Table 1Transition record

accounting analysttocost analyst

A accounting analyst already meets 39% of what the cost analyst role asks for. The move turns on 7 required skills not yet in the profile.

From accounting analyst

39%

Overlap1

To cost analyst

11 Skills carried over

7 Required, not held

58.5 Difficulty2

adjacent 0–30

moderate 30–55

substantial 55–75

career change 75–100

this move, 58.5

This move: 58.5 of 100 · substantial

1 Share of the cost analyst role’s weighted skill requirement already met by the accounting analyst 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 11 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 accounting analyst background worth leading with.

Skill the target role also needs Area

already held explain accounting records management skills
already held liquidity management business, administration and law
already held evaluate budgets management skills
already held financial department processes business, administration and law
already held prepare financial statements information skills
already held create a financial report information skills

All 11 carried skills, including the 6 the cost analyst role treats as required.

Table 3

Table 3 · What you would need to learn

The 22 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 4 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 synthesise financial information required

optional, not held analyse transportation costs optional
optional, not held calculate production costs optional
optional, not held execute analytical mathematical calculations optional
optional, not held manage payroll reports optional

02 business, administration and law 2 required, 1 supplementary

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

optional, not held financial forecasting optional

03 management skills 1 required, 7 supplementary

required, not held perform cost accounting activities required

optional, not held manage inventory optional
optional, not held support development of annual budget 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 exert expenditure control optional
optional, not held manage budgets optional

04 communication, collaboration and creativity 3 supplementary

optional, not held advise on tax planning optional
optional, not held disseminate information on tax legislation 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 11 skills that carry over

Skill Type

already held evaluate budgets skill
already held financial department processes knowledge
already held identify process improvements skill
already held interpret financial statements skill
already held liquidity management knowledge
already held provide cost benefit analysis reports skill
already held analyse financial performance of a company skill
already held analyse financial risk skill
already held create a financial report skill
already held explain accounting records skill
already held prepare financial statements skill

15 supplementary skills, helpful but not required

Skill to acquire Tier

optional, not held manage inventory optional
optional, not held support development of annual budget optional
optional, not held advise on tax planning optional
optional, not held analyse transportation costs optional
optional, not held calculate production costs optional
optional, not held carry out tendering optional
optional, not held create a financial plan optional
optional, not held disseminate information on tax legislation optional
optional, not held enforce financial policies optional
optional, not held execute analytical mathematical calculations optional
optional, not held exert expenditure control optional
optional, not held financial forecasting optional
optional, not held manage budgets optional
optional, not held manage payroll reports optional
optional, not held negotiate supplier arrangements optional

28 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 analyse business processes skill
not needed by the target role check accounting records skill
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 ensure compliance with disclosure criteria of accounting information skill
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 forecast account metrics skill
not needed by the target role global standards for sustainability reporting knowledge
not needed by the target role identify if a company is a going concern skill
not needed by the target role international financial reporting standards knowledge
not needed by the target role investment analysis knowledge
not needed by the target role liaise with shareholders skill
not needed by the target role make strategic business decisions skill
not needed by the target role manage accounts skill
not needed by the target role monitor financial accounts skill
not needed by the target role national generally accepted accounting principles knowledge
not needed by the target role perform forensic accounting skill
not needed by the target role perform stock valuation skill
not needed by the target role public offering knowledge
not needed by the target role review investment portfolios skill
not needed by the target role stock market knowledge
not needed by the target role supervise accounting operations skill
not needed by the target role treasury management system knowledge

3 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
optional, not held financial forecasting optional

Index

Other moves recorded from accounting analyst

Full index of moves from accounting analyst

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.