Table 1Transition record

accountanttocost analyst

A accountant already meets 44% of what the cost analyst role asks for. The move turns on 8 required skills not yet in the profile.

From accountant

44%

Overlap1

To cost analyst

16 Skills carried over

8 Required, not held

54.3 Difficulty2

adjacent 0–30

moderate 30–55

substantial 55–75

career change 75–100

this move, 54.3

This move: 54.3 of 100 · moderate

1 Share of the cost analyst role’s weighted skill requirement already met by the accountant profile. Required skills count in full, supplementary skills at 0.35. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs. 2 Combines what is missing with how specialised it is, so a gap of general skills scores easier than the same number of narrow ones.

Table 2

Table 2 · What you already bring

Of the 16 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A cost analyst role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a accountant background worth leading with.

Skill the target role also needs Area

already held exert expenditure control management skills
already held explain accounting records management skills
already held liquidity management business, administration and law
already held perform cost accounting activities management skills
already held calculate production costs information skills
already held manage payroll reports information skills

All 16 carried skills, including the 5 the cost analyst role treats as required.

Table 3

Table 3 · What you would need to learn

The 17 missing skills fall into 4 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered below in the order worth working in: the areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the supplementary ones.

Skill to acquire Tier

01 information skills 5 required, 4 supplementary

required, not held assess financial viability required
required, not held control of expenses required
required, not held prepare cost-plus pricing models required
required, not held provide cost benefit analysis reports required
required, not held synthesise financial information required

optional, not held create a financial report optional
optional, not held analyse financial risk optional
optional, not held analyse transportation costs optional
optional, not held execute analytical mathematical calculations optional

02 business, administration and law 2 required

required, not held company policies required
required, not held cost management required

03 management skills 1 required, 3 supplementary

required, not held identify process improvements required

optional, not held carry out tendering optional
optional, not held create a financial plan optional
optional, not held enforce financial policies optional

04 communication, collaboration and creativity 2 supplementary

optional, not held advise on tax planning optional
optional, not held negotiate supplier arrangements optional

Table 4

Table 4 · Where to start

The 3 entries a cost analyst role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.

Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.

Appendix

Appendix · The rest of the record

All 16 skills that carry over

Skill Type

already held evaluate budgets skill
already held financial department processes knowledge
already held interpret financial statements skill
already held liquidity management knowledge
already held perform cost accounting activities skill
already held analyse financial performance of a company skill
already held calculate production costs skill
already held disseminate information on tax legislation skill
already held exert expenditure control skill
already held explain accounting records skill
already held financial forecasting knowledge
already held manage budgets skill
already held manage inventory skill
already held manage payroll reports skill
already held prepare financial statements skill
already held support development of annual budget skill

9 supplementary skills, helpful but not required

Skill to acquire Tier

optional, not held create a financial report optional
optional, not held advise on tax planning optional
optional, not held analyse financial risk optional
optional, not held analyse transportation costs optional
optional, not held carry out tendering optional
optional, not held create a financial plan optional
optional, not held enforce financial policies optional
optional, not held execute analytical mathematical calculations optional
optional, not held negotiate supplier arrangements optional

41 held skills the cost analyst role does not ask for

Skill Type

not needed by the target role accounting department processes knowledge
not needed by the target role accounting entries knowledge
not needed by the target role accounting techniques knowledge
not needed by the target role advise on financial matters skill
not needed by the target role advise on risk management skill
not needed by the target role attach accounting certificates to accounting transactions skill
not needed by the target role bookkeeping regulations knowledge
not needed by the target role calculate tax skill
not needed by the target role check accounting records skill
not needed by the target role check the production schedule skill
not needed by the target role commercial law knowledge
not needed by the target role conduct financial audits skill
not needed by the target role consult with motion picture producer skill
not needed by the target role consult with production director skill
not needed by the target role depreciation knowledge
not needed by the target role draft accounting procedures skill
not needed by the target role ensure compliance with accounting conventions skill
not needed by the target role film production process knowledge
not needed by the target role financial statements knowledge
not needed by the target role follow the statutory obligations skill
not needed by the target role fraud detection knowledge
not needed by the target role handle financial transactions skill
not needed by the target role identify accounting errors skill
not needed by the target role insolvency law knowledge
not needed by the target role international financial reporting standards knowledge
not needed by the target role keep track of expenses skill
not needed by the target role liaise with auditors skill
not needed by the target role manage accounts skill
not needed by the target role manage corporate bank accounts skill
not needed by the target role manage revenue skill
not needed by the target role monitor after sales records skill
not needed by the target role national generally accepted accounting principles knowledge
not needed by the target role perform balance sheet operations skill
not needed by the target role perform dunning activities skill
not needed by the target role perform risk analysis skill
not needed by the target role prepare financial auditing reports skill
not needed by the target role prepare tax returns forms skill
not needed by the target role prepare trial accounting balances skill
not needed by the target role resolve difficult account allocation cases skill
not needed by the target role statistics knowledge

1 further entry not listed here

2 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice

Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.

Skill to acquire Tier

required, not held company policies required
required, not held cost management required

Index

Other moves recorded from accountant

Full index of moves from accountant

Note

How this record was compiled

Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.