Cost controller vs project accountant

The differences between cost controllers and project accountants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a cost controller and a project accountant. Additionally, a cost controller has an average salary of $76,697, which is higher than the $60,467 average annual salary of a project accountant.

The top three skills for a cost controller include project management, cost analysis and financial statements. The most important skills for a project accountant are reconciliations, project management, and contract terms.

Cost controller vs project accountant overview

	Cost Controller	Project Accountant
Yearly salary	$76,697	$60,467
Hourly rate	$36.87	$29.07
Growth rate	6%	6%
Number of jobs	17,477	43,672
Job satisfaction	-	5
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 70%	Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Average age	44	44
Years of experience	4	4

What does a cost controller do?

A Cost Controller manages the project costs. Cost Controllers' tasks include developing, controlling, planning, and forecasting the project's budget. They make sure that projects are completed within the approved budget and minimize the deflection from it. Cost Controllers should know about total cost management concepts, budget distribution, and setting a cost limit. They should also know how to detect issues, analyze cost reports, and value management. Being a cost controller also requires skills to effectively communicate the project's cost performance, concerns, and recovery plans to the project team.

What does a project accountant do?

A project accountant is primarily in charge of overseeing the budget and expenditures allocated for various projects within a company. Their responsibilities revolve around reviewing financial data and work plans, managing billing and financial reports, monitoring the flow of revenue, filing purchase orders and invoices, and processing payments to subcontractors, suppliers, and more. It is also vital to coordinate with all managing personnel to prepare necessary reports such as costs and taxes. Furthermore, it is essential to maintain data and records of all transactions, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.

Cost controller vs project accountant salary

Cost controllers and project accountants have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Cost Controller	Project Accountant
Average salary	$76,697	$60,467
Salary range	Between $51,000 And $114,000	Between $46,000 And $79,000
Highest paying City	Sunnyvale, CA	Washington, DC
Highest paying state	Massachusetts	New Jersey
Best paying company	NOVA Chemicals	Perficient
Best paying industry	Energy	Professional

Differences between cost controller and project accountant education

There are a few differences between a cost controller and a project accountant in terms of educational background:

	Cost Controller	Project Accountant
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 70%	Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Most common major	Accounting	Accounting
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

Cost controller vs project accountant demographics

Here are the differences between cost controllers' and project accountants' demographics:

	Cost Controller	Project Accountant
Average age	44	44
Gender ratio	Male, 63.2% Female, 36.8%	Male, 36.8% Female, 63.2%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 8.8% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 13.4% White, 62.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%	Black or African American, 8.7% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 12.3% White, 63.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage	7%	7%

Differences between cost controller and project accountant duties and responsibilities

Cost controller example responsibilities.

Improve project process by developing and implementing cost structure, then manage job-specific code of accounts for WBS approvals.
Manage treasury, open several new accounts, establish new procedures and controls, monitor daily activity.
Prepare monthly write-ups reports for the cost performance and EAC forecast
Identify wrongly charge WBS in order to control the budget release under each WBS element.
Facilitate capital project team's operating expense budgets, forecast, variance comments, accruals, and reporting.
Analyze purchase order commitment to calculate accruals.

Project accountant example responsibilities.

Maintain general ledgers, manage cash flow, prepare financial statements and bank reconciliations for multiple development and construction projects.
Assure timely accurate filing of all Medicare, Medicaid and commercial insurance claims.
Review the collection of Medicare, Medicaid and other receivables to ensure monthly goals are met.
Used DelTek to find discrepancies in employee charge hours.
Serve as major contributor in system conversion to new web-base ERP system.
Identify and rectify accounting errors that have incurred in the past and ensure adherence to IFRS.

Cost controller vs project accountant skills

Common cost controller skills

Project Management, 11%
Cost Analysis, 7%
Financial Statements, 6%
Cost Estimates, 6%
Variance Analysis, 5%
Cost Data, 5%

Common project accountant skills

Reconciliations, 8%
Project Management, 6%
Contract Terms, 5%
Purchase Orders, 4%
Deltek, 4%
Revenue Recognition, 4%

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Cost Controller vs Project Accountant

Updated January 8, 2025

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