Cost controller vs tax accountant

The differences between cost controllers and tax 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 tax accountant. Additionally, a cost controller has an average salary of $76,697, which is higher than the $62,142 average annual salary of a tax accountant.

The top three skills for a cost controller include project management, cost analysis and financial statements. The most important skills for a tax accountant are CPA, tax audits, and income tax returns.

Cost controller vs tax accountant overview

	Cost Controller	Tax Accountant
Yearly salary	$76,697	$62,142
Hourly rate	$36.87	$29.88
Growth rate	6%	6%
Number of jobs	17,477	57,919
Job satisfaction	-	-
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 tax accountant do?

A tax accountant is an individual who works with clients to produce tax return documents that follow tax laws and regulations while keeping them updated on their return information. Tax accountants must determine tax strategies for their clients that may minimize or eliminate tax payments while arranging audits with taxation authorities. They prepare tax documents for different clients, including private companies, non-profit organizations, and private individuals. Tax accountants are also required to obtain a bachelor's degree in accounting and should understand business concepts.

Cost controller vs tax accountant salary

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

	Cost Controller	Tax Accountant
Average salary	$76,697	$62,142
Salary range	Between $51,000 And $114,000	Between $45,000 And $83,000
Highest paying City	Sunnyvale, CA	New York, NY
Highest paying state	Massachusetts	New York
Best paying company	NOVA Chemicals	Pacific Investment Management Company LLC
Best paying industry	Energy	Finance

Differences between cost controller and tax accountant education

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

	Cost Controller	Tax 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 tax accountant demographics

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

	Cost Controller	Tax Accountant
Average age	44	44
Gender ratio	Male, 63.2% Female, 36.8%	Male, 47.3% Female, 52.7%
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, 8.2% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.5% Asian, 15.5% White, 61.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage	7%	7%

Differences between cost controller and tax 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.

Show more

Tax accountant example responsibilities.

Utilize QuickBooks to manage client data and prepare necessary financial statements.
Manage and prepare sales and use tax account reconciliations and property tax liability accounts and prepare corresponding journal entries.
Prepared/Review financial statements according to GAAP and propose adjusting entries for clients.
Prepare tax returns for corporations, partnerships, non-profit organizations and individuals.
Work with various accounting departments, with duties such as account reconciliations, customer service, and administrative/clerical positions.
SAP, ONESOURCE, YESWIN, and BSAEfiling

Show more

Cost controller vs tax 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 tax accountant skills

CPA, 9%
Tax Audits, 4%
Income Tax Returns, 4%
Tax Research, 4%
Reconciliations, 4%
Financial Statements, 4%

Cost Controller vs. similar jobs

Cost Controller related careers

Cost Controller related jobs

What similar roles do

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse business and financial jobs

A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z