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The differences between cost accounting managers and finance controllers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-8 years to become both a cost accounting manager and a finance controller. Additionally, a finance controller has an average salary of $105,869, which is higher than the $89,286 average annual salary of a cost accounting manager.
The top three skills for a cost accounting manager include variance analysis, financial analysis and reconciliations. The most important skills for a finance controller are CPA, payroll, and financial controller.
| Cost Accounting Manager | Finance Controller | |
| Yearly salary | $89,286 | $105,869 |
| Hourly rate | $42.93 | $50.90 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 61,135 | 97,342 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 8 |
A cost accounting manager is responsible for analyzing and evaluating pricing and costing systems of the goods and services of an organization, ensuring its adherence to the internal guidelines and state regulations. Cost accounting managers review business and financial transactions to generate accounting reports for management reference. They also identify business opportunities that would provide revenue resources and profits by monitoring industry trends and public demands. A cost accounting manager must have excellent analytical skills and accounting principles knowledge, especially in resolving account and expense discrepancies.
A financial controller is primarily in charge of the daily finance activities and accounting functions of a company. Their responsibilities typically revolve around preparing and organizing financial reports, analyzing data and looking out for any discrepancies or inconsistencies, and overseeing the company's overall revenues and expenditures. A financial controller must also maintain documentation, participate in risk assessment and budgeting activities, and develop strategies for profit growth. Furthermore, one must coordinate with other department staff to ensure accuracy, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Cost accounting managers and finance controllers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Cost Accounting Manager | Finance Controller | |
| Average salary | $89,286 | $105,869 |
| Salary range | Between $67,000 And $118,000 | Between $71,000 And $156,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Yonkers, NY |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | New York |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | Sage Memorial Hospital |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Technology |
There are a few differences between a cost accounting manager and a finance controller in terms of educational background:
| Cost Accounting Manager | Finance Controller | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Accounting | Accounting |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between cost accounting managers' and finance controllers' demographics:
| Cost Accounting Manager | Finance Controller | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 71.7% Female, 28.3% | Male, 61.5% Female, 38.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.6% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 9.2% White, 64.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 7.6% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 10.2% White, 63.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |