How to hire a cost accountant

How to hire a cost accountant, step by step

Here's a step-by-step cost accountant hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a cost accountant job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new cost accountant
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a cost accountant do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a cost accountant, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect cost accountant also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   The following list breaks down different types of cost accountants and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Cost Accountant	Description	Hourly rate
   Cost Accountant	Accountants and auditors prepare and examine financial records. They ensure that financial records are accurate and that taxes are paid properly and on time... Show more	$21-38
   Accounting Analyst	An accounting analyst is responsible for supporting the accounting operations of an organization, analyzing financial transactions and financial statements, and resolving account discrepancies. Accounting analysts interpret financial data by consolidating account transactions, performing account reconciliation, and managing account receivables... Show more	$20-37
   General Ledger Accountant	A general ledger accountant is in charge of ensuring the accuracy of a company's overall accounting processes and information. It is their responsibility to communicate with different departments and officials to gather necessary data, conduct extensive audits, prepare documentation and reports, maintain financial data on the company ledger, and interpret financial information... Show more	$22-36

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Reconciliations
   • Variance Analysis
   • GAAP
   • Account Reconciliations
   • Cost Analysis
   • Financial Analysis
   • Strong Analytical
   • Financial Reports
   • General Ledger Accounts
   • Internal Controls
   • Fixed Assets
   • PowerPoint
   • Cycle Counts
   • Close Process

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage ledgers and perform month end journal entries.
   • Manage the payroll with ADP system and account receivable.
   • Manage costing control as well as accounts payable (A/P) and accounts receivable (A/R).
   • Prepare internal financial reports for treasury manage accounts include in external compliance reports.
   • Prepare raw material and WIP inventory reconciliations.
   • Develop tracking of GAAP inventory valuation for all inventory inherit from the bankrupt former company.

   More cost accountant duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your cost accountant job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A cost accountant salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, cost accountants' average salary in wyoming is 51% less than in district of columbia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level cost accountants earn 44% less than senior-level cost accountants.
   • Certifications. A cost accountant with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a cost accountant's salary.

   Average cost accountant salary

   $60,528yearly

   $29.10 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level cost accountant salary

   $45,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 19, 2026

   Average cost accountant salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New Jersey	$68,886	$33
   2	New York	$67,998	$33
   3	Washington	$66,270	$32
   4	California	$64,822	$31
   5	Colorado	$60,958	$29
   6	Georgia	$60,299	$29
   7	Pennsylvania	$59,841	$29
   8	North Carolina	$58,326	$28
   9	Texas	$58,278	$28
   10	Indiana	$57,639	$28
   11	Illinois	$57,015	$27
   12	Minnesota	$56,754	$27
   13	Ohio	$56,560	$27
   14	Utah	$56,163	$27
   15	Oregon	$54,843	$26
   16	Florida	$54,429	$26
   17	Nebraska	$54,147	$26
   18	Tennessee	$54,118	$26
   19	Wisconsin	$52,234	$25
   20	Kansas	$51,921	$25

   Average cost accountant salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Google	$109,588	$52.69	21
   2	Stepan	$85,157	$40.94
   3	NuVasive	$85,076	$40.90
   4	JK Realty	$82,081	$39.46
   5	Allison Transmission	$81,641	$39.25	8
   6	Vertex Pharmaceuticals	$78,471	$37.73	1
   7	Vishay	$77,622	$37.32
   8	Solectron Corp	$77,533	$37.28
   9	Citrix	$76,325	$36.69
   10	Regeneron	$74,226	$35.69	2
   11	Marzetti	$73,542	$35.36
   12	Nestlé	$73,139	$35.16	2
   13	FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies	$72,755	$34.98	2
   14	Andersen	$72,648	$34.93	1
   15	RGP	$72,488	$34.85	13
   16	Spectrum Brands	$72,160	$34.69
   17	Medtronic	$71,870	$34.55	4
   18	Altra Industrial Motion	$71,729	$34.49
   19	Fortune Brands Home & Security	$71,555	$34.40	1
   20	Thermo Fisher Scientific	$71,188	$34.23	5

4. Writing a cost accountant job description

   A cost accountant job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a cost accountant job description:

   Cost accountant job description example

   Hours: Full Time
   
   Job Type: Administrative Professional
   
   Paul Davis of North Atlanta is currently looking for a Job Cost Accountant. Paul Davis of North Atlanta does emergency Mitigation work, as well as restoration and remodeling. We assist residential and commercial property owners put their homes and businesses together after a traumatic event.
   
   Skills required: QuickBooks desktop, Excel and other Microsoft products
   
   
   Duties & Responsibilities
   
   You will report to the Controller. All aspects of the monthly accounting cycle, financial statements and job cost reporting will be part of your responsibility.
   
   You will learn how to create and maintain internal controls and procedures to be sure that the financial statements and project results are accurate and timely.
   
   Office Administration
   
   Professionally represent the Paul Davis Values and Basics. May be on rotation during some portion of the day to receive and distribute incoming calls, including understanding how to process a job assignment an enter it into our project management software.
   General Accounting and Job Management
   
   This is a growing business, so we are constantly working toward more efficient and scalable procedures. The most important attribute for success initially is to be very accurate, using the information provided.
   
   In Accounting we are not only preparing financial statements, but we provide ad hoc reports to assist other people in the company. We are a team, and the right candidate should be thinking about how we can better serve the rest of the company.
   
   Accounts Payable
   
   Receive and enter vendor invoices, then distribute for approval Reconcile vendor bills and statements, to be sure all invoices are entered and paid on time Reconcile credit cards according to schedule Determine which invoices to include in the weekly check run according to payment terms and due dates Update and maintain vendor files

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find cost accountants for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your cost accountant job on Zippia to find and recruit cost accountant candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with cost accountant candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new cost accountant

   Once you've selected the best cost accountant candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new cost accountant first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a cost accountant?