Post job

Reporting specialist vs accountant

The differences between reporting specialists and 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 reporting specialist and an accountant. Additionally, a reporting specialist has an average salary of $56,129, which is higher than the $54,890 average annual salary of an accountant.

The top three skills for a reporting specialist include customer service, data analysis and powerpoint. The most important skills for an accountant are reconciliations, general ledger accounts, and account reconciliations.

Reporting specialist vs accountant overview

Reporting SpecialistAccountant
Yearly salary$56,129$54,890
Hourly rate$26.99$26.39
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs50,54360,073
Job satisfaction-3
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Average age4444
Years of experience44

What does a reporting specialist do?

A reporting specialist, also known as a marketing analyst, is an individual who is responsible for examining the current trends and marketing conditions for an organization. Reporting specialists are required to gather information about their potential customers, business competitors, and economic conditions. They examine databases and new reports as well as initiate questionnaires and opinion polls with the help of survey researchers. Reporting specialists must also present the information they gather to the management of the organization.

What does an accountant do?

An accountant is an individual whose primary task is to prepare, keep, examine, and interpret financial records. Most accountants are in charge of a wide scope of finance-related tasks, either for private individuals or for large-scale businesses and organizations they are employed with. They make sure that financial statements and records are accurate and comply with laws and regulations. They also compute for taxes, prepare tax returns, and ensure being paid properly and on time. As they keep track and record the flow of money, they can offer guidance on how to reduce costs, enhance revenue, and help in profit maximization.

Reporting specialist vs accountant salary

Reporting specialists and accountants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Reporting SpecialistAccountant
Average salary$56,129$54,890
Salary rangeBetween $39,000 And $80,000Between $41,000 And $72,000
Highest paying CitySan Jose, CAWashington, DC
Highest paying stateCaliforniaNew York
Best paying companyCitiMeta
Best paying industryFinanceTechnology

Differences between reporting specialist and accountant education

There are a few differences between a reporting specialist and an accountant in terms of educational background:

Reporting SpecialistAccountant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Most common majorBusinessAccounting
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Reporting specialist vs accountant demographics

Here are the differences between reporting specialists' and accountants' demographics:

Reporting SpecialistAccountant
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 42.1% Female, 57.9%Male, 38.2% Female, 61.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.8% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 12.1% White, 63.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.9% Asian, 15.0% White, 61.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage7%7%

Differences between reporting specialist and accountant duties and responsibilities

Reporting specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage risks and ensure compliance with SOX controls relate to selection and contracting of suppliers.
  • Manage coordination, implementation and installation of next generation telemarketing system, an nt-base, client server environment.
  • Create VBA macros to streamline existing reporting processes.
  • Assist with developing and updating VBA code as necessary.
  • Analyze operating reports with Cognos, VendorScape and DRI.
  • Promote current HIPAA compliance beyond the minimum legally mandate.
  • Show more

Accountant example responsibilities.

  • Manage preparation of the statutory financial statements and financial aggregates in compliance with IFRS and local applicable norms.
  • Manage personnel financial matters including salaries, taxation procedures and other relate issues.
  • Manage and monitor accounting procedures for compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley and coordinate and facilitate external audit requirements.
  • Reconstruct and improve many balance sheet account reconciliations for easier reading and interpretation by senior level management.
  • Perform complex general accounting functions, including preparation of journal entries, account analysis and balance sheet reconciliations.
  • Maintain general ledgers and preparation of monthly and other periodic financial reports in accordance with GAAP and international accounting standards.
  • Show more

Reporting specialist vs accountant skills

Common reporting specialist skills
  • Customer Service, 10%
  • Data Analysis, 8%
  • PowerPoint, 6%
  • BI, 5%
  • QA, 5%
  • SME, 4%
Common accountant skills
  • Reconciliations, 14%
  • General Ledger Accounts, 6%
  • Account Reconciliations, 6%
  • GAAP, 5%
  • Payroll Tax Returns, 5%
  • Customer Service, 5%

Browse business and financial jobs