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Cost Accountant in Ottawa, ON

Cost Accountant Job Description

A Cost Accountant is a professional responsible for supporting the analysis and reporting of manufacturing, production, or project costs to ensure financial accuracy and operational efficiency. This role involves assisting with maintaining cost accounting systems, tracking inventory, and performing initial variance analysis to inform key business decisions. Candidates need strong analytical skills, meticulous attention to detail, and a foundational proficiency with accounting software. Typically, 0-3 years of progressive experience in cost accounting or a related accounting role is required. A Bachelor's Degree in Accounting or Finance is essential, with candidates actively pursuing a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation preferred. A foundational understanding of Canadian manufacturing practices and relevant accounting standards is key, along with an eagerness to learn and grow.

Typical cost accountant duties:

Assist with maintaining and updating cost accounting systems (e.g., standard costs for materials, labour, overhead).Support the analysis of actual versus standard costs, helping identify and explain variances.Prepare detailed cost reports on production, inventory, and profitability.Assist with inventory valuation, ensuring accurate costing and reconciliation.Support month-end and year-end close processes for Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) and inventory.Collaborate with operations and supply chain teams to gather cost data.Contribute to budgeting and forecasting activities related to production costs.Ensure compliance with Canadian accounting standards (ASPE/IFRS) for inventory and costing.

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Salary for Cost Accountant in Ottawa, ON
63315 - 90701
Low
63315
The candidate is new to the role or has limited experience and is building necessary skills.
Mid
76883
The candidate has moderate experience in the role, meets most requirements or has equivalent transferrable skills, and may also have relevant certifications.
High
90701
The candidate has extensive experience and advanced skills for the role, and may also have specialized certifications.
Projected salaries for related positions Job title Low Mid High Chief Financial Officer 181151 229140 295219 Director of Accounting 129394 147735 176126 Corporate Controller 129143 156529 182659 Controller 115324 142208 173363 Assistant Controller 90450 109294 127886 Accounting Manager 93716 109545 132660 Senior Accountant – Financial Services 95978 121354 129896 Accountant – Financial Services 82661 90701 101756 Senior Accountant 76631 90953 106530 Accountant 58290 69094 79646 Junior Accountant 50501 56029 60803 Cost Accounting Manager 98239 118841 132158 Senior Cost Accountant 86430 95224 107033 Property Accountant 64069 74621 90450 Director of Financial Reporting 130901 154016 179393 Financial Reporting Manager 115073 138941 160549 Senior Financial Reporting Accountant 93214 109545 116831 Financial Reporting Accountant 72863 86430 95475

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Our starting salary projections come from a rigorous, multistep process so that our numbers accurately reflect the marketplace. They are based on actual compensation for professionals Robert Half has matched with employers across the country and third-party job posting data from Textkernel that we use to independently validate the salary levels. Starting compensation—pay for someone new to a role—can vary significantly based on a candidate’s skills, experience and certifications, as well as other factors including industry, company size and revenue, and demand for the role. To reflect this variability, we report our salary data in three levels: low, mid and high.