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Options trader vs cash accountant

The differences between options traders and cash accountants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an options trader has an average salary of $110,139, which is higher than the $57,971 average annual salary of a cash accountant.

The top three skills for an options trader include FX, stock options and equities. The most important skills for a cash accountant are reconciliations, cash management, and general ledger accounts.

Options trader vs cash accountant overview

Options TraderCash Accountant
Yearly salary$110,139$57,971
Hourly rate$52.95$27.87
Growth rate10%6%
Number of jobs1,43340,765
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 82%Bachelor's Degree, 69%
Average age4344
Years of experience-4

What does an options trader do?

Options traders are financial experts who work for large investment banks or private hedge fund companies to buy and sell stock options as well as manage complex capital investments for clients. These traders are required to create options contracts and develop forecasting models so that they can determine the optimal price to buy an option to maximize profit and minimize risk. They must assist head traders with client services to allow more trading revenue production. Options traders must also employ risk management strategies to minimize portfolio risk and increase their volume in trading.

What does a cash accountant do?

Cash accountants are accounting professionals who are responsible for recording revenues and expenses during the period when cash is received and paid, respectively. These accountants are required to prepare journal entries and perform cash account reconciliations to balance bank and book balances during month-end closing activities. They must prepare all bank deposits and generate financial and payroll reports that are submitted to the operational and executive management team. Cash accountants must also provide analysis and resolution about the discrepancies in the bank and general ledger entries to internal departments and bank representatives.

Options trader vs cash accountant salary

Options traders and cash accountants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Options TraderCash Accountant
Average salary$110,139$57,971
Salary rangeBetween $65,000 And $185,000Between $44,000 And $76,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NY-
Highest paying stateNew York-
Best paying companyThe Citadel-
Best paying industryFinance-

Differences between options trader and cash accountant education

There are a few differences between an options trader and a cash accountant in terms of educational background:

Options TraderCash Accountant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 82%Bachelor's Degree, 69%
Most common majorFinanceAccounting
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Options trader vs cash accountant demographics

Here are the differences between options traders' and cash accountants' demographics:

Options TraderCash Accountant
Average age4344
Gender ratioMale, 90.8% Female, 9.2%Male, 31.2% Female, 68.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 5.4% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 11.3% Asian, 12.2% White, 66.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.0% Asian, 12.2% White, 63.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage6%7%

Differences between options trader and cash accountant duties and responsibilities

Options trader example responsibilities.

  • Enact, and manage equity block desk operation and set up floor broker network on NYSE.
  • Create VBA applications to automate basic trading functions and administration functions such as reorganization tenders and trade pricing issues.
  • Manage business, sales, marketing, international negotiation and communication for a commodities business.
  • Trade options profitably on screen markets and trade complex option spreads via telephone brokers at the CBOE and CME.
  • Experience in communicating and executing derivative arbitrage opportunities, as well as communicating and executing trades fitting against an option position.
  • Research the SPX, DOW, and NASDAQ.
  • Show more

Cash accountant example responsibilities.

  • Manage complex pricing structure and maintain SalesForce CRM funnel for forecasting accuracy.
  • Download disbursements into PeopleSoft and upload bank files for release.
  • Assist the department in quarterly internal/external audits and SOX compliance audits.
  • Assist auditors by pulling documents for the annual audit to ensure SOX compliance
  • Initiate all electronic fund transfers (same day wires and next day ACH).
  • Generate 1,530 bills monthly through PeopleSoft A/R interfacing with upstream and downstream delivery systems.
  • Show more

Options trader vs cash accountant skills

Common options trader skills
  • FX, 32%
  • Stock Options, 17%
  • Equities, 11%
  • Stock Market, 5%
  • Risk Management Strategies, 3%
  • Equity Options, 3%
Common cash accountant skills
  • Reconciliations, 14%
  • Cash Management, 7%
  • General Ledger Accounts, 6%
  • Account Reconciliations, 5%
  • ACH, 5%
  • Data Entry, 5%