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The differences between portfolio accountants and general 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 portfolio accountant and a general accountant. Additionally, a portfolio accountant has an average salary of $69,877, which is higher than the $55,043 average annual salary of a general accountant.
The top three skills for a portfolio accountant include reconciliations, financial reports and real estate. The most important skills for a general accountant are financial data, reconciliations, and cash handling.
| Portfolio Accountant | General Accountant | |
| Yearly salary | $69,877 | $55,043 |
| Hourly rate | $33.59 | $26.46 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 41,323 | 87,663 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 84% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Portfolio accountants must have effective communication and time management skills in addition to a bachelor's degree in accounting. They maintain and improve processes and systems by keeping and compiling records on monthly and quarterly reports. They also prepare financial statements, assist in fund pricing, and calculate losses, profits, and net asset values.
A general accountant is responsible for evaluating account statements, conducting data analysis with financial transactions, and generating reports on revenues, expenses, and sales forecasting. These accountants manage discrepancies on the company and clients' profiles, including bank reconciliations and processing of account receivables and payables. They also handle the release of invoices and petty cash, analyzing balance sheets, and updating accurate financial information on the database. A general accountant must have excellent analytical skills, as well as extensive knowledge of the accounting principles and disciplines.
Portfolio accountants and general accountants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Portfolio Accountant | General Accountant | |
| Average salary | $69,877 | $55,043 |
| Salary range | Between $47,000 And $102,000 | Between $40,000 And $73,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | New York | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | AQR Capital Management | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a portfolio accountant and a general accountant in terms of educational background:
| Portfolio Accountant | General Accountant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 84% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Most common major | Accounting | Accounting |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between portfolio accountants' and general accountants' demographics:
| Portfolio Accountant | General Accountant | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 58.1% Female, 41.9% | Male, 43.1% Female, 56.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.6% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 9.9% Asian, 17.9% White, 60.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 8.7% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 13.7% White, 62.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |