perform their duties. Resumes from both professions include skills like "financial reports," "customer service," and "financial data. "Each job also requires different skills to carry out their responsibilities. A finance technician uses "financial management," "review contracts," "financial transactions," and "treasury." Payment processors are more likely to have duties that require skills in "patients," "ach," "phone calls," and "credit card payments. "payment processors enjoy the best pay in the insurance industry, with an average salary of $38,534. For comparison, finance technicians earn the highest salary in the government industry.In general, payment processors hold lower degree levels compared to finance technicians. Payment processors are 5.0% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of finance technician

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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