Search jobs now Find the right job type for you Explore how we help job seekers Contract talent Permanent talent Learn how we work with you Executive search Finance and Accounting Technology Marketing and Creative Legal Administrative and Customer Support Technology Risk, Audit and Compliance Finance and Accounting Digital, Marketing and Customer Experience Legal Operations Human Resources 2026 Salary Guide Demand for Skilled Talent Report Building Future-Forward Tech Teams Job Market Outlook Press Room Salary and hiring trends Adaptive working Competitive advantage Work/life balance Inclusion Browse jobs Find your next hire Our locations

Cost Accountant in Columbia, MO

Cost Accountant Job Description

Cost accountants help organizations manage and analyze the financial impact of production, operations and inventory. These professionals play a key role in budgeting, cost control and profitability analysis, supporting strategic decision making across manufacturing and service environments.

Typical cost accountant duties:

Preparing and analyzing cost reports related to materials, labor and overheadMonitoring inventory valuation and reconciling cost discrepanciesAssisting with budgeting and forecasting based on cost trends and production dataCollaborating with operations and finance teams to improve cost efficiencyConducting variance analysis and identifying cost-saving opportunitiesSupporting month- and year-end close processes with accurate cost entriesMaintaining cost accounting systems and ensuring data integrityPreparing reports for management to support pricing and profitability decisionsStaying current on cost accounting standards, industry trends and best practices

Looking for a cost accountant or a cost accountant job?

Submit your resume or request talent now and our expert recruiters will be with you shortly.Robert Half can assist you with your cost accountant staffing needs.
Salary for Cost Accountant in Columbia, MO
60629 - 78585
Low
60629
The candidate is new to the role or has limited experience and is building necessary skills.
Mid
66755
The candidate has moderate experience in the role, meets most requirements or has equivalent transferable skills, and may also have relevant certifications.
High
78585
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 165198 227939 271879 Corporate Controller 128440 156325 180196 Divisional Controller 100344 136679 148931 Assistant Controller 79430 103513 119990 Plant Controller 93795 105625 114920 Director of Financial Reporting 109005 135834 156114 Senior Financial Reporting Accountant 76684 85134 94429 Financial Reporting Manager 94006 114498 134566 Financial Reporting Accountant 62741 72036 83866 Director of Accounting 106893 139425 154846 Cost Accounting Manager 83021 96964 107949 Senior Cost Accountant 70558 81331 89993 Accounting Manager 81754 95485 107738 Senior Accountant 67600 80064 92105 Staff Accountant 51545 62319 74149 Entry-Level Staff Accountant 46264 52390 58305 Senior Accountant – Financial Services 71825 86824 96541 Accountant – Financial Services 61263 75416 87246 Entry-Level Accountant – Financial Services 51545 63375 73726 Forensic Accountant 73304 92739 104569 Property Accountant 59361 68023 79641 Procurement Manager 70980 96964 109216 Procurement Specialist 40349 51545 62953 Accounting Specialist 38025 42673 46264

Explore more salaries

Learn what sets our data apart

Looking to hire? Start here.

Access the skilled permanent and contract talent you need—from support roles to C-suite—with precision matching powered by Robert Half recruiters leveraging their experience combined together with our industry-leading AI technology. Hire talent

More to explore

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.