Job Advertisement

cost analyst/estimator

Category: Accounting
Reports To:      

Job Description/Responsibilities
The cost analyst/estimator at our company develops cost estimates for parts, sub-assemblies, and finished devices; generates and maintains reports for variances, performances against standards, etc.; and prepares cost analyses by recapitulating material cost, labor cost, and overhead cost incurred in the fabrication or assembly of part(s).

Qualifications/Skills
The successful applicant for this position should be able to obtain samples of products and break them down into parts, checking them against bills of materials for completeness and accuracy of part numbers, quantity, materials used, type of operation, etc.; observe operation(s) in assembly areas to determine whether the routing contains current and accurate information; and maintain records and files for all related source documents pertaining to product cost, performance against standards, etc.

Education/Background
A high school diploma is a must; further academic studies are preferred.  You must have at least three years of additional job-related training in manufacturing operations and estimating procedures, as well as strong mathematical and computer skills.

Please send [résumé and salary history/requirements] to:      

Job Description

cost analyst/estimator

Category: Accounting
Reports To:      

Job Description
This position develops cost estimates for parts, sub-assemblies, and finished devices; generates and maintains reports for variances, performances against standards, etc.; and prepares cost analyses by recapitulating material cost, labor cost, and overhead cost incurred in the fabrication or assembly of part(s).

Qualifications
•	High school diploma a must; further academic studies preferred.

•	Must have additional job-related training of at least three years in manufacturing operations and estimating procedures. 

•	Strong mathematical and computer skills necessary.

•	     

•	     

Duties
Percentage
of Job	Exemption
Classification	Duty	Essential Function	
     %	Non-Exempt	Obtains samples of products and breaks down into parts, checking them against bill of materials for completeness and accuracy of part numbers, quantity, materials used, type of operation, or operation performed in the fabrication or assembly of the part or parts.	Y / N	
     %	Non-Exempt	Observes operation(s) in assembly areas to determine whether the routing contains current and accurate information.	Y / N	
     %	Non-Exempt	Informs immediate supervisor and/or materials department of any observed inaccuracies or omissions in bill of materials lading, or routing.	Y / N	
     %	Non-Exempt	Carries out all analysis and estimates within the guidelines established by manufacturing and overseen by lead analyst.	Y / N	
     %	Non-Exempt	Maintains records and files for all related source documents pertaining to product cost, performance against standards, etc.	Y / N	
     %			Y / N	
     %			Y / N	

Exemption Analysis
It is fairly clear that this position does not deserve a white-collar exemption. There is no specific duty that is directly related to the management of general business operations (541.201), which might have raised questions about an Administrative exemption. Plus, the heavy supervision would knock out any implication of the exercise of discretion and independent judgment (541.202(c)).

Category Decision
The duties and responsibilities for this position have been analyzed.	
Manager:	Date:	
On that basis, this position has been judged to be        Exempt          Non-Exempt.	

Interview Questions

cost analyst/estimator

Category: Accounting
Reports To:      

	Tell me about a major cost accounting mistake you uncovered, and what you did to fix it.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
	1	2	3	4	5

	What have you done to stay current with changes in the cost accounting profession?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
	1	2	3	4	5

	Have you ever introduced a program or system that saved your company time or money?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
	1	2	3	4	5

	Have you ever had to reinvent or redefine your job to meet your organization’s changing needs?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
	1	2	3	4	5

	What qualities do you think a good cost analyst/estimator must have?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
	1	2	3	4	5

	What did you have to learn to be effective in your previous job?  How long did it take?  Which parts were the most challenging?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
	1	2	3	4	5

	How did you gain the technical knowledge you need to do your job?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
	1	2	3	4	5

	If you had one accomplishment to brag about from your previous job, what would it be?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
	1	2	3	4	5

Additional Questions 
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
	1	2	3	4	5

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
	1	2	3	4	5
Overall Impression
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

Average Rating
1	2	3	4	5

Your Recommendation
	Hire
	Do Not Hire
	Second Interview
	Need More Information

________________________________________________
Print Name

________________________________________________
Signature

________________________________________________
Date

APPLICANT COMPARISON FORM 

Date:      
	Evaluator:      	
Position:      		

Once you have completed the interview process, transfer the notes and rating tallies you completed to the chart below.

Candidates’ Names	Average Rating	Recommendation	Overall Impression	
1.      	1	2	3	4	5		Hire
	Do Not Hire
	Second Interview
	Need More Information		
2.      	1	2	3	4	5		Hire
	Do Not Hire
	Second Interview
	Need More Information		
3.      	1	2	3	4	5		Hire
	Do Not Hire
	Second Interview
	Need More Information		

Candidates’ Names	Average Rating	Recommendation	Overall Impression	
4.      	1	2	3	4	5		Hire
	Do Not Hire
	Second Interview
	Need More Information		
5.      	1	2	3	4	5		Hire
	Do Not Hire
	Second Interview
	Need More Information		
6.      	1	2	3	4	5		Hire
	Do Not Hire
	Second Interview
	Need More Information		
7.      	1	2	3	4	5		Hire
	Do Not Hire
	Second Interview
	Need More Information		

Candidates’ Names	Average Rating	Recommendation	Overall Impression	
8.      	1	2	3	4	5		Hire
	Do Not Hire
	Second Interview
	Need More Information		
9.      	1	2	3	4	5		Hire
	Do Not Hire
	Second Interview
	Need More Information		
10.      	1	2	3	4	5		Hire
	Do Not Hire
	Second Interview
	Need More Information		

Comments:      

Evaluator’s Signature: