Cost and Management Accounting Career: Job Profiles, Placements, Salary, Top Recruiters, Abroad

Updated on Nov 13, 2024 05:33 IST
Chanchal Aggarwal

Chanchal AggarwalSenior Executive Content

Cost and Management Accounting are two closely connected areas of accounting, that are dedicated to giving businesses the data and insights they need to make wise decisions and efficiently manage their financial resources.

At the entry-level, Cost and Management Accounting candidates can work as Cost Accountant Trainee, Junior Management Accountant and Financial Analyst, and earn an average salary ranging from INR 4 to 5 lakh. However, the positions at the mid-senior level can be Cost Accountant, Management Accountant, Controller, with pay ranging from INR 6 to 10 lakh.  At the senior level, they can earn a salary ranging from INR 10 to 15 lakh at job profiles like Cost Accounting Manager, Chief Financial Officer, etc.

Also Read: Cost and Management Accounting Course Overview

Average Salary Based On Job Position

The average salary for various job positions after Cost and Management Accounting depends on several variables, including market growth and industry trends. The compensation given to entry-level employees or newcomers ranges between INR 4- 6 LPA.

The table below provides the average salary ranges for several employment positions for Cost and Management Accounting graduates:

Job Profile Average Salary (INR)
Cost Accountant Trainee INR 3 LPA - 5 LPA
Junior Management Accountant INR 3.5 LPA - 6 LPA
Financial Analyst INR 4 LPA - INR 7 LPA
Cost Accountant INR 4.5 LPA -INR 8 LPA
Management Accountant INR 5 LPA- INR 10 LPA
Senior Financial Analyst INR 6 LPA - INR 12 LPA
Controller INR 8 LPA - INR 15 LPA
Cost Accounting Manager INR 10 LPA -INR 18 LPA
Chief Financial Officer  INR 20 LPA and above

NoteThe salary data has been sourced from external links.

Top Careers in Cost and Management Accounting

A satisfying career in cost and management accounting offers many opportunities for advancement and development. Cost and management accountants play a vital role in helping businesses optimise operational efficiency, control costs, and make wise financial decisions. They assist with budget creation, cost analysis, financial data analysis, and strategy planning.

Candidates can work in either of the below-mentioned job profiles:

Job Profile Description Average Salary (in INR)
Cost Accountant Calculate and manage production costs, identify cost-saving opportunities. INR 4.5-INR 8 LPA
Management Accountant Provide financial information and analysis for decision-making and strategic planning. INR 3-INR 5 LPA
Financial Analyst Analyze financial data, prepare reports, and support investment decisions and financial planning. INR 5-INR 8.5 LPA
Controller Oversee financial activities, manage accounting departments, and ensure financial compliance. INR 4.5 -INR 5.6 LPA
Chief Financial Officer Lead financial strategy, reporting, and financial health of the organisation. INR 5.6-INR 7.5 LPA

Also Read: Accounting Course Details

Specialisation Wise Salary for Cost and Management Accounting Graduates in India

The salary offered to Cost and Management Accounting graduates also varies as per the specialisation chosen during graduation. The salaries shared below reflect not only the specialisation, but also other factors such as company size, experience, industry, and location.

Specialisation Entry-level CTC Mid-level CTC Senior-level CTC
Cost/Management Accounting INR 3-4 LPA INR 5-7 LPA INR 8-10 LPA
Financial Analysis and Planning INR 3-6 LPA INR 7- 10 LPA INR 10-12 LPA
Risk Management INR 4-5 LPA INR 6- 8 LPA INR 9-11 LPA
Treasure Management INR 3.5-6.5 LPA INR 7- 8 LPA INR 9.5-11 LPA
Taxation INR 4-5 LPA INR 6-7 LPA INR 8-14 LPA
Management Consulting INR 3-6 LPA INR 6.5-10 LPA INR 11-12.5 LPA

NoteThe salary data has been sourced from external links.

