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Staff internal auditor vs staff accountant

The differences between staff internal auditors and staff accountants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a staff internal auditor has an average salary of $57,430, which is higher than the $54,216 average annual salary of a staff accountant.

The top three skills for a staff internal auditor include SOX, audit findings and sarbanes-oxley. The most important skills for a staff accountant are reconciliations, account reconciliations, and GAAP.

Staff internal auditor vs staff accountant overview

Staff Internal AuditorStaff Accountant
Yearly salary$57,430$54,216
Hourly rate$27.61$26.07
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs92,259115,930
Job satisfaction-4
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 82%Bachelor's Degree, 76%
Average age4444
Years of experience-4

What does a staff internal auditor do?

An internal staff auditor is an individual who conducts internal audits of an organization, including reviewing internal controls, verifying account balances, and examining procedures for efficiency. Staff internal auditors should support senior auditors to present recommendations for regulatory compliance and operating efficiency. They must assist with the Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) compliance program that involves documenting, testing, and evaluating internal controls. Staff internal auditors must also supervise and train internal audit interns as well as review their SOX audit work papers for completeness and accuracy.

What does a staff accountant do?

Staff accountants are employees who are part of the company's accounting department. They are usually certified public accountants (CPAs). Staff accountants should be familiar with accounting tasks. Previous accounting experiences play a huge advantage in their success. They perform a variety of accounting responsibilities such as information verification and analysis, financial report preparation and presentation, financial account reconciliation, billing and payment receiving activities, vendor database management, and invoice processing requirements. They should also know how to do bookkeeping. Staff accountants should have good communication skills, analytical skills, and decision-making skills. They should also be organized and trustworthy since they will be handling confidential information.

Staff internal auditor vs staff accountant salary

Staff internal auditors and staff accountants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Staff Internal AuditorStaff Accountant
Average salary$57,430$54,216
Salary rangeBetween $39,000 And $83,000Between $42,000 And $68,000
Highest paying CityAtlantic City, NJWashington, DC
Highest paying stateNew JerseyNew York
Best paying companyORIX USAMeta
Best paying industryInsuranceGovernment

Differences between staff internal auditor and staff accountant education

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

Staff Internal AuditorStaff Accountant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 82%Bachelor's Degree, 76%
Most common majorAccountingAccounting
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Staff internal auditor vs staff accountant demographics

Here are the differences between staff internal auditors' and staff accountants' demographics:

Staff Internal AuditorStaff Accountant
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 57.8% Female, 42.2%Male, 41.6% Female, 58.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.8% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 13.1% White, 62.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.8% Asian, 14.4% White, 61.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage7%7%

Differences between staff internal auditor and staff accountant duties and responsibilities

Staff internal auditor example responsibilities.

  • Manage and coordinate annual external business evaluation in conjunction with CPA consultants.
  • Perform annual SOX testing of business unit controls, global share service controls, and process controls to assist external auditors.
  • Evaluate and communicate findings from the investigations or financial and Sarbanes-Oxley compliance audits to management through formal audit reports.
  • Review and test the adequacy and effectiveness of establish management and SOX controls.
  • Assist in documentation of Sarbanes-Oxley controls and establishment of audit test plans for a business unit after acquisition.
  • Evaluate and identify medication problems to formulate clinical solutions and provide care for patients in a medical intensive care unit setting.
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Staff accountant example responsibilities.

  • Manage and monitor accounting procedures for compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley and coordinate and facilitate external audit requirements.
  • Contribute revenue accruals using job cost system, fix assets including reclassification, reconciliation and depreciation.
  • Prepare month-end journal entries and assist in compilation of financial statements, reconcile bank statements and general ledgers.
  • Complete audit-quality account reconciliations monthly for balance sheet accounts including the capital projects in progress accounts and miscellaneous revenue accounts.
  • Assume responsibility for cash management encompassing wire and ACH transfers processing, bank activity confirmation, and monthly bank account reconciliations.
  • Handle all A/R and A/P, payroll, change orders, collections, lien placement and release, vendor account management.
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Staff internal auditor vs staff accountant skills

Common staff internal auditor skills
  • SOX, 8%
  • Audit Findings, 8%
  • Sarbanes-Oxley, 5%
  • Acls, 5%
  • Compliance Audits, 5%
  • Risk Management, 5%
Common staff accountant skills
  • Reconciliations, 15%
  • Account Reconciliations, 7%
  • GAAP, 6%
  • General Ledger Accounts, 4%
  • External Auditors, 4%
  • Internal Controls, 4%

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