Cost Accounting Manager Resume examples & templates
Copyable Cost Accounting Manager Resume examples
Ever wonder who's behind those crucial product pricing decisions or which financial wizards help manufacturers stay profitable when raw material costs spike? That's where Cost Accounting Managers step in. They're the financial detectives who track every penny spent in production, analyze cost behaviors, and transform complex data into strategic business insights. In today's volatile economic climate, their role has evolved far beyond traditional variance analysis and standard costing – they're now key strategic partners who help businesses navigate supply chain disruptions and inflation pressures.
According to a recent IMA survey, companies with dedicated cost accounting leadership reported 17.3% better cost containment during inflationary periods compared to those without. This explains why the demand for specialized Cost Accounting Managers has grown steadily, particularly in manufacturing and tech sectors where margins face constant pressure. As sustainability reporting requirements expand and digital transformation reshapes production processes, tomorrow's Cost Accounting Managers will need to blend traditional costing expertise with data analytics skills and ESG knowledge – making this career path both challenging and full of growth opportunities.
Junior Cost Accounting Manager Resume Example
Ethan Reyes
Denver, CO • (720) 555-8421 • ethan.reyes@email.com • linkedin.com/in/ethanreyes
Detail-oriented Cost Accounting Manager with 2 years of experience in manufacturing environments. Strong background in variance analysis, cost allocation, and financial reporting. Proven track record of improving process efficiency and identifying cost-saving opportunities. Quick to adapt to new systems while maintaining accuracy in high-volume operations.
Experience
Cost Accounting Manager | Precision Manufacturing, Inc. | Denver, CO | January 2023 – Present
- Oversee month-end close process for cost accounting department, reducing closing time by 27% through process improvements
- Manage standard cost updates and variance analysis for a product line generating $14M in annual revenue
- Lead a team of 2 accounting associates, providing mentorship and professional development opportunities
- Collaborate with production managers to identify $230K in annual cost savings through material waste reduction
- Prepare monthly financial reports and analysis for executive leadership team
Cost Accountant | Precision Manufacturing, Inc. | Denver, CO | August 2021 – December 2022
- Performed monthly variance analysis for labor, material, and overhead costs across 3 production lines
- Created standardized reporting templates that cut weekly reporting time from 6 hours to 4.5 hours
- Reconciled inventory accounts and identified $78K in obsolete inventory for write-off
- Assisted with annual physical inventory counts and reconciliation
- Supported implementation of new ERP system modules focused on production costing
Accounting Intern | Colorado Financial Group | Boulder, CO | May 2020 – August 2020
- Assisted with accounts payable and accounts receivable functions for 40+ client accounts
- Prepared journal entries and account reconciliations under supervision
- Helped compile data for quarterly financial reports (my first exposure to real financial deadlines!)
Education
Bachelor of Science in Accounting | University of Colorado Boulder | 2021
- GPA: 3.7/4.0
- Relevant Coursework: Cost Accounting, Financial Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Business Analytics
- Vice President, Accounting Club (2020-2021)
Certifications
Certified Management Accountant (CMA) | In Progress (Expected completion: June 2024)
Microsoft Excel Expert Certification | 2022
Skills
- Standard Costing & Variance Analysis
- Cost Allocation Methods
- Month-End Close Process
- Manufacturing Cost Systems
- Inventory Valuation
- ERP Systems (SAP, Oracle)
- Financial Reporting
- Microsoft Excel (Advanced)
- SQL (Basic)
- Budgeting & Forecasting
Mid-level Cost Accounting Manager Resume Example
Marcus J. Reynolds
Chicago, IL 60614 • (312) 555-8429 • m.reynolds@emaildomain.com • linkedin.com/in/marcusjreynolds
Detail-oriented Cost Accounting Manager with 5+ years of specialized experience in manufacturing environments. Known for streamlining cost systems that have saved previous employers $287K+ annually. Expertise in variance analysis and implementing process improvements while maintaining accurate standard costs. Skilled at translating complex financial data into actionable insights for cross-functional teams.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
COST ACCOUNTING MANAGER
Precision Industrial Components, Chicago, IL
March 2021 – Present
- Lead a team of 4 cost accountants in managing $178M annual manufacturing costs across 3 production facilities
- Reduced month-end close process from 8 days to 5 days by redesigning workflow and implementing automated reconciliations
- Created and maintain standard cost models for 240+ SKUs, resulting in 93% accuracy rate for product costing
- Collaborated with Operations to develop improved cost tracking methods that identified $147K in previously unrecognized waste costs
- Prepare monthly variance analysis reports and present findings to executive leadership team
SENIOR COST ACCOUNTANT
Midwest Manufacturing Group, Evanston, IL
June 2019 – February 2021
