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Senior auditor vs senior accountant

The differences between senior auditors and senior accountants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a senior auditor has an average salary of $74,382, which is higher than the $71,967 average annual salary of a senior accountant.

The top three skills for a senior auditor include CPA, internal audit and audit reports. The most important skills for a senior accountant are reconciliations, CPA, and GAAP.

Senior auditor vs senior accountant overview

Senior AuditorSenior Accountant
Yearly salary$74,382$71,967
Hourly rate$35.76$34.60
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs23,02576,816
Job satisfaction54
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 79%Bachelor's Degree, 78%
Average age4444
Years of experience-4

What does a senior auditor do?

Senior auditors have a vital role to play in the financial auditing process. They hold more responsibilities compared to staff auditors and report to an auditing manager directly. They have varied duties and responsibilities, including assigning tasks to staff auditors, overseeing compliant and precise auditing processes, and performing control and risk assessments. Senior auditors also are responsible for presenting audit findings, coordinating periodical audits, and submitting reports to the manager. If you are looking to apply for this role, you need to have a bachelor's degree in accounting or finance, strong analytical and mathematical skills, and proficiency in MS Office.

What does a senior accountant do?

A senior accountant is responsible for organizing financial reports, analyzing cost estimates, reviewing budget goals regularly, and making adjustments with the company's account statements as necessary. Senior accountants' duties also include managing account reconciliations, preparing tax documents, maintaining audit records and balance sheets, generating invoices, and providing recommendations to minimize possible financial loss. A senior accountant must have excellent analytical and critical-thinking skills and extensive knowledge of accounting and financial principles.

Senior auditor vs senior accountant salary

Senior auditors and senior accountants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Senior AuditorSenior Accountant
Average salary$74,382$71,967
Salary rangeBetween $54,000 And $101,000Between $55,000 And $92,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCWashington, DC
Highest paying stateNew YorkNew York
Best paying companyMicrosoftGoogle
Best paying industryTechnologyFinance

Differences between senior auditor and senior accountant education

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

Senior AuditorSenior Accountant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 79%Bachelor's Degree, 78%
Most common majorAccountingAccounting
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Senior auditor vs senior accountant demographics

Here are the differences between senior auditors' and senior accountants' demographics:

Senior AuditorSenior Accountant
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 62.7% Female, 37.3%Male, 46.9% Female, 53.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.3% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.6% Asian, 14.2% White, 62.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.8% Asian, 14.5% White, 61.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage7%7%

Differences between senior auditor and senior accountant duties and responsibilities

Senior auditor example responsibilities.

  • Conduct routine retrospective and prospective audits for ICD-10 CM/PCS, CPT and HCPCS for outpatient/inpatient facility and manage auditors.
  • Lead internal control reviews for an internationally own agriculture manufacturing company focuse on the inventory and payroll areas.
  • Create technology specific audit programs for SOX and operational audits ensuring that risks are clearly define and adequately test.
  • Enforce regulatory requirements and uphold Sarbanes-Oxley financial disclosure procedures to ensure accurate representation of internal and on-site audit assignments.
  • Guide clients with the compliance of the accounting standards (IFRS).
  • Prepare, and conduct all GxP (GMP, GLP, and GCP) in house and CMO training.
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Senior accountant example responsibilities.

  • Manage complex pricing structure and maintain SalesForce CRM funnel for forecasting accuracy.
  • Prepare internal financial reports for treasury manage accounts include in external compliance reports.
  • Manage the review, enhancement, and creation of department policy and procedure documentation require for Sarbanes-Oxley auditing and compliance.
  • Compile and analyze financial information to prepare monthly accruals, payroll journal, general journal and bank reconciliations.
  • Research and develop policies around Medicaid and Medicare billings and prepare Medicaid cost reports.
  • Coordinate submissions of financial data from regional divisions and prepare the consolidated company financial statement using Hyperion program.
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Senior auditor vs senior accountant skills

Common senior auditor skills
  • CPA, 13%
  • Internal Audit, 7%
  • Audit Reports, 6%
  • Audit Procedures, 5%
  • Audit Engagements, 5%
  • Risk Assessments, 4%
Common senior accountant skills
  • Reconciliations, 13%
  • CPA, 8%
  • GAAP, 7%
  • External Auditors, 4%
  • Internal Controls, 4%
  • Payroll, 4%

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