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Tax assistant vs auditor

The differences between tax assistants and auditors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an auditor has an average salary of $54,853, which is higher than the $43,893 average annual salary of a tax assistant.

The top three skills for a tax assistant include individual tax returns, low-income families and income tax returns. The most important skills for an auditor are audit reports, customer service, and financial statements.

Tax assistant vs auditor overview

Tax AssistantAuditor
Yearly salary$43,893$54,853
Hourly rate$21.10$26.37
Growth rate-6%
Number of jobs29,30720,325
Job satisfaction-3
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Average age4744
Years of experience--

What does a tax assistant do?

The tax assistant is responsible for supporting an organization's tax or accounting department. Their job is a combination of accounting support and administrative assistance. They should be able to run an office, as well as perform higher-level tasks, such as processing tax returns and sustaining databases. A tax assistant works under the direction of a tax manager or executive, but most of their duties are performed with less supervision. Tax assistants should also be dynamic and can comfortably work alone.

What does an auditor do?

An auditor is responsible for reviewing financial statements and making sure that the reports align with the accounting principles and legislative standards. Some of the important duties of an auditor are verifying the company's account statements, ensuring that the business is free from fraud and other unusual activities, providing recommendations to boost operations' performance, and creating financial reports for the board. An auditor should have excellent analytical and decision-making skills to spot inaccuracies of financial statements and resolve financial issues immediately.

Tax assistant vs auditor salary

Tax assistants and auditors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Tax AssistantAuditor
Average salary$43,893$54,853
Salary rangeBetween $24,000 And $79,000Between $35,000 And $84,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYWashington, DC
Highest paying stateRhode IslandNew Jersey
Best paying companyErnst & YoungMicrosoft
Best paying industryFinanceProfessional

Differences between tax assistant and auditor education

There are a few differences between a tax assistant and an auditor in terms of educational background:

Tax AssistantAuditor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Most common majorAccountingAccounting
Most common collegeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Tax assistant vs auditor demographics

Here are the differences between tax assistants' and auditors' demographics:

Tax AssistantAuditor
Average age4744
Gender ratioMale, 39.3% Female, 60.7%Male, 44.9% Female, 55.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.4% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 11.1% White, 60.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%Black or African American, 8.8% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 12.1% White, 63.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage8%7%

Differences between tax assistant and auditor duties and responsibilities

Tax assistant example responsibilities.

  • Perform bank and account reconciliations and process monthly payroll using QuickBooks.
  • Offer orientation to CPA s and college students to complete their continue education credits and increase potential candidates.
  • Perform data entry of banking and expense information into QuickBooks and other accounting software reconciling the accounts at month end.
  • Assure filling completion per client folder by gathering clients and CPA approval signature, tax form printouts and documentation backup scans.
  • General QuickBooks information and data entry.
  • Complete IRS tax-preparation training and prepare and electronically file income taxes for individuals.
  • Show more

Auditor example responsibilities.

  • Lead FDA readiness audits and participate in regulatory inspections.
  • Manage the collection, analysis and verification of managerial payroll information to detect fraud and/or unethical practices.
  • Work with department analyst to create measurement tools and methods for communicating results and managing QA analysis in compiling/reporting results.
  • Perform semi-annual financial audits w/ externally contract CPA to validate accounts payable and receivables.
  • Develop and facilitate training for SOX process owners and other stakeholders using Microsoft PowerPoint.
  • Work efficiently and effectively with various process owners to develop SOX specific business processes and mating documentation controls.
  • Show more

Tax assistant vs auditor skills

Common tax assistant skills
  • Individual Tax Returns, 27%
  • Low-Income Families, 25%
  • Income Tax Returns, 11%
  • IRS, 5%
  • PowerPoint, 4%
  • Financial Statements, 4%
Common auditor skills
  • Audit Reports, 18%
  • Customer Service, 8%
  • Financial Statements, 6%
  • Audit Findings, 5%
  • Audit Procedures, 5%
  • Payroll, 5%

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