[AScott89]

I’ve got a phone interview for a cost accountant position tomorrow. I previously applied with the company and got turned down but they pulled my resume and are considering me for the cost accountant position. Unfortunately, the job isn’t posted so I don’t quite know what it would entail. Are there any cost accountants or people who have worked in cost accounting for a manufacturer and can give me an idea of what I might be doing if I got the job? I want to be able to ask some intelligent questions tomorrow.

BEC-65
AUD-72(8 '14); 68(11 '14)
FAR-
REG-

[Anonymous]

I've done a bit in the healthcare sector, but in general I'd expect the following in manufacturing:

Budgets

Projections

Variance analysis

Cost of Good Manufactured

WIP

Maybe some facility-level financial accounting

[AScott89]

Thanks billbrasskey

BEC-65
AUD-72(8 '14); 68(11 '14)
FAR-
REG-

[mla1169]

You will be working with people at every level of the company from management to production. At month end you will analyze certain products or product lines gross margin. Consider yourself a private investigator because this is how every conversation will go:

“Bill, what materials did you use to bake that cake?”

“Eggs”

“Really, doesn't a cake need oil, flour, sugar, cocoa and cream too”

“Oh yeah, those too”

You'll be a great cost account the more you keep your ear to the ground, Nobody is going to offer up that Suzy got a raise and she'll have more labor cost. But you may overhear suzy saying she had a great review! That's when you ask your controller if there are any changes to labor you need to know about.

You'll probably also do a lot of journal entries to cogs and wip depending on how the software processes job costs. Its a matter of analysis. If product x usually has a margin of 50% and you ERP says this month its 75% you've got digging to do my friend!

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[koz124]

I was for 2 years. It's pretty much what was stated above. WIP, COGS entires, analyzing margins, evaluating jobs, verifying they were billed out correctly..blah blah blah. It can be a good gateway job because it gives you perspective.

Studying with Wiley Review, Wiley Test Bank, Ninja Audio.
Retakes with Ninja MCQ only...awesome!
Far - 1/28 72, 7/22 79
Aud - 2/28 70, 8/14 83
Bec - 4/10 80
Reg - 5/30 64, 7/2 82

[AScott89]

What are you doing now koz124? Does anyone know what kind of positions in public a cost accountant could transition into?

BEC-65
AUD-72(8 '14); 68(11 '14)
FAR-
REG-

[koz124]

I'm a Finance Manager now, but it transitioned into a general accountant position which then lead to this position. However, when we hired my replacement, it was big on the general manager's list that they have cost accounting knowledge. That's why I said it could be a good transition job. However, everybody has his/her own preferences on what experience would be best suited for a position. I read in another discussion that you wanted to be in public not industry. I do not know if this will benefit you in that respect. However, if this is for a big manufacturing company, it should be beneficial in moving you up the ladder if you decide you like industry.

Studying with Wiley Review, Wiley Test Bank, Ninja Audio.
Retakes with Ninja MCQ only...awesome!
Far - 1/28 72, 7/22 79
Aud - 2/28 70, 8/14 83
Bec - 4/10 80
Reg - 5/30 64, 7/2 82

[How many letters do you need]

Agreed with most. A lot of variance analysis, review of BOM/Routings, cycle count audits, analysis of doubtful inventory, stuff like that. There is a lot of communication with production and engineering so although it's definitely detailed work at times it's not a “stuck in the dark corner” type of accounting role, especially if the plant is on site. If there isn't a strong finance/FP&A function you could get pulled in for some project type work too.

MBA,CMA,CPA, CFF?, ABV?

[AScott89]

If they ask me what my salary requirements would be what should I say? I don't want to give a number that's too low or too high. By the Robert Half Salary calculator, it says around $38k to $49k. That's for a cost accountant with less than 1 yr experience in a company that averages over $250M in revenue. Should I say maybe around $35K or ask them what would they offer me if hired?

BEC-65
AUD-72(8 '14); 68(11 '14)
FAR-
REG-

[TNCPA16]

Who are you interviewing with? Is it HR or the hiring manager? If it's the hiring manager, salary likely won't come up. I would be focusing my prep time on being prepared to answer typical interview questions. If it's with HR, there's a good chance it will be asked. If it does, I'd say something really vague and not throw any numbers out there. Maybe something like: “I'm more focused on finding a position that is a good fit for both me and the company versus achieving a specific salary.” You don't want to low ball yourself or come off as desperate for a job.

[AScott89]

Thankfully they didn't ask me that today. But I just got off the phone with the HR lady and she asked me to come for an in-person interview next Thursday morning. Yes!

BEC-65
AUD-72(8 '14); 68(11 '14)
FAR-
REG-

[How many letters do you need]

Rule of thumb is you don't discuss salary until you have to. Ideally you want them to make you an offer. In my experience when companies don't ask your salary expectations right away it's a good thing. Generally those companies are not worried about salary being an issue and usually pay toward the upper end of the market scale. Note this becomes less likely if the company is a powerhouse like Disney. They just assume salary won't be an issue because they know they can get away with under paying people and people usually don't care because they just want to get the brand on the resume. If it's not a powerhouse though. …I'm thinking salary should be pretty good. Congrats on the face to face and good luck!

MBA,CMA,CPA, CFF?, ABV?

[AScott89]

Thanks guys. I've got my fingers crossed for Thursday. Next week is going to be exciting what with the interview on Thursday and taking AUD on Saturday morning.

BEC-65
AUD-72(8 '14); 68(11 '14)
FAR-
REG-

[Author]

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