Table 1Transition record

manufacturing cost estimatortocost analyst

A manufacturing cost estimator already meets 45% of what the cost analyst role asks for. The move turns on 5 required skills not yet in the profile.

From manufacturing cost estimator

45%

Overlap1

To cost analyst

11 Skills carried over

5 Required, not held

53.3 Difficulty2

adjacent 0–30

moderate 30–55

substantial 55–75

career change 75–100

this move, 53.3

This move: 53.3 of 100 · moderate

1 Share of the cost analyst role’s weighted skill requirement already met by the manufacturing cost estimator profile. Required skills count in full, supplementary skills at 0.35. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs. 2 Combines what is missing with how specialised it is, so a gap of general skills scores easier than the same number of narrow ones.

Table 2

Table 2 · What you already bring

Of the 11 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A cost analyst role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a manufacturing cost estimator background worth leading with.

Skill the target role also needs Area

already held prepare cost-plus pricing models information skills
already held perform cost accounting activities management skills
already held calculate production costs information skills
already held synthesise financial information information skills
already held identify process improvements management skills
already held control of expenses information skills

All 11 carried skills, including the 8 the cost analyst role treats as required.

Table 3

Table 3 · What you would need to learn

The 22 missing skills fall into 4 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered below in the order worth working in: the areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the supplementary ones.

Skill to acquire Tier

01 business, administration and law 3 required, 1 supplementary

required, not held company policies required
required, not held financial department processes required
required, not held liquidity management required

optional, not held financial forecasting optional

02 management skills 1 required, 7 supplementary

required, not held evaluate budgets required

optional, not held manage inventory optional
optional, not held support development of annual budget optional
optional, not held carry out tendering optional
optional, not held create a financial plan optional
optional, not held enforce financial policies optional
optional, not held exert expenditure control optional
optional, not held explain accounting records optional

03 information skills 1 required, 6 supplementary

required, not held interpret financial statements required

optional, not held create a financial report optional
optional, not held analyse financial performance of a company optional
optional, not held analyse financial risk optional
optional, not held analyse transportation costs optional
optional, not held manage payroll reports optional
optional, not held prepare financial statements optional

04 communication, collaboration and creativity 3 supplementary

optional, not held advise on tax planning optional
optional, not held disseminate information on tax legislation optional
optional, not held negotiate supplier arrangements optional

Table 4

Table 4 · Where to start

The 3 entries a cost analyst role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.

Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.

Appendix

Appendix · The rest of the record

All 11 skills that carry over

Skill Type

already held assess financial viability skill
already held control of expenses skill
already held cost management knowledge
already held identify process improvements skill
already held perform cost accounting activities skill
already held prepare cost-plus pricing models skill
already held provide cost benefit analysis reports skill
already held synthesise financial information skill
already held calculate production costs skill
already held execute analytical mathematical calculations skill
already held manage budgets skill

17 supplementary skills, helpful but not required

Skill to acquire Tier

optional, not held create a financial report optional
optional, not held manage inventory optional
optional, not held support development of annual budget optional
optional, not held advise on tax planning optional
optional, not held analyse financial performance of a company optional
optional, not held analyse financial risk optional
optional, not held analyse transportation costs optional
optional, not held carry out tendering optional
optional, not held create a financial plan optional
optional, not held disseminate information on tax legislation optional
optional, not held enforce financial policies optional
optional, not held exert expenditure control optional
optional, not held explain accounting records optional
optional, not held financial forecasting optional
optional, not held manage payroll reports optional
optional, not held negotiate supplier arrangements optional
optional, not held prepare financial statements optional

23 held skills the cost analyst role does not ask for

Skill Type

not needed by the target role accurately estimate work hours skill
not needed by the target role advise on risk management skill
not needed by the target role analyse business plans skill
not needed by the target role analyse production processes for improvement skill
not needed by the target role assess operating cost skill
not needed by the target role calculate design costs skill
not needed by the target role calculate materials to build equipment skill
not needed by the target role ensure cost efficiency in food manufacturing skill
not needed by the target role estimate costs of required supplies skill
not needed by the target role estimate duration of work skill
not needed by the target role estimate restoration costs skill
not needed by the target role evaluate cost of software products skill
not needed by the target role forecast production quantities skill
not needed by the target role international business knowledge
not needed by the target role liaise with engineers skill
not needed by the target role manufacturing processes knowledge
not needed by the target role mathematics knowledge
not needed by the target role monitor production costs skill
not needed by the target role monitor production developments skill
not needed by the target role perform project management skill
not needed by the target role project management knowledge
not needed by the target role read assembly drawings skill
not needed by the target role read standard blueprints skill

4 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice

Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.

Skill to acquire Tier

required, not held company policies required
required, not held financial department processes required
required, not held liquidity management required
optional, not held financial forecasting optional

Index

Other moves recorded from manufacturing cost estimator

Full index of moves from manufacturing cost estimator

Note

How this record was compiled

Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.