Post job

Senior cost analyst vs senior accountant analyst

The differences between senior cost analysts and senior accountant analysts can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a senior cost analyst and a senior accountant analyst. Additionally, a senior cost analyst has an average salary of $77,845, which is higher than the $75,282 average annual salary of a senior accountant analyst.

The top three skills for a senior cost analyst include financial analysis, cost analysis and cost estimates. The most important skills for a senior accountant analyst are reconciliations, external auditors, and account reconciliations.

Senior cost analyst vs senior accountant analyst overview

Senior Cost AnalystSenior Accountant Analyst
Yearly salary$77,845$75,282
Hourly rate$37.43$36.19
Growth rate3%6%
Number of jobs53,87282,010
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 78%Bachelor's Degree, 75%
Average age4744
Years of experience44

What does a senior cost analyst do?

Senior cost analysts are lead professionals who collaborate with a variety of departments to gather financial data and perform analysis to uncover inefficiencies. These analysts are required to develop accurate cost estimates that are used in producing pricing quotations on products and programs. They must utilize the enterprise resource planning (ERP) business system to track the quotation process and maintain standard costs through cost roll activities. Senior cost analysts must also collaborate with managers to facilitate initiatives and projects that are cost-saving.

What does a senior accountant analyst do?

As a senior accountant analyst, your main role is to provide professional guidance to a company. You need to have excellent preparation skills to create financial reports that clearly state the expenses and forecast the company's financial future. You should always aim for accuracy and compliance. Moreover, as a senior accountant analyst, you are supposed to give general operational assistance to the company's management.

Senior cost analyst vs senior accountant analyst salary

Senior cost analysts and senior accountant analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.

Senior Cost AnalystSenior Accountant Analyst
Average salary$77,845$75,282
Salary rangeBetween $57,000 And $105,000Between $58,000 And $97,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCSan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaWashington
Best paying companyAppleBMO Capital Markets
Best paying industryAutomotiveFinance

Differences between senior cost analyst and senior accountant analyst education

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

Senior Cost AnalystSenior Accountant Analyst
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 78%Bachelor's Degree, 75%
Most common majorAccountingAccounting
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Senior cost analyst vs senior accountant analyst demographics

Here are the differences between senior cost analysts' and senior accountant analysts' demographics:

Senior Cost AnalystSenior Accountant Analyst
Average age4744
Gender ratioMale, 63.5% Female, 36.5%Male, 49.4% Female, 50.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 15.6% Asian, 7.9% White, 60.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%Black or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.8% Asian, 14.1% White, 62.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage13%7%

Differences between senior cost analyst and senior accountant analyst duties and responsibilities

Senior cost analyst example responsibilities.

  • Lead HFM and Essbase implementation efforts, including training of field and headquarters personnel.
  • Prepare and post journal entries, prepare balance sheet reconciliations and analysis of plant performance for presentation to internal management.
  • Work also include preliminary stages of SOX compliance and implementation at the plant level.
  • Run the entire tests for the SOX quarterly audit and check for any issue for the audit.
  • Finance representative on ERP system implementation team.
  • Prepare month-end accruals and perform month-end/year-end close.
  • Show more

Senior accountant analyst example responsibilities.

  • Develop and manage Sarbanes-Oxley compliance procedures.
  • Manage complex pricing structure and maintain SalesForce CRM funnel for forecasting accuracy.
  • Provide high-level financial analysis and accounting, conduct fixed asset analysis, variance analysis, account reconciliations, and month end-closes.
  • Perform relevant SOX controls accurately and timely.
  • Research and make technical recommendations regarding GAAP accounting issues.
  • Document and test control procedures in accordance with Sarbanes-Oxley regulations.
  • Show more

Senior cost analyst vs senior accountant analyst skills

Common senior cost analyst skills
  • Financial Analysis, 9%
  • Cost Analysis, 6%
  • Cost Estimates, 5%
  • Reconciliations, 5%
  • DOD, 4%
  • Variance Analysis, 4%
Common senior accountant analyst skills
  • Reconciliations, 11%
  • External Auditors, 5%
  • Account Reconciliations, 5%
  • General Ledger Accounts, 5%
  • GAAP, 5%
  • Financial Analysis, 5%

Browse business and financial jobs