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