Regional accountant vs cost accountant

The differences between regional accountants and cost 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 regional accountant and a cost accountant. Additionally, a regional accountant has an average salary of $61,848, which is higher than the $60,528 average annual salary of a cost accountant.

The top three skills for a regional accountant include reconciliations, payroll and balance sheet accounts. The most important skills for a cost accountant are reconciliations, variance analysis, and GAAP.

Regional accountant vs cost accountant overview

	Regional Accountant	Cost Accountant
Yearly salary	$61,848	$60,528
Hourly rate	$29.73	$29.10
Growth rate	6%	6%
Number of jobs	56,406	39,925
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 79%	Bachelor's Degree, 77%
Average age	44	44
Years of experience	4	4

What does a regional accountant do?

Regional accountants work on the preparation of accounts and tax returns, payroll administration, and auditing financial information. They utilize financial statements, account reconciliations, and balance sheets to assist with their accounting work. Regional accountants must have good communication skills, be highly analytical, and take leadership over the accounts in their assigned region.

What does a cost accountant do?

A cost accountant specializes in determining the total cost incurred by a company from producing goods and services. Through the various financial data they collect, the cost accountant will devise plans and strategies that will be a vital factor in the next budget and marketing preparations of a company. Aside from this, a cost accountant is responsible for various tasks such as conducting research and analysis in different areas, keeping financial records and inventory, producing financial reports involving profitability and expenditures, and proposing a budget and other financial plans.

Regional accountant vs cost accountant salary

Regional accountants and cost accountants have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Regional Accountant	Cost Accountant
Average salary	$61,848	$60,528
Salary range	Between $47,000 And $79,000	Between $45,000 And $81,000
Highest paying City	-	Edison, NJ
Highest paying state	-	New Jersey
Best paying company	-	Google
Best paying industry	-	Energy

Differences between regional accountant and cost accountant education

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

	Regional Accountant	Cost Accountant
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 79%	Bachelor's Degree, 77%
Most common major	Accounting	Accounting
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

Regional accountant vs cost accountant demographics

Here are the differences between regional accountants' and cost accountants' demographics:

	Regional Accountant	Cost Accountant
Average age	44	44
Gender ratio	Male, 42.0% Female, 58.0%	Male, 52.6% Female, 47.4%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.9% Asian, 12.2% White, 63.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%	Black or African American, 8.7% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.0% Asian, 12.2% White, 63.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage	7%	7%

Differences between regional accountant and cost accountant duties and responsibilities

Regional accountant example responsibilities.

Prepare internal financial reports for treasury manage accounts include in external compliance reports.
General accounting functions include G/L, A/P, A/R, accruals & allocations, reconcile accounts, & G/L monthly close.
Compile and analyze financial information such as balance sheet account reconciliations, variance, revenue and expense analysis.
Analyze financial statements to identify, evaluate and correct financial issues, including preparation of detail account reconciliations.
Prepare monthly journal entries in accordance with GAAP including moderate to complex supporting calculations.
Verify that all GAAP accounting principal relative to the department operations have been correctly follow.

Show more

Cost accountant example responsibilities.

Manage ledgers and perform month end journal entries.
Manage the payroll with ADP system and account receivable.
Manage costing control as well as accounts payable (A/P) and accounts receivable (A/R).
Prepare internal financial reports for treasury manage accounts include in external compliance reports.
Prepare raw material and WIP inventory reconciliations.
Develop tracking of GAAP inventory valuation for all inventory inherit from the bankrupt former company.

Show more

Regional accountant vs cost accountant skills

Common regional accountant skills

Reconciliations, 15%
Payroll, 6%
Balance Sheet Accounts, 6%
Account Reconciliations, 5%
GAAP, 5%
General Ledger Accounts, 5%

Common cost accountant skills

Reconciliations, 9%
Variance Analysis, 6%
GAAP, 4%
Account Reconciliations, 3%
Cost Analysis, 3%
Financial Analysis, 3%

Regional Accountant vs. similar jobs

Regional Accountant related careers

Regional Accountant 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