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The differences between portfolio accountants and general ledger 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 ledger accountant. Additionally, a portfolio accountant has an average salary of $69,877, which is higher than the $60,034 average annual salary of a general ledger accountant.
The top three skills for a portfolio accountant include reconciliations, financial reports and real estate. The most important skills for a general ledger accountant are reconciliations, GAAP, and balance sheet accounts.
| Portfolio Accountant | General Ledger Accountant | |
| Yearly salary | $69,877 | $60,034 |
| Hourly rate | $33.59 | $28.86 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 41,323 | 81,408 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 84% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| 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 ledger accountant is in charge of ensuring the accuracy of a company's overall accounting processes and information. It is their responsibility to communicate with different departments and officials to gather necessary data, conduct extensive audits, prepare documentation and reports, maintain financial data on the company ledger, and interpret financial information. Furthermore, like a general ledger accountant, it is essential to monitor the progress of accounting processes, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Portfolio accountants and general ledger accountants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Portfolio Accountant | General Ledger Accountant | |
| Average salary | $69,877 | $60,034 |
| Salary range | Between $47,000 And $102,000 | Between $47,000 And $76,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | New York | California |
| Best paying company | AQR Capital Management | Citi |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Technology |
There are a few differences between a portfolio accountant and a general ledger accountant in terms of educational background:
| Portfolio Accountant | General Ledger Accountant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 84% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Most common major | Accounting | Accounting |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between portfolio accountants' and general ledger accountants' demographics:
| Portfolio Accountant | General Ledger Accountant | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 58.1% Female, 41.9% | Male, 36.9% Female, 63.1% |
| 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, 8.4% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.8% Asian, 15.0% White, 61.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |