General ledger bookkeeper vs accountant

The differences between general ledger bookkeepers and accountants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a general ledger bookkeeper, becoming an accountant takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an accountant has an average salary of $54,890, which is higher than the $44,940 average annual salary of a general ledger bookkeeper.

The top three skills for a general ledger bookkeeper include reconciliations, general ledger accounts and CPA. The most important skills for an accountant are reconciliations, general ledger accounts, and account reconciliations.

General ledger bookkeeper vs accountant overview

	General Ledger Bookkeeper	Accountant
Yearly salary	$44,940	$54,890
Hourly rate	$21.61	$26.39
Growth rate	-5%	6%
Number of jobs	56,765	60,073
Job satisfaction	-	3
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 61%	Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Average age	51	44
Years of experience	6	4

What does a general ledger bookkeeper do?

A general ledger bookkeeper conducts daily recording and maintenance of all of a business' financial transactions. These transactions include purchases, expenses, invoices, sales revenue, and payments, all of which are summarized in the general ledger. They are expected to prepare journal entries and ensure data is accurate. Furthermore, at the end of a specific period, they are expected to transfer the entries to the ledger. They ensure that the transactions reported meet accounting standards.

What does an accountant do?

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.

General ledger bookkeeper vs accountant salary

General ledger bookkeepers and accountants have different pay scales, as shown below.

	General Ledger Bookkeeper	Accountant
Average salary	$44,940	$54,890
Salary range	Between $34,000 And $59,000	Between $41,000 And $72,000
Highest paying City	-	Washington, DC
Highest paying state	-	New York
Best paying company	-	Meta
Best paying industry	-	Technology

Differences between general ledger bookkeeper and accountant education

There are a few differences between a general ledger bookkeeper and an accountant in terms of educational background:

	General Ledger Bookkeeper	Accountant
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 61%	Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Most common major	Accounting	Accounting
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

General ledger bookkeeper vs accountant demographics

Here are the differences between general ledger bookkeepers' and accountants' demographics:

	General Ledger Bookkeeper	Accountant
Average age	51	44
Gender ratio	Male, 28.3% Female, 71.7%	Male, 38.2% Female, 61.8%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 6.9% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.7% Asian, 6.6% White, 67.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%	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	7%	7%

Differences between general ledger bookkeeper and accountant duties and responsibilities

General ledger bookkeeper example responsibilities.

Manage AR, prepare deposits and perform basic receptionist/customer service tasks in office.
Report to owner and outside CPA.
Prepare cross reference work papers to substantiate journal entries according to GAAP.
Organize and maintain bills, receipts, and vehicle logs to send to CPA.
Ensure accuracy of financial statements in accordance with GAAP and compliance to internal policies.
Prepare investment funds roll forward schedule for annual audit, and reconcile investment relate general ledgers for annual audit.

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Accountant example responsibilities.

Manage preparation of the statutory financial statements and financial aggregates in compliance with IFRS and local applicable norms.
Manage personnel financial matters including salaries, taxation procedures and other relate issues.
Manage and monitor accounting procedures for compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley and coordinate and facilitate external audit requirements.
Reconstruct and improve many balance sheet account reconciliations for easier reading and interpretation by senior level management.
Perform complex general accounting functions, including preparation of journal entries, account analysis and balance sheet reconciliations.
Maintain general ledgers and preparation of monthly and other periodic financial reports in accordance with GAAP and international accounting standards.

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General ledger bookkeeper vs accountant skills

Common general ledger bookkeeper skills

Reconciliations, 16%
General Ledger Accounts, 12%
CPA, 6%
Bank Statements, 4%
Payroll Taxes, 4%
Credit Card, 4%

Common accountant skills

Reconciliations, 14%
General Ledger Accounts, 6%
Account Reconciliations, 6%
GAAP, 5%
Payroll Tax Returns, 5%
Customer Service, 5%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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