Top Recruiters for Cost and Management Accounting 

Cost and Management Accounting people can work in various settings, including health clinics, hospitals, NGOs, schools, and social service agencies. Students can see the table below to know the industries where graduates can find employment.

Employment Areas for Cost and Management Accounting Graduates
Healthcare  Manufacturing
Retail Non-Government Organisations
Entertainment -----

The various recruiters based on specialisations hire cost and management accounting graduates through placement drive conducted in top colleges. The various recruiters based on these specialisations includes the following:

Healthcare Recruiters
Apollo  Fortis Medanta
Piramal Sun Pharma Cipla
Retail Recruiters
Reliance Croma D Mart
Spencer V Mart ---
NGO Recruiters
Butterfly HelpAge CRY
Nanhi Kali Goonj Care India
Manufacturing Recruiters
Hindustan Unilever Tata Motors Bajaj Auto
Godrej Mahindra and Mahindra ---
Private Organisations

Accenture

Cognizant

Infosys

IBM India

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)

Wipro

How to Get a Job After Cost and Management Accounting?

After receiving a Cost and Management Accounting degree, finding employment requires a combination of planning, networking, job hunting, and application. Interested candidates can see the points below to know how they can grab a job after the programme.

Complete Programme: Ensure you have completed and passed the required examinations.

Internships: Students can do internships. Internships or field placements are essential in MSW programmes. Utilise these chances to pick up real-world experience in your chosen area of social work. 

Specialisations: Choose the social work role and environment in which you want to work. This will enable you to narrow down the search for a job and personalise your application materials.
Networking: In the discipline of social work, networking is essential. Attend social work events, conferences, and workshops. Meet more people to increase your chances of finding a job.

Top Indian Cities to Get Lucrative Jobs After Cost and Management Accounting

Most top-tier cities offer vibrant job markets for Cost and Management graduates. As MSW jobs in India include a wide range of industries and provide extensive learning opportunities, students can find employment and career progression in cities like:

City Job Opportunities Average Annual Salary (in INR)
Delhi Retail, Government organisations, NGOs, Healthcare institutions, International Agencies INR 4 lakh- INR 6 lakh
Mumbai Entertainment, NGOs, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Private Organisations INR 5 lakh - INR 6 lakh
Pune Mental health services, Retail, Educational Institutions INR 3.5 lakh- INR 9 lakh
Hyderabad Healthcare, NGOs, and Private Organisations INR 4.5 lakh- INR 8 lakh
Bangalore IT sector, Healthcare, Manufacturing, NGOs. INR 3.5 lakh- INR 7 lakh
Chennai Education, Healthcare, NGOs, Child welfare and development. INR 2.5 lakh- INR 8 lakh
Chandigarh Government Agencies, Healthcare, and NGOs. INR 2.5 lakh- INR 4.5 lakh
Kolkata Healthcare, Education, and NGOs INR 2.5 lakh- INR 9 lakh
Ahmedabad Retail, Government Agencies and social service agencies. INR 3.5 lakh- INR 6.5 lakh
Jaipur Healthcare, Child welfare, and community development organisations. INR 6.5 lakh- INR 8.5 lakh

Cost and Accounting Salary Abroad

Cost and Accounting graduates can seek exciting job opportunities in popular job destinations such as UKUSA, CanadaAustralia, Germany, New Zealand. etc. The salary depends on various factors such as cost of living, location of the country, specialisation, years of experience, industry, etc. The salary ranges of the following countries are given in the table below:

Country Salary Offered
USA
  • Entry-Level (0-2 years of experience): $40,000 to $55,000 annually.
  • Mid-Level (3-5 years of experience): $55,000 to $70,000 annually.
  • Senior-Level (10+ years of experience): $70,000 to $90,000 yearly.
United Kingdom
  • Entry-Level (0-2 years of experience): £25,000 to £35,000 annually.
  • Mid-Level (3-5 years of experience): £35,000 to £45,000 annually.
  • Senior-Level (10+ years of experience): £45,000 to £60,000 or more annually.
Canada
  • Entry-Level (0-2 years of experience): CAD 45,000 to CAD 60,000 annually.
  • Mid-Level (3-5 years of experience): CAD 60,000 to CAD 75,000 annually.
  • Senior-Level (10+ years of experience): CAD 75,000 to CAD 90,000 annually.
 
