Accounting Analyst vs. Staff Accountant: What Are the Differences?

A career in accounting can offer many opportunities for those with a head for numbers and an interest in business. Two common positions in this field are that of an accounting analyst and a staff accountant. Though both roles are important in an organization’s financial department, there are several key differences between them.

In this article, we discuss the differences between an accounting analyst and a staff accountant, and we provide additional information on careers in accounting.

What is an Accounting Analyst?

An Accounting Analyst is a professional who provides analysis and support to an organization’s accounting department. Their responsibilities vary depending on the size and structure of the organization, but may include tasks such as preparing financial reports, analyzing financial data, assisting with budgeting and forecasting, and auditing financial statements. Accounting Analysts typically have a bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related field, and some organizations may require them to have a certified public accountant (CPA) designation.

What is a Staff Accountant?

Staff Accountants are responsible for preparing financial statements, maintaining ledgers, and completing general accounting tasks. They work with a team of accountants to ensure that all financial reporting deadlines are met. Staff Accountants also reconcile bank statements, resolve discrepancies, and prepare journal entries. They may also be responsible for preparing tax returns, auditing financial statements, and providing support during audits. In larger organizations, Staff Accountants may specialize in a particular area, such as accounts payable or accounts receivable.

Accounting Analyst vs. Staff Accountant

Here are the main differences between an accounting analyst and a staff accountant.

Job Duties

Accounting analysts perform a wide range of tasks to help companies improve their financial performance. They might research market conditions, analyze data and develop strategies for improvement. Staff accountants typically handle the day-to-day accounting duties for their organizations. They prepare and submit financial reports and manage the company’s accounts, including processing payments and filing documents.

Accounting analysts often work in offices, but they may spend time away from their desks when conducting research or meeting with stakeholders. Staff accountants usually work in an office environment and have a desk job. Both professions involve a lot of computer work, so knowledge of basic computer skills is important.

Job Requirements

To become an accounting analyst or staff accountant, you need a bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, statistics, economics, business administration or a related field. For consideration in more advanced positions, it may help to pursue a master’s degree, but it is not a prerequisite for either position.

In addition to college, both professions may continue education through additional certifications. A CPA license, which teaches accountants how to file taxes, is accredited through the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and offered as a national exam. A CFA license allows financial analysts to advise clients through decision-making in investment opportunities. Certifications are not mandatory in either position but allow for more growth opportunities and can be an outlet for gaining more experience in the financial field through extensive training hours.

Work Environment

Accounting analysts typically work in an office setting, but they may also travel to meet with clients. They often work full time and long hours during busy seasons or when completing projects for clients.

Staff accountants usually work in an office environment, but they may also travel to visit clients. They usually work full time and long hours during busy seasons or when completing projects for clients.

Skills

There are several similarities in the specific skills used by accounting analysts and staff accountants. Both roles require excellent analytical skills to be able to review financial data and identify trends. They also both need to have strong attention to detail to ensure accuracy in their work. In addition, both roles typically use computer software to perform their duties, so proficiency in using these programs is necessary.

However, there are some differences in the specific skills used by these two roles. Accounting analysts often need to be able to use more complex software programs than staff accountants. This is because they may be responsible for creating financial models or performing other advanced tasks. In addition, accounting analysts may need to have project management skills to coordinate projects among team members.

Staff accountants typically need to have stronger customer service skills than accounting analysts. This is because they may be responsible for interacting with clients to provide them with information about their finances. They may also need to be able to resolve any issues that clients have.

Salary

The average salary for an accounting analyst is $61,154 per year, while the average salary for a staff accountant is $62,583 per year. Both of these salaries can vary depending on the size of the company, the location of the job and the level of experience the employee has.