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Project accountant vs general ledger accountant

The differences between project 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 project accountant and a general ledger accountant. Additionally, a project accountant has an average salary of $60,467, which is higher than the $60,034 average annual salary of a general ledger accountant.

The top three skills for a project accountant include reconciliations, project management and contract terms. The most important skills for a general ledger accountant are reconciliations, GAAP, and balance sheet accounts.

Project accountant vs general ledger accountant overview

Project AccountantGeneral Ledger Accountant
Yearly salary$60,467$60,034
Hourly rate$29.07$28.86
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs43,67281,408
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 72%Bachelor's Degree, 76%
Average age4444
Years of experience44

What does a project accountant do?

A project accountant is primarily in charge of overseeing the budget and expenditures allocated for various projects within a company. Their responsibilities revolve around reviewing financial data and work plans, managing billing and financial reports, monitoring the flow of revenue, filing purchase orders and invoices, and processing payments to subcontractors, suppliers, and more. It is also vital to coordinate with all managing personnel to prepare necessary reports such as costs and taxes. Furthermore, it is essential to maintain data and records of all transactions, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.

What does a general ledger accountant do?

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.

Project accountant vs general ledger accountant salary

Project accountants and general ledger accountants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Project AccountantGeneral Ledger Accountant
Average salary$60,467$60,034
Salary rangeBetween $46,000 And $79,000Between $47,000 And $76,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCWashington, DC
Highest paying stateNew JerseyCalifornia
Best paying companyPerficientCiti
Best paying industryProfessionalTechnology

Differences between project accountant and general ledger accountant education

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

Project AccountantGeneral Ledger Accountant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 72%Bachelor's Degree, 76%
Most common majorAccountingAccounting
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Project accountant vs general ledger accountant demographics

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

Project AccountantGeneral Ledger Accountant
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 36.8% Female, 63.2%Male, 36.9% Female, 63.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.7% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 12.3% White, 63.5% 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 Percentage7%7%

Differences between project accountant and general ledger accountant duties and responsibilities

Project accountant example responsibilities.

  • Maintain general ledgers, manage cash flow, prepare financial statements and bank reconciliations for multiple development and construction projects.
  • Assure timely accurate filing of all Medicare, Medicaid and commercial insurance claims.
  • Review the collection of Medicare, Medicaid and other receivables to ensure monthly goals are met.
  • Used DelTek to find discrepancies in employee charge hours.
  • Serve as major contributor in system conversion to new web-base ERP system.
  • Identify and rectify accounting errors that have incurred in the past and ensure adherence to IFRS.
  • Show more

General ledger accountant example responsibilities.

  • Prepare internal financial reports for treasury manage accounts include in external compliance reports.
  • Perform account analysis, cost accruals, bank reconciliations, inventory reconciliation and analysis; research and recommend transaction corrections.
  • Maintain ERP general ledger and data in sub module, and perform the expenditure review according to budgeting.
  • Prepare monthly, reconciliations of subsidiary ledgers to general ledger control accounts.
  • Reconcile general ledger accounts which including preparing journal entries and accruals in preparation of consolidate financial reports.
  • Prepare various monthly journal entries to record prepay insurance amortization, payroll deduction liabilities and other liability accruals.
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Project accountant vs general ledger accountant skills

Common project accountant skills
  • Reconciliations, 8%
  • Project Management, 6%
  • Contract Terms, 5%
  • Purchase Orders, 4%
  • Deltek, 4%
  • Revenue Recognition, 4%
Common general ledger accountant skills
  • Reconciliations, 15%
  • GAAP, 6%
  • Balance Sheet Accounts, 6%
  • Payroll, 5%
  • Accruals, 5%
  • External Auditors, 4%

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