Germany
 
  • Entry-Level (0-2 years of experience): €35,000 to €45,000 annually.
  • Mid-Level (3-5 years of experience): €45,000 to €55,000 annually.
  • Senior-Level (10+ years of experience): €55,000 to €70,000 or more per year.
Australia
  • Entry-Level (0-2 years of experience): AUD 50,000 to AUD 60,000 annually.
  • Mid-Level (3-5 years of experience): AUD 60,000 to AUD 75,000 annually.
  • Senior-Level (10+ years of experience): AUD 75,000 to AUD 90,000 or more annually.

Disclaimer: The above salary data has been obtained from external sites.

Cost and Management Accounting Career FAQs

Q. Who is a Cost Accountant?

A. A Cost Accountant, also known as a financial specialist, is responsible for ascertaining the true cost of manufacturing or supplying a service. Among a cost accountant's main duties are calculating earnings and losses, creating a profitable analysis, and creating a budget.  A cost accountant estimates and determines the base costs for production, shipping, and administration. 

Q. What are the responsibilities of Cost and Management Accounant?

A. Cost and management accountants play an important role in supporting firms in making sound financial decisions, managing expenses, and improving operational efficiency. They examine financial data, develop budgets, conduct cost analyses, and assist with strategic planning. It ensures maximum profit for the organisations and the manufacturers.

Q. What are the job profiles after Cost and Management Accounting?

A. Students pursuing Cost and Management Accounting as a career have a varied list of careers to choose from such as:

  • Accounting and Auditing Clerk

  • Chief Accounting Officer

  • Audit Manager

  • Forensic Accountant

  • Investment Analyst

  • Personal Finance Consultant

  • Investment Banker

  • Economic Officer

  • Banking Manager

  • Researcher

Q. What are the average salaries after Cost and Management Accounting?

A. Some of the job profiles and average annual salaries after Cost and Management Accounting course are:

Cost and Management Accounting Jobs

Average Salary per annum (in Rs)

Accounting and Auditing Clerk

2 to 2.5 Lakh

Chief Accounting Officer

3.5 Lakh

Audit Manager

5 Lakh

Forensic Accountant

4.5 Lakh

Investment Analyst

2.50 to 2.85 Lakh

Personal Finance Consultant

2.85 to 3.25 Lakh

Investment Banker

2.92 to 3.5 Lakh

Economic Officer

5.82 to 6.15 Lakh

Banking Manager

4 to 8 Lakh

Economist

3 to 7 Lakh

Q. What are the benefits of a career in Cost Accounting?

A. Cost accounting is a significant and advantageous component of practically every sector and industry, those who want to pursue it as a career have a wide range of options for where they might work.

Across all industries, there is a need for cost accountants since businesses of all shapes and sizes need experts in cost control, financial data analysis, and decision-making. The need for cost accounting expertise creates career and job security. There are many other job paths available to cost accountants, such as positions in financial planning, management accounting, cost analysis, and strategic decision-making. 

Q. What is the difference between Advanced and General ICMAI courses?

A. Offering a wide selection of courses, ICMAI is the leading platform for careers related to cost and management accounting in India. ICMAI offers Foundation, Intermediate, and Final as general courses. The professional path for cost and management accounting is outlined in these courses for the students.

