Job Overview
Alternate Titles: Accountant
Cost Accountants operate at several different levels, including Manager, Senior, 1-3 Years’ Experience, and Entry Level. In general, a Cost Accountant;
- Applies principles of cost accounting to conduct studies which provide detailed cost information not supplied by general accounting systems
- Plans study and collects data to determine costs of business activity, such as raw material purchases, inventory, and labor
- Analyzes data obtained and records results, using computer.
- Analyzes changes in product design, raw materials, manufacturing methods, or services provided, to determine effects on costs.
- Analyzes actual manufacturing costs and prepares periodic report comparing standard costs to actual production costs.
- Provides management with reports specifying and comparing factors affecting prices and profitability of products or services.
Education, Experience, & Certifications
Manager
- Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance
- MBA may be preferred
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Certified Management Accountant (CMA) is sought by many companies
- 5+ years’ experience to include some supervisory
- Strong technical skills
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
Senior
- Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance
- 3+ years’ experience
- Strong technical skills
- Proficiency in MS Office applications, expert in MS Excel
- Knowledge of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, for example, SAP, PeopleSoft
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
1-3 Years’ Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance
- 1-3 years’ experience
- Strong technical skills
- Proficiency in MS Office applications, expert in MS Excel
- Knowledge of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, for example, SAP, PeopleSoft
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
Entry Level
- Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance
- Proficiency in MS Office applications, expert in MS Excel
- Excellent analytical and research skills
- Excellent communication and people skills
- Organized and detail oriented
- Critical thinking with the ability to solve problems
