Fiscal analyst vs staff accountant

The differences between fiscal analysts and staff 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 fiscal analyst and a staff accountant. Additionally, a staff accountant has an average salary of $54,216, which is higher than the $51,960 average annual salary of a fiscal analyst.

The top three skills for a fiscal analyst include payroll, financial data and management system. The most important skills for a staff accountant are reconciliations, account reconciliations, and GAAP.

Fiscal analyst vs staff accountant overview

	Fiscal Analyst	Staff Accountant
Yearly salary	$51,960	$54,216
Hourly rate	$24.98	$26.07
Growth rate	6%	6%
Number of jobs	37,053	115,930
Job satisfaction	-	4
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 66%	Bachelor's Degree, 76%
Average age	44	44
Years of experience	4	4

What does a fiscal analyst do?

A fiscal analyst specializes in providing analytical services to help companies monitor and develop budgets and financial activities. Their responsibilities include gathering and analyzing financial data, conducting market research and analysis, arranging spreadsheets, updating databases, and producing regular budget reports and forecasts. To carry out their duties, they typically use special software and programs, coordinate with various departments, and have knowledge in court collections. Moreover, a fiscal analyst may assist staff, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.

What does a staff accountant do?

Staff accountants are employees who are part of the company's accounting department. They are usually certified public accountants (CPAs). Staff accountants should be familiar with accounting tasks. Previous accounting experiences play a huge advantage in their success. They perform a variety of accounting responsibilities such as information verification and analysis, financial report preparation and presentation, financial account reconciliation, billing and payment receiving activities, vendor database management, and invoice processing requirements. They should also know how to do bookkeeping. Staff accountants should have good communication skills, analytical skills, and decision-making skills. They should also be organized and trustworthy since they will be handling confidential information.

Fiscal analyst vs staff accountant salary

Fiscal analysts and staff accountants have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Fiscal Analyst	Staff Accountant
Average salary	$51,960	$54,216
Salary range	Between $35,000 And $75,000	Between $42,000 And $68,000
Highest paying City	Santa Rosa, CA	Washington, DC
Highest paying state	New Jersey	New York
Best paying company	Jacobs Engineering Group	Meta
Best paying industry	Health Care	Government

Differences between fiscal analyst and staff accountant education

There are a few differences between a fiscal analyst and a staff accountant in terms of educational background:

	Fiscal Analyst	Staff Accountant
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 66%	Bachelor's Degree, 76%
Most common major	Business	Accounting
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

Fiscal analyst vs staff accountant demographics

Here are the differences between fiscal analysts' and staff accountants' demographics:

	Fiscal Analyst	Staff Accountant
Average age	44	44
Gender ratio	Male, 39.4% Female, 60.6%	Male, 41.6% Female, 58.4%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.8% Asian, 12.2% White, 64.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%	Black or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.8% Asian, 14.4% White, 61.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage	7%	7%

Differences between fiscal analyst and staff accountant duties and responsibilities

Fiscal analyst example responsibilities.

Manage the UW system approvals such as eProcurement including pro-cards, CTA and ARIBA transactions.
Manage budget submissions by subsidiaries in Europe/AFNE region in Hyperion.
Develop fiscal reports for initiatives for state legislature concerning the Medicare and Medicaid programs.
Maintain GAAP and SAAM through careful examination of request employee and vendor reimbursements.
Prepare periodic general ledger balance sheet account reconciliations, as well as adjusting entries relate to the reconciliations.
Implement in house databases in order to analyze Medicaid disbursements by region

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Staff accountant example responsibilities.

Manage and monitor accounting procedures for compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley and coordinate and facilitate external audit requirements.
Contribute revenue accruals using job cost system, fix assets including reclassification, reconciliation and depreciation.
Prepare month-end journal entries and assist in compilation of financial statements, reconcile bank statements and general ledgers.
Complete audit-quality account reconciliations monthly for balance sheet accounts including the capital projects in progress accounts and miscellaneous revenue accounts.
Assume responsibility for cash management encompassing wire and ACH transfers processing, bank activity confirmation, and monthly bank account reconciliations.
Handle all A/R and A/P, payroll, change orders, collections, lien placement and release, vendor account management.

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Fiscal analyst vs staff accountant skills

Common fiscal analyst skills

Payroll, 9%
Financial Data, 7%
Management System, 5%
GAAP, 5%
Financial Statements, 5%
Reconciliations, 5%

Common staff accountant skills

Reconciliations, 15%
Account Reconciliations, 7%
GAAP, 6%
General Ledger Accounts, 4%
External Auditors, 4%
Internal Controls, 4%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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