- Managed standard costing system for 2 product lines with combined annual revenue of $42M
- Performed quarterly physical inventory counts and reconciled discrepancies (maintained accuracy within 1.7%)
- Implemented new bill of materials tracking system that reduced costing errors by 27%
- Assisted in annual budget preparation for manufacturing operations
COST ACCOUNTANT
Bennett Consumer Products, Aurora, IL
August 2017 – May 2019
- Conducted monthly variance analysis for labor, material, and overhead costs
- Assisted with implementation of new ERP system, specifically the cost accounting modules
- Maintained bill of materials database and updated standard costs semi-annually
- Generated weekly KPI reports for production supervisors to track efficiency metrics
EDUCATION
Master of Accounting
DePaul University, Chicago, IL – 2017
Bachelor of Science in Finance
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign – 2015
CERTIFICATIONS
Certified Management Accountant (CMA) – 2019
Microsoft Excel Expert Certification – 2018
SKILLS
- Standard Costing & Variance Analysis
- Manufacturing Accounting
- Inventory Valuation Methods
- ERP Systems (SAP, Oracle)
- Cost-Volume-Profit Analysis
- Budget Development
- Process Improvement
- Team Leadership
- Microsoft Excel (advanced)
- SQL (intermediate)
ADDITIONAL
Active member of Institute of Management Accountants (IMA)
Volunteer tax preparer for low-income families through VITA program
Senior / Experienced Cost Accounting Manager Resume Example
VICTORIA CHEN
San Francisco, CA | (415) 555-8746 | vchen@emaildomain.com | linkedin.com/in/victoriachen
Cost accounting leader with 10+ years of manufacturing experience. Known for streamlining costing processes and implementing cost-saving initiatives that improved bottom-line results. Skilled at managing teams of 3-7 accounting professionals while building strong relationships with operations and supply chain departments. Experienced with Oracle, SAP, and multiple ERP systems.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
SENIOR COST ACCOUNTING MANAGER | Precision Manufacturing Solutions | San Francisco, CA | 2020 – Present
- Lead team of 7 cost accountants supporting operations across 3 manufacturing facilities with annual revenue of $178M
- Redesigned standard cost system resulting in 18% more accurate product costing and $1.2M in identified cost savings
- Implemented automated variance analysis tools that reduced month-end close by 2 days while improving reporting detail
- Partnered with operations to develop KPI dashboards tracking daily labor efficiency, material usage, and overhead absorption
- Managed annual physical inventory process across all facilities (worth $43M) with less than 1.3% variance
COST ACCOUNTING MANAGER | BioPharma Industries | Oakland, CA | 2017 – 2020
- Managed team of 4 accountants responsible for product costing, variance analysis, and inventory valuation
- Led ERP implementation team for cost accounting module, resulting in 31% reduction in manual processes
- Created and presented monthly cost analysis reports to executive leadership team, identifying $875K in annual savings
- Developed cost models for new product launches that improved pricing strategy accuracy by 22%
- Collaborated with supply chain to reduce raw material waste by 14% through improved tracking and accountability
SENIOR COST ACCOUNTANT | Westfield Electronics | San Jose, CA | 2014 – 2017
- Performed detailed variance analysis for electronic components production ($87M annual volume)
- Established standard costs for 300+ SKUs in high-mix, low-volume manufacturing environment
- Conducted quarterly physical inventory counts and reconciliations with 99.2% accuracy
- Created labor efficiency reporting system that helped production supervisors reduce overtime by 17%
EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS
MBA, Finance Concentration – University of California, Berkeley (2016)
BS, Accounting – San Francisco State University (2012)
Certified Management Accountant (CMA) – 2015
SAP Certified Application Associate – Management Accounting – 2018
TECHNICAL SKILLS
- ERP Systems: SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics
- Advanced Excel (VLOOKUP, pivot tables, macros)
- SQL & data visualization (Power BI, Tableau)
- Standard costing & activity-based costing
- Variance analysis & performance reporting
- Inventory valuation methodologies (FIFO, LIFO, weighted avg)
- Bill of materials (BOM) management
- Process improvement & lean accounting principles
- Budget development & forecasting
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Conference Speaker: “Implementing Activity-Based Costing in Manufacturing” – Bay Area Finance Forum 2019
Languages: Fluent in Mandarin Chinese and conversational Spanish
How to Write a Cost Accounting Manager Resume
Introduction
Landing a Cost Accounting Manager role requires more than just technical expertise — you need a resume that showcases your ability to drive financial efficiency and lead teams. I've helped dozens of accounting professionals revamp their resumes over my 15+ years as a career coach, and I've noticed the candidates who get interviews aren't necessarily the most qualified — they're the ones who present their qualifications most effectively. Your resume is your financial report on yourself, and like any good financial document, it needs to tell a compelling story with the right numbers in the right places.
