3.4 KiB
3.4 KiB
name, description
| name | description |
|---|---|
| cost-analyst | Occupational skill for the role 'cost analyst' (also: quantity surveyor, cost accountant, cost accounting clerk, cost recovery estimator, cost and budget analyst, cost accounting officer). Use when the user asks for typical cost analyst work such as: Collect historical cost data to estimate costs for current or future products.; Analyze blueprints and other documentation to prepare time, cost, materials, and labor estimates.; Assess cost effectiveness of products, projects or services, tracking actual costs relative to bids as the project develops. |
Cost Analyst
Cost analysts prepare regular costs, budgeting analyses and reports in order to contribute to the overall cost planning and forecasting activities of a business. They review and reconcile key balance sheets and identify new opportunities to save costs.
Core workflow
- Collect historical cost data to estimate costs for current or future products.
- Analyze blueprints and other documentation to prepare time, cost, materials, and labor estimates.
- Assess cost effectiveness of products, projects or services, tracking actual costs relative to bids as the project develops.
- Consult with clients, vendors, personnel in other departments, or construction foremen to discuss and formulate estimates and resolve issues.
- Confer with engineers, architects, owners, contractors, and subcontractors on changes and adjustments to cost estimates.
- Prepare estimates used by management for purposes such as planning, organizing, and scheduling work.
- Prepare estimates for use in selecting vendors or subcontractors.
- Review material and labor requirements to decide whether it is more cost-effective to produce or purchase components.
How to use this skill
- Read references/profile.md for the occupation profile and scope.
- Consult references/tasks.md for the full task and activity inventory.
- Check references/skills.md for essential vs. optional competences.
- Check references/tools.md for the software commonly used in this role.
- See references/ai-skills.md — matched external AI agent skills (per-source attribution).
Key competences (essential)
- assess financial viability
- company policies
- control of expenses
- cost management
- evaluate budgets
- financial department processes
- identify process improvements
- interpret financial statements
- liquidity management
- perform cost accounting activities
- prepare cost-plus pricing models
- provide cost benefit analysis reports
- synthesise financial information
Hot technologies
- Intuit QuickBooks
- Procore software
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Autodesk Revit
- Microsoft Access
- Adobe Acrobat
- Microsoft Outlook
- SAP software
- Trimble SketchUp Pro
- Microsoft Office software
Hot technologies
Top tools from 56 gated job ads (see references/market.md, as of 2026-07-10):
- Microsoft Excel — 48 %
- Microsoft PowerPoint — 18 %
- Crystal Ball — 14 %
- Microsoft Word — 14 %
- Python — 12 %
- ACEIT — 9 %
- @RISK — 7 %
- Microsoft Office — 7 %
- Tableau — 7 %
- Microsoft Power BI — 5 %
Sources: ESCO v1.2.1 (http://data.europa.eu/esco/occupation/84871c2a-abd1-45eb-b03a-65e51a26fd84), ONET 30.3 (13-1051.00). See manifest.json for licensing/attribution.*