Cost accounting manager vs tax manager

The differences between cost accounting managers and tax managers 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 tax manager. Additionally, a tax manager has an average salary of $96,100, 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 tax manager are CPA, client relationships, and tax planning.

Cost accounting manager vs tax manager overview

	Cost Accounting Manager	Tax Manager
Yearly salary	$89,286	$96,100
Hourly rate	$42.93	$46.20
Growth rate	17%	17%
Number of jobs	61,135	79,204
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 78%	Bachelor's Degree, 68%
Average age	46	46
Years of experience	8	8

What does a cost accounting manager do?

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.

What does a tax manager do?

A Tax Manager is responsible for managing tax reporting and compliance within an organization. They provide innovative tax planning and prepare state and federal tax returns for companies.

Cost accounting manager vs tax manager salary

Cost accounting managers and tax managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Cost Accounting Manager	Tax Manager
Average salary	$89,286	$96,100
Salary range	Between $67,000 And $118,000	Between $70,000 And $131,000
Highest paying City	Boston, MA	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	Connecticut	New York
Best paying company	Microsoft	Meta
Best paying industry	Manufacturing	Finance

Differences between cost accounting manager and tax manager education

There are a few differences between a cost accounting manager and a tax manager in terms of educational background:

	Cost Accounting Manager	Tax Manager
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 78%	Bachelor's Degree, 68%
Most common major	Accounting	Accounting
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Southern California

Cost accounting manager vs tax manager demographics

Here are the differences between cost accounting managers' and tax managers' demographics:

	Cost Accounting Manager	Tax Manager
Average age	46	46
Gender ratio	Male, 71.7% Female, 28.3%	Male, 58.5% Female, 41.5%
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, 7.5% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 14.3% Asian, 10.0% White, 63.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage	11%	11%

Differences between cost accounting manager and tax manager duties and responsibilities

Cost accounting manager example responsibilities.

Manage the monthly analysis of variances which include PPV, MUV, substitution and labor.
Lead ERP system integration team and restructure manufacturing accounting system of newly acquire facility.
Manage payroll and all taxation matters, coordinate independent audit; communicate with outside organizations and agencies.
Direct the development, administration, and standards necessary to maintain financial controls in compliance with GAAP and SOX.
Provide financial management of inventories for multiple facilities to include book-to-physical account reconciliations, inventory projections and reduction plans.
Maintain standard cost integrity including annual standard changes, inventory valuation, monthly closings, account reconciliations and annual budgeting.

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Tax manager example responsibilities.

Test and learned to analyze accounting processes managing SOX testing including accumulating documentation and reviewing other testers work.
Perform tax provision review to ensure compliance with ASC 740 and ASC 740-10 for public trade companies and private companies.
Pull data and work with Hyperion.
Used Lexis Nexis, RIA, and CCH to research multiple tax projects.
Prepare and review ASC 740 tax balances for the company s fifteen largest foreign subsidiaries.
Calculate, prepare and submit quarterly estimate payments without need for review from third party CPA.

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Cost accounting manager vs tax manager skills

Common cost accounting manager skills

Variance Analysis, 5%
Financial Analysis, 5%
Reconciliations, 4%
Financial Reports, 4%
Product Cost, 4%
ERP, 4%

Common tax manager skills

CPA, 16%
Client Relationships, 7%
Tax Planning, 6%
Tax Compliance, 5%
Taxation, 4%
Tax Research, 4%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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