Resume Structure and Format
Before diving into content, let's talk structure. Your Cost Accounting Manager resume should be clean and organized — much like the financial systems you oversee.
- Length: Stick to 2 pages max (1 page if you have less than 7 years of experience)
- Font: Use readable fonts like Calibri, Arial, or Garamond in 10-12pt size
- Margins: 0.5-1 inch all around
- File format: Save as PDF unless specifically requested otherwise
- Section order: Summary → Experience → Skills → Education/Certifications
Keep your formatting consistent throughout. If you bold one job title, bold them all. If you use bullet points for one job, use them for all. Think of your resume format like your chart of accounts — structured, consistent, and easy to navigate.
Profile/Summary Section
Your professional summary should be 3-4 lines that pack a punch. This isn't an objective statement (those went out with VHS tapes), but rather a snapshot of your value proposition.
Don't just say you're "detail-oriented" or "experienced" — these are table stakes for accounting roles. Instead, focus on what makes your approach to cost accounting unique and valuable.
Example: "Cost Accounting Manager with 8+ years specializing in manufacturing environments. Reduced COGS by $2.7M through variance analysis and process improvements. Expert in ERP implementations and team leadership with proven track record developing junior staff into departmental assets."
Professional Experience
This is where the rubber meets the road. For each role, include:
- Company name, location, and dates (month/year)
- Your title
- 3-6 bullet points highlighting achievements (not just duties)
Start bullets with strong action verbs and focus on results. Compare these examples:
Weak: "Responsible for monthly variance analysis"
Strong: "Conducted monthly variance analysis that identified $345K in recoverable costs, resulting in 4.2% margin improvement"
Include metrics wherever possible — cost reductions, efficiency improvements, accuracy rates, team size managed, budget controlled. Cost Accounting is numbers-driven; your resume should be too.
Education and Certifications
List your degrees in reverse chronological order. For Cost Accounting Managers, relevant certifications can be just as important as formal education. Highlight your:
- CPA, CMA, CGMA or other accounting certifications
- ERP system certifications (SAP, Oracle, etc.)
- Advanced Excel or data analysis training
- Leadership development programs
If you graduated more than 10 years ago, you can omit graduation dates to avoid potential age bias.
Keywords and ATS Tips
Most companies use Applicant Tracking Systems to screen resumes before human eyes see them. To get past these digital gatekeepers:
- Incorporate key terms from the job description
- Use standard accounting terminology (not company-specific acronyms)
- Include specific software you've mastered (SAP, Oracle, Hyperion, etc.)
- Mention methodologies you've implemented (standard costing, activity-based costing)
Industry-specific Terms
Pepper your resume with relevant cost accounting terminology that demonstrates your expertise:
- Variance analysis
- Standard costing
- Activity-based costing
- Cost allocation methodologies
- Absorption costing
- Contribution margin analysis
- BOM (Bill of Materials) costing
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Listing job duties without quantifiable achievements
- Focusing too much on basic accounting skills rather than cost-specific expertise
- Omitting leadership and team management experience
- Not highlighting process improvement initiatives
- Using generic terms like "detail-oriented" instead of demonstrating attention to detail through accomplishments
Before/After Example
Before: "Managed cost accounting department and prepared monthly reports."
After: "Led 6-person cost accounting team that reduced month-end close from 8 to 3 days while implementing new product line costing model that identified 17% margin improvement opportunities."
Remember that your resume isn't just a history of your jobs—it's a marketing document that should position you as the solution to an employer's problems. Make every word count!
Related Resume Examples
Soft skills for your Cost Accounting Manager resume
- Cross-functional communication – able to translate complex financial data into insights non-finance teams can understand and act upon
- Team mentorship – experience guiding junior accountants while maintaining productivity during month-end close periods
- Stakeholder management – skilled at negotiating competing priorities between operations, finance leadership, and production teams
- Process improvement mindset – can identify inefficiencies in existing costing methods without disrupting ongoing operations
- Resilience under pressure – maintains accuracy and attention to detail during tight deadlines and audit periods
- Collaborative problem-solving – works with supply chain and manufacturing teams to resolve cost variances and identify root causes
Hard skills for your Cost Accounting Manager resume
- Advanced cost allocation methodologies (ABC, standard costing, process costing)
- ERP system proficiency – SAP FI/CO and Oracle NetSuite
- Budgeting and variance analysis techniques
- Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP, Power Query)
- Cost-volume-profit (CVP) analysis and break-even modeling
- Production cost forecasting and inventory valuation
- Financial reporting tools (Hyperion, Tableau, Power BI)
- CMA certification (Certified Management Accountant)
- Statistical analysis for cost trend identification