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Project finance analyst vs project accountant

The differences between project finance analysts and project 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 finance analyst and a project accountant. Additionally, a project finance analyst has an average salary of $77,005, which is higher than the $60,467 average annual salary of a project accountant.

The top three skills for a project finance analyst include financial analysis, project management and financial data. The most important skills for a project accountant are reconciliations, project management, and contract terms.

Project finance analyst vs project accountant overview

Project Finance AnalystProject Accountant
Yearly salary$77,005$60,467
Hourly rate$37.02$29.07
Growth rate9%6%
Number of jobs106,23043,672
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 74%Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Average age4044
Years of experience44

What does a project finance analyst do?

A project finance analyst is responsible for analyzing the financial needs and reports of an organization's project management system. Project finance analysts review project terms and expense forecasting and identify strategies to minimize financial loss. They also resolve account discrepancies and file accurate financial statements upon the assessment of project plans, resources, and timetables. A project finance analyst must have excellent communication and analytical skills to determine potential risks and enhance the company's portfolio for business proposals.

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.

Project finance analyst vs project accountant salary

Project finance analysts and project accountants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Project Finance AnalystProject Accountant
Average salary$77,005$60,467
Salary rangeBetween $54,000 And $108,000Between $46,000 And $79,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CAWashington, DC
Highest paying statePennsylvaniaNew Jersey
Best paying companyGooglePerficient
Best paying industryManufacturingProfessional

Differences between project finance analyst and project accountant education

There are a few differences between a project finance analyst and a project accountant in terms of educational background:

Project Finance AnalystProject Accountant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 74%Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Most common majorBusinessAccounting
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Project finance analyst vs project accountant demographics

Here are the differences between project finance analysts' and project accountants' demographics:

Project Finance AnalystProject Accountant
Average age4044
Gender ratioMale, 48.8% Female, 51.2%Male, 36.8% Female, 63.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 5.6% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.7% Asian, 14.1% White, 68.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%Black 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%
LGBT Percentage7%7%

Differences between project finance analyst and project accountant duties and responsibilities

Project finance analyst example responsibilities.

  • Lead a reconciliations project team responsible for the implementing new systemic reconciliations replacing manual and legacy processes.
  • Develop, maintain financial models/applications (VBA Excel/Access) to automate and streamline business processes and perform financial analysis.
  • Work with the accounting team to ensure revenue recognition rules where in compliance with GAAP and internal policy.
  • Ensure that budgets are loaded into ERP properly and tie to control totals
  • Complete coursework through PeopleSoft in order to thoroughly understand each module's processes.
  • Identify and implement optimal manner of extracting, purging and transferring data from old systems to PeopleSoft.
  • Show more

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

Project finance analyst vs project accountant skills

Common project finance analyst skills
  • Financial Analysis, 11%
  • Project Management, 9%
  • Financial Data, 4%
  • Strong Analytical, 4%
  • Hyperion, 3%
  • Financial Management, 3%
Common project accountant skills
  • Reconciliations, 8%
  • Project Management, 6%
  • Contract Terms, 5%
  • Purchase Orders, 4%
  • Deltek, 4%
  • Revenue Recognition, 4%

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