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Associate Cost Accountant Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

Pharmacy First Health

Associate Accountant

Washington, DC · On-site

$50 - $70/hr

Our goal is to deliver scalable, high-quality care while improving access, outcomes, and cost ... Role Overview The Associate Accountant will support the day‑to‑day accounting function at ...

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Addison Group

Project Accountant

Lorton, VA · On-site

$85K - $90K/yr

This position will be responsible for project billing, accounts receivable, collections, job cost ... Associate's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field strongly preferred. * At least four ...

Addison Group

Project Accountant

Lorton, VA · On-site

$85K - $90K/yr

This position will be responsible for project billing, accounts receivable, collections, job cost ... Associate's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field strongly preferred. * At least four ...

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Associate Cost Accountant information

What is an associate cost accountant?

Associate Cost Accountants are entry-level professionals who assist in tracking, analyzing, and controlling costs within a company. They help gather data on production costs, prepare cost reports, and support senior accountants with budgeting and cost analysis tasks. Their work helps organizations understand where money is being spent, identify cost-saving opportunities, and ensure accurate financial reporting. Typically, they work under supervision and may also assist in audits or compliance tasks related to cost accounting.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an associate cost accountant, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Associate Cost Accountant, you need a solid understanding of accounting principles, cost analysis, and financial reporting, typically supported by a bachelor's degree in accounting or finance. Familiarity with ERP systems like SAP or Oracle, advanced Excel skills, and, in some cases, a CMA certification are valuable. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication help you interpret data and collaborate with cross-functional teams. These skills ensure accurate cost tracking, informed financial decisions, and support for organizational profitability.

What are some common challenges faced by an associate cost accountant, and how can they be addressed?

Associate Cost Accountants often encounter challenges such as reconciling discrepancies between actual and standard costs, managing large volumes of transactional data, and meeting tight monthly or quarterly deadlines. These challenges can be addressed by developing strong attention to detail, leveraging accounting software to automate repetitive tasks, and maintaining clear communication with other departments like operations and procurement. Proactively seeking feedback and clarification from senior accountants can also help in understanding complex costing issues and improving accuracy.

What is the difference between Associate Cost Accountant vs Cost Analyst?

AspectAssociate Cost AccountantCost Analyst
Required CredentialsAssociate degree in accounting or finance; some roles may require certifications like CMABachelor's degree in finance, accounting, or related field; CMA or CPA preferred
Work EnvironmentCorporate finance departments, manufacturing firms, or accounting firmsFinancial services, manufacturing, or consulting firms
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in industries focusing on cost control and financial reportingUsed for analyzing costs, budgeting, and financial planning

The Associate Cost Accountant primarily focuses on cost recording, data entry, and supporting cost analysis, often working under supervision. In contrast, a Cost Analyst performs detailed cost analysis, budgeting, and financial forecasting to inform strategic decisions. While both roles require similar educational backgrounds and are found in similar industries, the Cost Analyst typically has more responsibility for interpreting data and providing insights.

Is associate cost accountant a stressful job?

An associate cost accountant role involves analyzing and managing company costs, which can be demanding during busy periods such as month-end or audit times. The job requires attention to detail and accuracy, but overall stress levels depend on workload, deadlines, and workplace environment.

What is the salary of an associate cost accountant?

The average salary of an associate cost accountant typically ranges from $50,000 to $65,000 per year, depending on experience, location, and industry. Entry-level positions may start lower, while those with certifications or specialized skills can earn higher salaries.

What are the most commonly searched types of Cost Accountant jobs in Washington?

The most popular types of Cost Accountant jobs in Washington are:

What cities in Washington are hiring for Associate Cost Accountant jobs?

Cities in Washington with the most Associate Cost Accountant job openings:

Associate Cost Accountant jobs near you

Cost Principles (2 CFR Part 200) Accountant

The Consortium, Inc.

Washington, DC • On-site

$45/hr

Full-time

Re-posted 16 days ago

Job description

This position performs highly responsible and technical accounts payable and grant accounting work requiring precision, judgment, and familiarity with federal cost principles (2 CFR Part 200). The incumbent ensures that all vendor payments, reimbursements, and cost allocations are properly coded, authorized, and documented for a portfolio of 18+ concurrent grants across federal, state, and private funding sources.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
1. Accounts Payable and Transaction Processing
- Review, verify, and process invoices, check requests, and expense reimbursements for accuracy and completeness.
- Match purchase orders, contracts, and receiving documentation to ensure compliance with procurement policies and grant terms.
- Enter transactions into the financial system with correct grant, cost center, object code, and funding source assignments.
- Ensure payments are properly authorized and released within the prescribed timelines.
- Reconcile vendor statements and resolve discrepancies in coordination with Procurement and Finance teams.
2. Multi-Grant Accounting and Cost Allocation
- Apply established cost allocation plans and indirect cost rates to ensure proper distribution of shared expenses (e.g., rent, utilities, communications, supplies) across 18+ grants.
- Track and maintain grant codes, project IDs, and cost categories for each funding source to ensure accurate financial reporting.
- Support monthly grant expenditure reconciliations between AP subledger, general ledger, and grant budgets.
- Assist in preparing and posting month-end accruals and reclassifications to align expenses with the correct funding periods.
- Maintain accurate audit trails for all allocated expenses and shared costs.
3. Compliance and Documentation
- Ensure all expenses meet allowability, allocability, and reasonableness standards under 2 CFR 200 Subpart E and funder-specific terms.
- Verify that vendor documentation, invoices, and payment requests comply with internal procurement thresholds and approval hierarchies.
- Maintain organized electronic and physical files to support audits, financial monitoring, and subrecipient reviews.
- Identify and flag unallowable or questionable expenses for management review.
- Support compliance testing and Single Audit documentation requests.
4. Internal Controls and Collaboration:
- Uphold segregation of duties by maintaining independence between invoice initiation, review, and approval functions.
- Communicate regularly with Program, Finance, and Operations teams to resolve coding or funding issues.
- Participate in continuous improvement efforts to streamline invoice routing, coding accuracy, and cost allocation efficiency.
- Support system transitions, updates, and workflow improvements as directed.
Qualifications
Education & Experience
- Associate or Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration.
- 3-5 years of experience in accounts payable and grants accounting; experience managing multi-grant portfolios required.
- Working knowledge of Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200), GAAP, and federal procurement standards.
- Experience with complex cost allocation plans and indirect cost applications.
- Proficiency in Excel (pivot tables, lookups) and ERP systems (Oracle, NetSuite, Workday, or Sage Intacct).
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Exceptional attention to detail and analytical ability.
- Ability to interpret financial and contractual language across multiple grants.
- Strong organizational and time-management skills to meet overlapping deadlines.
- Effective communication with finance, program, and operations teams.
Can be fully remote, however if the contractor were to be converted to FTE they would have to be able to come into the Washington D.C. office
For consideration, please submit your resume as a MS Word attachment to careers@consortiuminc.com
The Consortium
"Combining Talent with Technology"
www.consortiuminc.com

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