How to hire a cost accounting manager

How to hire a cost accounting manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step cost accounting manager 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 accounting manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new cost accounting manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a cost accounting manager do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your cost accounting manager job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a cost accounting manager for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a cost accounting manager to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a cost accounting manager that fits the bill.

   This list presents cost accounting manager salaries for various positions.

   Type of Cost Accounting Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Cost Accounting Manager	Financial managers are responsible for the financial health of an organization. They produce financial reports, direct investment activities, and develop strategies and plans for the long-term financial goals of their organization.	$32-56
   Division Controller	A division controller is typically in charge of overseeing a company division's financial activities and human resources operations. Their role is to set objectives and guidelines, perform audits and assessments, evaluate the workforce performance, handle budgets and timelines, and develop strategies to optimize processes... Show more	$36-75
   Finance Controller	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... Show more	$34-75

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Variance Analysis
   • Financial Analysis
   • Reconciliations
   • Financial Reports
   • Product Cost
   • ERP
   • General Ledger
   • Journal Entries
   • Cost Analysis
   • GAAP
   • Balance Sheet
   • Accruals
   • Account Reconciliations
   • Cost Savings

   Check all skills

   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.

   More cost accounting manager duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your cost accounting manager job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A cost accounting manager can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, cost accounting managers' average salary in nebraska is 33% less than in connecticut.
   • Seniority. Entry-level cost accounting managers 43% less than senior-level cost accounting managers.
   • Certifications. A cost accounting manager with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a cost accounting manager's salary.

   Average cost accounting manager salary

   $89,286yearly

   $42.93 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level cost accounting manager salary

   $67,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 13, 2026

   Average cost accounting manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Massachusetts	$99,722	$48
   2	Maryland	$94,193	$45
   3	Texas	$94,190	$45
   4	Nevada	$92,881	$45
   5	New York	$92,696	$45
   6	New Jersey	$92,295	$44
   7	South Carolina	$91,197	$44
   8	Georgia	$90,184	$43
   9	Pennsylvania	$90,030	$43
   10	California	$89,363	$43
   11	Ohio	$88,045	$42
   12	North Carolina	$87,702	$42
   13	Arizona	$85,006	$41
   14	District of Columbia	$84,324	$41
   15	Oregon	$81,571	$39
   16	Washington	$80,151	$39
   17	Florida	$80,145	$39
   18	Illinois	$79,428	$38
   19	Missouri	$79,279	$38
   20	Indiana	$78,043	$38

   Average cost accounting manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Microsoft	$110,117	$52.94	46
   2	AbbVie	$108,788	$52.30	15
   3	Cisco	$105,835	$50.88
   4	Dole	$104,924	$50.44
   5	PACCAR	$103,900	$49.95	11
   6	Stryker	$103,629	$49.82	7
   7	Golden State Foods	$103,588	$49.80	2
   8	Florida Power and Light	$102,014	$49.05	8
   9	BD	$101,760	$48.92
   10	VF	$101,595	$48.84
   11	Dexcom	$101,287	$48.70	4
   12	OSI Group	$99,694	$47.93
   13	Analysts	$99,134	$47.66
   14	Turner & Townsend	$98,202	$47.21	20
   15	GILLIG	$97,671	$46.96
   16	Teva Pharmaceuticals	$96,864	$46.57	2
   17	Skechers	$96,287	$46.29
   18	Faithful+Gould	$95,173	$45.76
   19	Ashley HomeStore	$94,615	$45.49
   20	SeaSpine	$94,077	$45.23

4. Writing a cost accounting manager job description

   A cost accounting manager 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 accounting manager job description:

   Cost accounting manager job description example

   Ocean Spray is looking for a Cost Accounting Manager!
   
   Position location: This is a remote position.
   
   A Day in the Life of a Cost Accounting Manager:
   Full ownership and accountability of the global product standard costing process, including plants, receiving stations and domestic and international co-packers Responsible for annual operating plan standard cost update and ad-hoc costing related requests Lead efforts across multiple teams to identify and execute product costing improvements to simplify, streamline, automate and standardize costing related activities Generate and maintain process documentation for all costing related activities ensuring compliance with a best of class internal controls environment Provide support for special projects to improve business performance and processes Assist with calculation and analysis of non-standard COGS and variance accounts for monthly, quarterly and annual reporting Maintains compliance with GAAP to ensure complete, accurate and reliable financial reporting Responsible for oversight of inventory reserve calculations and manufacturing/procurement variances Ownership of transfer pricing calculations and analysis of related intercompany elimination activity Provides recommendations for process improvements related to COGS reporting Performs and reviews month-end general ledger reconciliations to ensure accurate monthly recognition and reporting of complex accruals and associated expenses
   
   What We're Looking For:
   Bachelor's Degree in finance or accounting is required; MBA and/or CPA preferred 7+ years of relevant finance experience with a minimum 3 years of Cost Accounting experience Proven leader, change agent and self-starter with continuous improvement mindset Strong costing accounting experience in a large & complex global manufacturing environment Strategic thinker and problem solver with the ability to turn ideas into action while working with cross functional teams Excellent analytical and communication skills (written and verbal) SAP experience is required
   Compensation/Benefits:
   Competitive Base SalaryMedical, Dental, and Vision Insurance on day one Performance Bonus 401K with up to 10% in matching contributions Bright Horizons Family Solutions - Back up care, tutoring, etc.Fertility benefits Tuition Reimbursement ProgramPaid holidays and vacation days Up to $300 Fitness ReimbursementUp to $300 Massage ReimbursementHealth Resources including Free Headspace membership, 1:1 Health Coaching and more.
   Who We Are:
   You might have our iconic cranberry juice in your fridge or have gotten into heated holiday debate about what's better - canned or fresh cranberry sauce. But did you know that the hardworking people growing the superfruit in our products are 700 family farmers that own our cooperative? They entrust us with what is most precious to them to create new and innovative products that will delight consumers and grow this beloved brand today and into the future.Team members, farmers, consumers and communities alike--we value what makes us unique and strive to connect our farms to families for a better life by living our values:
   Grower Mindset - We embrace our grower-owners innovative spirit and heritage through confidence, learning and focus on the future.Sustainable Results - Guided by purpose, we are focused on delivering results for our grower-owners.Integrity Above All - We are ethical, doing the right thing for our grower-owners, customers, consumers and each other Inclusive Teamwork - We build diverse and inclusive teams that strengthen our cooperative.
   
   All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find cost accounting managers 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 accounting manager job on Zippia to find and recruit cost accounting manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with cost accounting manager 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.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to 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 accounting manager

   Once you've decided on a perfect cost accounting manager candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new cost accounting manager. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

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 accounting manager?