Leading companies in the field of cost and management accounting serve as the basis for ICMAI's advanced course offerings. In terms of business applications and analytics software, SAP is a world leader. Students who complete the SAP FICO Power User Course will have a fundamental understanding of SAP and its procedures related to finance and management accounting. The remaining advanced courses aid students in learning about data analytics and management.

Q. Which are the top colleges for Cost Accountants?

A. Some of the top colleges for cost accountants course are:

College/ Institute Name

Course

ICMAI- Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of India

ICMAI Foundation

ICMAI- Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of India

ICMAI Intermediate

ICMAI- Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of India

ICMAI Final

ICMAI- Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of India

SAP FICO Power User Course

ICMAI- Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of India

Certification Course on Data Analytics

ICMAI- Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of India

Executive Diploma in Business Valuation

ICMAI- Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of India

Executive Diploma in Cost and Management Accounting for Engineers

LPU- Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar

B.Com

Shivaji University, Kolhapur

B.Com, M.Com

IGNOU- Indira Gandhi National Open University, Delhi

B.Com, M.Com

Sonarpur Mahavidyalaya, Kolkata

B.Com (Hons)

RIMT University, Punjab

B.Com (Hons)

RGIPT- Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology, Uttar Pradesh

PhD

IIT- Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi

PhD

Fore School of Management, Delhi

PhD

Q. What is the scope of Cost Accountancy?

A. Cost Accountants play a wide range of tasks in their careers, including finance management, analysis, company development, and more. This makes them highly visible in the field. Individuals who effectively pursue any of these responsibilities and qualities eventually become cost accountants. Other alternatives for cost accountants include becoming a recognised author of books and other resources about cost accounting, or pursuing a career in teaching.

Popular Cost & Management Accounting Colleges in India

Following are the most popular Cost & Management Accounting Colleges in India. Learn more about these Cost & Management Accounting colleges (Courses, Reviews, Answers & more) by downloading the Brochure.
2.7 L
3.44 LPA

#22 The Week

#30 The Week

3 LPA

#41 The Week

1 Course
3.68 LPA

#47 The Week

4.47 L - 6.4 L
4.0

#48 The Week

Cost & Management Accounting Applications open. Apply Now

2.4 L
2.25 LPA

#196 India Today

Popular Private Cost & Management Accounting Colleges in India

4.47 L - 6.4 L
4.0

#48 The Week

Cost & Management Accounting Applications open. Apply Now

1 Course
5.31 L
4.0

Cost & Management Accounting Applications open. Apply Now

1 Course
6 L
4 LPA

Cost & Management Accounting Applications open. Apply Now

1 Course
6 L
4 LPA

Cost & Management Accounting Applications open. Apply Now

2.4 L
2.25 LPA

#196 India Today

2.7 L
3.44 LPA

#22 The Week

Most Popular Courses

Following are the most popular Cost & Management Accounting courses, based on alumni reviews. Explore these reviews to choose the best course in Cost & Management Accounting.

Popular Cost & Management Accounting UG Courses

Following are the most popular Cost & Management Accounting UG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these UG Courses by clicking the links below.

UG Courses

Popular Cost & Management Accounting PG Courses

Following are the most popular Cost & Management Accounting PG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these PG Courses by clicking the links below.

PG Courses

Popular Exams

Following are the top exams for Cost & Management Accounting. Students interested in pursuing a career on Cost & Management Accounting, generally take these important exams.You can also download the exam guide to get more insights.

11 Jan ' 25

CA Inter Jan 2025 Group I Paper I

13 Jan ' 25

CA Inter Jan 2025 Group I Paper II

26 Dec ' 24

CA Final Nov 2024 Result

13 Nov ' 24

CA Final November 2024 Group II Paper III

20 Dec ' 24

CA Foundation Mock Test - Series 1 Paper 1

21 Dec ' 24

CA Foundation Mock Test - Series 1 Paper 2

Jun '24

CT SET 2024 Counselling Start

TENTATIVE

Jun '24

CT SET 2024 Result

TENTATIVE
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