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Cost accounting supervisor skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted experts

Thomas King,

Thomas King

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical cost accounting supervisor skills. We ranked the top skills for cost accounting supervisors based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 8.9% of cost accounting supervisor resumes contained reconciliations as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a cost accounting supervisor needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 cost accounting supervisor skills for your resume and career

1. Reconciliations

Here's how cost accounting supervisors use reconciliations:

Conducted Monthly Raw Material Inventory reconciliations, Raw Material usages and price variance analysis as well as Labor variance analysis.
Performed inventory reconciliations and prepared and tracked costing for large parts packages for international sales.

2. Financial Reports

Here's how cost accounting supervisors use financial reports:

Created financial reports to assist manufacturing operations in reducing product costs and lowering inventory levels.
Prepared product line analysis and other financial reports for management.

3. General Ledger

Here's how cost accounting supervisors use general ledger:

Managed accounts receivable, invoicing and general ledger for different consulting engagements with this government contractor.
Prepared monthly financial statements and all related general ledger entries and supporting account analyses.

4. ERP

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is computer software used by major corporations and organizations for conducting their management and accounting tasks efficiently. ERP systems bind different business processes with each other allowing smoother flow of data between them resulting in swift project assessment and completion.

Here's how cost accounting supervisors use erp:

Partnered with Oracle implementation team for requirements gathering in early development phases to create custom efficiency reports in Oracle 8i ERP.
Played key role in new ERP implementation, which included the process of documentation for the new system.

5. External Auditors

Here's how cost accounting supervisors use external auditors:

Direct interfacing with internal and external auditors as questions arise regarding internal controls and compliance with corporate policies and procedures.
Interfaced with internal and external auditors for inventory and costing reviews.

6. Variance Analysis

Here's how cost accounting supervisors use variance analysis:

Major Accomplishments Internal presentations of monthly production performance, including efficiency and volume variance analysis for senior management.
Provided all financial data and budget variance analysis for a $35MM manufacturing consolidation.

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7. Cost Estimates

Here's how cost accounting supervisors use cost estimates:

Provide Total Delivery Cost comparisons and cost estimates for the evaluation of new initiatives and RECO's of new product launches.
Confer with engineers, architects, owners, contractors, and subcontractors on changes and adjustments to cost estimates.

8. Balance Sheet

Here's how cost accounting supervisors use balance sheet:

Audited balance sheet reconciliation file for proper documentation and support.
Completed month-end close for 3 production plants, standard cost model development, balance sheet reconciliation and analyzed product performance.

9. Internal Controls

Here's how cost accounting supervisors use internal controls:

Initiated audits of internal controls of costs, inventory, payroll systems, and policy and contract compliance.
Examined and evaluated financial and information systems, management procedures, and internal controls to ensure accuracy of records and controls.

10. Payroll

Payroll is the sum of all the compensation that an organization has to pay to employees at a specified time. Payroll is managed by the finance or HR department while small business owners may handle it themselves. Payroll isn't fixed as it varies every month due to sick leaves, overtime, etc.

Here's how cost accounting supervisors use payroll:

Supervised all functions of weekly payroll for approximately 400 personnel.
Supervised daily inventory transactions and all payroll functions.

11. Cost Analysis

Cost analysis, also known as cost-benefit analysis, refers to analyzing how a company's money is used, whether this is expenses of the company itself or the cost of the current production method. This method also takes the number of products sold into consideration to determine whether the manufacturing process is benefiting or harming the company's profits.

Here's how cost accounting supervisors use cost analysis:

Performed cost analysis and profitability studies for engineers, department managers and office staff at headquarters.
Cost analysis of new/existing products, production analysis, weekly and period end production analysis reports.

12. Fixed Assets

Here's how cost accounting supervisors use fixed assets:

Registered fixed assets and calculated depreciation.
Perform all accounting functions related to fixed assets including depreciation, additions, disposals, transfers and reporting for all locations.

13. GAAP

Here's how cost accounting supervisors use gaap:

Performed all duties in accordance with GAAP, SOX, and corporate accounting policies and procedures.
Set the direction for quarterly and annual GAAP and Statutory Reporting on investments including all supplementary audit and management reporting.

14. Overhead Rates

Here's how cost accounting supervisors use overhead rates:

Established and administered standard labor and overhead rates for three plants ensuring a correct and appropriate standard cost environment.
Modified cost system to provide labor and fixed/variable overhead rates across 15 product lines.

15. Financial Data

Here's how cost accounting supervisors use financial data:

Established strong working partnership with manufacturing management team by training managers on how to use financial data for improved decision making.
Provided prospective new owners (Niagara Fiberboard, Inc.) with financial data for effective transition to new company.

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What skills help Cost Accounting Supervisors find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on cost accounting supervisor resumes?

Thomas King

Department Chair, Director, Master of Accountancy Program, Professor, Accountancy, Case Western Reserve University

Evidence that someone is smart is a fast learner and works well with others.

What soft skills should all cost accounting supervisors possess?

Thomas King

Department Chair, Director, Master of Accountancy Program, Professor, Accountancy, Case Western Reserve University

The ability to develop working relationships with a wide range of colleagues who have diverse skills.

What hard/technical skills are most important for cost accounting supervisors?

Thomas King

Department Chair, Director, Master of Accountancy Program, Professor, Accountancy, Case Western Reserve University

The ability to extract information from unfamiliar data sets and then explain conclusions reached in a clear, persuasive manner.

What technical skills for a cost accounting supervisor stand out to employers?

Dr. JP Krahel Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Accounting, Accounting Department Chair, Loyola University Maryland

First, Excel. It's the most basic, essential tool for the accounting professional. If you can come in on Day 1 knowing essential keyboard shortcuts, proper formula and reference use, and how to format a spreadsheet properly, you'll have an immediate advantage over your peers.

Second, believe it or not, is writing. People think that accounting is all about numbers, but really, it's less about the math (which Excel does for you) and more about being able to explain the deeper meaning behind the results. Can you explain complex depreciation methods to an audit client? Give bad news to a tax client in an understandable way? These are big deals.

Third is data analytics. Given the immense volume of data now available to firms, someone who can extract, clean, and present that data using modern software tools will have an edge. It's really another form of communication, and one that early-career accounting professionals would do well to familiarize themselves with before entering the workforce.

Do you want to know more?

List of cost accounting supervisor skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a cost accounting supervisor resume and required skills for a cost accounting supervisor to have include:

Reconciliations
Financial Reports
General Ledger
ERP
External Auditors
Variance Analysis
Cost Estimates
Balance Sheet
Internal Controls
Payroll
Cost Analysis
Fixed Assets
GAAP
Overhead Rates
Financial Data
Inventory Accounts
SOX

Financial Analysis
Inventory Control
Inventory Valuation
Direct Reports
Product Cost
Margin Analysis
Management Reports
Cost System
BOM
Close Process
Product Line
Physical Inventory
Sarbanes-Oxley
Cost Data
Plant Management
Budget Preparation
Capital Expenditures

Revenue Recognition
Goods Sold
Inventory Procedures
Inventory Analysis
WIP
A/P
Cost Variances
Absorption
Material Usage
Cycle Counts
Business Plan
DCAA
Inventory Transactions
MRP
Cost Standards

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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