Cost Accountant

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc.; Blacksburg (VA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Virginia Tech’s Controller’s Office seeks a Cost Accountant to support the development and oversight of service center rates and ensure costs reflect actual usage of services or products.

The role involves collecting financial data, reviewing rate requests, and preparing data for rate development worksheets. You will produce well-documented analyses to support management decisions and maintain organized electronic records.

Qualifications

• Experience in accounting, auditing, or cost analysis.
• Excel pivot tables and Access queries for data aggregation.
• Strong analytical skills with ability to reconcile financial data.
• Ability to interpret state, federal, and university policies.
• Independent problem solving with sound judgment.
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills.

Responsibilities

• Collect and analyze service center financial data for rate development and monitoring.
• Review interdepartmental service requests and ensure rates are applied.
• Assist staff in gathering data for rate development worksheets.
• Analyze service center costs and recommend rates with documented workpapers.
• Maintain organized records and retention of documentation.
• Support special projects to improve Controller’s Office financial services.

Skills

Excel

Pivot tables

Access

Data analysis

Policy interpretation

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Collaboration

Cost analysis

Education

Accounting degree

Tools

SQL

SAS

Microsoft Access

Job description

Job Description

The Controller’s Office is seeking a Cost Accountant to provide financial and accounting support for the development and oversight of service center rates. This role is responsible for reviewing expenditure and recovery data to ensure service center activities reflect actual costs and usage of services or products.

Key responsibilities include:

• Collecting and analyzing service center financial data to supportrate development and monitoring
• Reviewing interdepartmental service requests (ISRs) to ensureapproved rates are applied accurately and supporting documentationis complete; resolving discrepancies in collaboration with servicecenter personnel
• Asst service center staff in gathering and preparing datarequired for rate development worksheets
• Analyzing service center costs and recommending rates, supportedby well-documented workpapers, to the Cost Accounting Senior orManager
• Maintaining organized electronic records and ensuring properdocumentation retention
• Supporting special projects that advance the Controller’s Officemission to deliver high-quality, efficient, and effective financialmanagement services to the university

Required Qualifications

• Relevant education and/or professional experience in accounting,auditing, or cost analysis, including preparation of coststudies
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel(e.g., pivot tables, formulas) and Access (e.g., queries), toaggregate and analyze data
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to compile,investigate, reconcile, and evaluate financial dataaccurately
• Ability to interpret and apply state, federal, and universitypolicies, regulations, and guidelines
• Demonstrated ability to operate effectively within establishedprocedures while exercising sound judgment to resolve routineissues and make independent, well-reasoned decisions orrecommendations
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with acommitment to providing high-quality customer service and theability to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or a relatedfield
• Professional experience in accounting, cost control, or jobcosting, with a strong understanding of standard cost developmentprinciples
• Demonstrated ability to develop and present financial reports formanagement and/or external stakeholders
• Experience using data query and analysis tools (e.g., SQL, SAS,or Microsoft Access)
• Familiarity with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) financialsystems, such as Banner Finance

Pay Band

4

Overtime Status

Exempt: Not eligible for overtime

Appointment Type

Regular

Salary Information

Salary range of $60,000 - $65,000

Hours per week

40

Review Date

8/25/2026

Additional Information

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminalconviction check.

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve),Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to beleaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institutionthat enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout theworld, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverseenrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, andprofessional students in eight undergraduate colleges , a school of medicine , a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School , and Honors College . The university has a significant presenceacross Virginia, including Blacksburg, the greater Washington, D.C.area, the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, sitesin Newport News and Richmond, and numerous Extension offices and research institutes . A leading global research institution,Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in researchannually.

Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professionaldevelopment opportunities and university shared governance . These valuablecontributions to university shared governance provide importantrepresentation and perspective, along with opportunities for uniqueand impactful professional development.

Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, orapplicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (includingpregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, geneticinformation, ethnicity or national origin, political affiliation,race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, orotherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquireabout, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensationof other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protectedby law.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire anaccommodation, please contact Zach LaCroix at [e-mail] during regular business hours at least 10business days prior to the event.