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Cost controller skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
5 min read
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical cost controller skills. We ranked the top skills for cost controllers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 11.5% of cost controller resumes contained project management as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a cost controller needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 cost controller skills for your resume and career

1. Project Management

Here's how cost controllers use project management:
  • Supported project management by monitoring project costs to provide additional revenue opportunities and proactively detect potential cost overruns.
  • Perform the tasks of overseeing and monitoring project management and implementation of company cost control protocol.

2. 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 controllers use cost analysis:
  • Assisted with management of project controls including forecasting, cost analysis, procurement, and contracts administration.
  • Prepared balance sheet account reconciliations, periodic cost analysis and labor variance reports for management review.

3. Financial Statements

A financial statement is a report of an individual or a company that includes all the information about the declared assets, the use of money, income, and also the contribution of shareholders over a certain period.

Here's how cost controllers use financial statements:
  • Directed financial and purchasing management functions including the development of monthly/quarterly financial statements and financial forecasts.
  • Perform responsibilities of reviewing and ensuring accuracy of all accounts on the financial statements.

4. Cost Estimates

Here's how cost controllers use cost estimates:
  • Revealed project proposal shortfalls of 5 million by review of detailed project cost estimates on several $100 million project.
  • Profit center and cost center analysis, Assist Project Manager in tracking cost estimates in the projects.

5. Variance Analysis

Here's how cost controllers use variance analysis:
  • Ensured data quality for department costs and investments activities by utilizing variance analysis and data mining.
  • Prepared monthly cost report including variance analysis, cost sensitivity analysis, schedule impact analysis.

6. Cost Data

Cost data refer to the information collected about operating expenses, which is then used to determine the price of products, the gross margin of a company, and how an asset of the company is valued. Using the cost data collected over a number of years allows a company to project the company's future income and, based on this income, future operating decisions.

Here's how cost controllers use cost data:
  • Perform cost data processing analysis to provide management with project status, forecasts and definition of alternatives.
  • Project Cost Controller - Responsible for the collection and presentation of cost data required to exercise cost control of project.

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7. Project Budget

A project budget is a tool used by project heads and project managers to estimate the total cost of a project. It can be defined as the financial and personnel disposal limits that are needed to be imposed before the execution of the project.

Here's how cost controllers use project budget:
  • Identified and investigated variances to project budgets and forecasts by interpreting financial results.
  • Developed project budgets in collaboration with project manager and financial director.

8. Accruals

Here's how cost controllers use accruals:
  • Analyzed purchase order commitment to calculate accruals.
  • Balanced and closed monthly retail ledgers including accruals, re-classes and Cost of Sales inventory entries.

9. Purchase Orders

Here's how cost controllers use purchase orders:
  • Coordinated and cooperated with project manager concerning purchase order requisitions.
  • Service the construction site with processing change orders, pars, contracts and purchase orders and timely entry into the system.

10. Cost Control

Cost control is a process in which actual costs are recorded and incorporated into a format that allows comparison with project budgets to regulate and control operating costs within an organization. The goal of cost control is to manage project delivery within the approved budget and reduce expenses to increase profits.

Here's how cost controllers use cost control:
  • Key player in developing cost control budgets and lowering engineering drawing costs from 16% to10% of total project cost.
  • Project Cost Controller at the regional (Americas group) level, and Subject Matter Expertise for ERP - Projects system.

11. WBS

WBS, Work Breakdown Structure, is a planning tool used in projects, programs, and even initiatives to understand the work that needs to be done to produce one or more results successfully. It is a productivity technique for developing a project schedule, resource needs, and costs that are used to break work down into smaller tasks/components to make work more accessible and manageable.

Here's how cost controllers use wbs:
  • Monitor the PO limit under each WBS element and make Purchase Requests to SABIC Finance Team for PO enhancement whenever required.
  • Cash flow forecasting at the WBS, Cost Element, and Resource codes level by utilizing Business Planning Consolidation software.

12. 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 controllers use erp:
  • Designed and installed a complete integrated information management system on IBM equipment and ERP software.
  • Merged four manufacturing facilities into two and implemented a new ERP System (EPICOR).

13. Training Programs

Here's how cost controllers use training programs:
  • Designed and conducted training programs for Cafe location and C-Store location.
  • Introduced training programs that enhanced employee performance and helped build a motivated workforce.

14. GAAP

Here's how cost controllers use gaap:
  • Work with Corporate accounting and audit teams to implement standard accounting procedures that follow GAAP and Sarbanes-Oxley requirements.
  • Implemented External Audit committee recommendations that follow GAAP rules.

15. Financial Reports

Here's how cost controllers use financial reports:
  • Prepared general ledger reconciliation's and internal financial reports.
  • Provided monthly financial reports to General Manager, Food and Beverage Director, Financial Controller and Executive Chef.
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List of cost controller skills to add to your resume

Cost controller skills

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

  • Project Management
  • Cost Analysis
  • Financial Statements
  • Cost Estimates
  • Variance Analysis
  • Cost Data
  • Project Budget
  • Accruals
  • Purchase Orders
  • Cost Control
  • WBS
  • ERP
  • Training Programs
  • GAAP
  • Financial Reports
  • Cash Flow
  • Payroll
  • Financial Data
  • Cost Management
  • Financial Analysis
  • Work Breakdown Structure
  • Earned Value Management
  • Capital Projects
  • Internal Audit
  • POS
  • KPI
  • Journal Entries
  • EAC
  • Margin Analysis
  • A/P
  • Balance Sheet
  • Fixed Assets
  • Internal Controls
  • Financial Management
  • EPC
  • Physical Inventory
  • Cost Savings
  • Inventory Control
  • AFE
  • Revenue Recognition
  • Absorption
  • SOX
  • Executive Management
  • BP
  • Financial Aspects
  • Cost Structure
  • Gross Profit

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
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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