Plant controller vs cost accounting manager

The differences between plant controllers and cost accounting managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-8 years to become both a plant controller and a cost accounting manager. Additionally, a plant controller has an average salary of $99,550, which is higher than the $89,286 average annual salary of a cost accounting manager.

The top three skills for a plant controller include internal controls, GAAP and plant management. The most important skills for a cost accounting manager are variance analysis, financial analysis, and reconciliations.

Plant controller vs cost accounting manager overview

	Plant Controller	Cost Accounting Manager
Yearly salary	$99,550	$89,286
Hourly rate	$47.86	$42.93
Growth rate	17%	17%
Number of jobs	47,555	61,135
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 77%	Bachelor's Degree, 78%
Average age	46	46
Years of experience	8	8

What does a plant controller do?

A plant controller works at factories where they are primarily in charge of administrative duties and ensuring that operations adhere to budgets, schedules, and standards. As a plant controller, they are also responsible for gathering and analyzing financial data, analyzing cost reports, preparing financial statements, maintaining databases, performing audits and risk assessments, and overseeing the accounting team procedures. Additionally, they also supervise staff operations and address issues and concerns while implementing the company's policies and regulations.

What does a cost accounting manager do?

A cost accounting manager is responsible for analyzing and evaluating pricing and costing systems of the goods and services of an organization, ensuring its adherence to the internal guidelines and state regulations. Cost accounting managers review business and financial transactions to generate accounting reports for management reference. They also identify business opportunities that would provide revenue resources and profits by monitoring industry trends and public demands. A cost accounting manager must have excellent analytical skills and accounting principles knowledge, especially in resolving account and expense discrepancies.

Plant controller vs cost accounting manager salary

Plant controllers and cost accounting managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Plant Controller	Cost Accounting Manager
Average salary	$99,550	$89,286
Salary range	Between $72,000 And $136,000	Between $67,000 And $118,000
Highest paying City	Reno, NV	Boston, MA
Highest paying state	Nevada	Connecticut
Best paying company	Arkema	Microsoft
Best paying industry	Finance	Manufacturing

Differences between plant controller and cost accounting manager education

There are a few differences between a plant controller and a cost accounting manager in terms of educational background:

	Plant Controller	Cost Accounting Manager
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 77%	Bachelor's Degree, 78%
Most common major	Accounting	Accounting
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

Plant controller vs cost accounting manager demographics

Here are the differences between plant controllers' and cost accounting managers' demographics:

	Plant Controller	Cost Accounting Manager
Average age	46	46
Gender ratio	Male, 75.9% Female, 24.1%	Male, 71.7% Female, 28.3%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 8.7% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 13.4% Asian, 7.9% White, 65.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%	Black or African American, 7.6% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 9.2% White, 64.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage	11%	11%

Differences between plant controller and cost accounting manager duties and responsibilities

Plant controller example responsibilities.

Manage and correct balance sheet issues including property taxes, miscellaneous accruals, inventories, and capital work- in-progress accounts.
Implement Sarbanes-Oxley internal control policy and procedures which lead to successful annual internal and external audits.
Manage general accounting functions, including monthly financial statements and audit reports, and monthly account reconciliations.
Manage monthly closing process including, account reconciliations, account analysis, preparation of monthly financial statements and other management reports.
Participate in the implementation of an ERP system that accomplish key strategic initiatives including job costing and a perpetual inventory system.
SAP (at the plant level) and Hyperion (at the corporate level) are used in financial reporting.

Cost accounting manager example 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.

Plant controller vs cost accounting manager skills

Common plant controller skills

Internal Controls, 6%
GAAP, 5%
Plant Management, 5%
Continuous Improvement, 5%
Reconciliations, 4%
Financial Analysis, 4%

Common cost accounting manager skills

Variance Analysis, 5%
Financial Analysis, 5%
Reconciliations, 4%
Financial Reports, 4%
Product Cost, 4%
ERP, 4%

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Plant Controller vs Cost Accounting Manager

Updated January 8, 2025

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