Post job

Senior accountant analyst vs general accountant

The differences between senior accountant analysts 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 senior accountant analyst and a general accountant. Additionally, a senior accountant analyst has an average salary of $75,282, which is higher than the $55,043 average annual salary of a general accountant.

The top three skills for a senior accountant analyst include reconciliations, external auditors and account reconciliations. The most important skills for a general accountant are financial data, reconciliations, and cash handling.

Senior accountant analyst vs general accountant overview

Senior Accountant AnalystGeneral Accountant
Yearly salary$75,282$55,043
Hourly rate$36.19$26.46
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs82,01087,663
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 75%Bachelor's Degree, 75%
Average age4444
Years of experience44

What does a senior accountant analyst do?

As a senior accountant analyst, your main role is to provide professional guidance to a company. You need to have excellent preparation skills to create financial reports that clearly state the expenses and forecast the company's financial future. You should always aim for accuracy and compliance. Moreover, as a senior accountant analyst, you are supposed to give general operational assistance to the company's management.

What does a general accountant do?

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.

Senior accountant analyst vs general accountant salary

Senior accountant analysts and general accountants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Senior Accountant AnalystGeneral Accountant
Average salary$75,282$55,043
Salary rangeBetween $58,000 And $97,000Between $40,000 And $73,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CAWashington, DC
Highest paying stateWashingtonNew Jersey
Best paying companyBMO Capital MarketsApple
Best paying industryFinanceAutomotive

Differences between senior accountant analyst and general accountant education

There are a few differences between a senior accountant analyst and a general accountant in terms of educational background:

Senior Accountant AnalystGeneral Accountant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 75%Bachelor's Degree, 75%
Most common majorAccountingAccounting
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Senior accountant analyst vs general accountant demographics

Here are the differences between senior accountant analysts' and general accountants' demographics:

Senior Accountant AnalystGeneral Accountant
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 49.4% Female, 50.6%Male, 43.1% Female, 56.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.8% Asian, 14.1% White, 62.2% 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 Percentage7%7%

Differences between senior accountant analyst and general accountant duties and responsibilities

Senior accountant analyst example responsibilities.

  • Develop and manage Sarbanes-Oxley compliance procedures.
  • Manage complex pricing structure and maintain SalesForce CRM funnel for forecasting accuracy.
  • Provide high-level financial analysis and accounting, conduct fixed asset analysis, variance analysis, account reconciliations, and month end-closes.
  • Perform relevant SOX controls accurately and timely.
  • Research and make technical recommendations regarding GAAP accounting issues.
  • Document and test control procedures in accordance with Sarbanes-Oxley regulations.
  • Show more

General accountant example responsibilities.

  • Manage payroll functions, financial statements, accounts payable, basic job cost, account analysis, accruals, year-end audits.
  • Manage and monitor accounting procedures for compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley and coordinate and facilitate external audit requirements.
  • Assist manager with cash flow, preparing financial statement, BBC, and report to CPA.
  • Create budget at beginning and coordinate CPA firm's audit at the end of year.
  • Assist in any kind of audit engagement (internal control, external, SOX, etc . )
  • Provide support for the controller with period-end close accruals and journal entries and assist in various duties and responsibilities.
  • Show more

Senior accountant analyst vs general accountant skills

Common senior accountant analyst skills
  • Reconciliations, 11%
  • External Auditors, 5%
  • Account Reconciliations, 5%
  • General Ledger Accounts, 5%
  • GAAP, 5%
  • Financial Analysis, 5%
Common general accountant skills
  • Financial Data, 11%
  • Reconciliations, 10%
  • Cash Handling, 9%
  • Vendor Invoices, 6%
  • General Ledger Accounts, 6%
  • Account Reconciliations, 5%

Browse business and financial jobs