Have you too noticed that larger companies have downgraded the employee title of "
Do you know what the reasoning is?
Compensation - Accountant vs Analyst
Answers
Large companies ruin Accountants.
Accountants go to school for four+ years and learn every aspect of
Then they go to a large company.Their primary role becomes reconciling a few accounts or set of accounts, i.e. analyzing activity. Hence, they are called analysts because that is what they do.
I have seen this process so many times.
I would caution evaluating job content based solely on job title. Case in point, a client in California had a number of positions titled "Accountant". After reviewing their jobs (via observation and job analysis), it was deemed the responsibilities of these accountants made them eligible for overtime and did not pass a administrative nor professional exemption test. The position requirements may be one thing yet the actual duties performed need to be assessed to justify the position requirements. Also for the past 2+ years there have been proposed regulations that may require employers to have employees review / sign an FLSA assessment of their job exemption. Proponents anticipate it may pass with Obama's second administration. Some employers may have proactively re-evaluated some of these "borderline jobs" (like my client) to get ahead of the curve and this may be what you are seeing the the Fortune 500's. Hope this helps.
Regis your answer is perfectly in tune with my observations.
Malak your response proves my point, that accountants should not be applying for jobs with Analyst titles. Where I live this reevaluation as you call it is intended to create job descriptions that were previously accountant grades but with an analyst title the pay scale is less. Its a payroll and administrative cost reduction scheme.
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Anon - I am not sure where you live, but the information I am presenting is based on Robert Half's industry guide for 2013.
A cost accountant for a large company for 1 to 3 years experience ranges from 50,500-66,000 (national average). A cost analyst for a large company for 1 to 3 years experience is 53,000-71,000 (national average).
A cost accountant for a medium company for 1 to 3 years experience ranges from 46,750-62,250 (national average). A cost analyst for a large company for 1 to 3 years experience is 48,500-66,000 (national average).
I believe that if I worked in a manufacturing company, I would prefer to be a cost analyst over a cost accountant. The problem may be what Robert Half's guide defines as an analyst, and what companies are defining as an analyst. I am not sure.
What specific type of accountant and analyst titles are you referring to?
I think accountant should re-invent his/herself to be seen as value addition part of which is being able to do some analysts jobs.
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Human Capital