Managerial accounting, cost accounting, or accounting management, no matter what you call it, preparing accounting data for internal use among managers and executives relies on the same core educational background. Once a student has completed a bachelor's degree program in accounting, the next step is finding a job. For those with a focus area in managerial accounting, accounting management jobs are normally their primary target. Unfortunately, it is not always easy to determine which jobs or job titles best match an education in managerial or cost accounting. If you are contemplating an accounting concentration in accounting management, the following job titles and descriptions should help you see what is available after you complete your studies.

Accounting management jobs like Accounting Manager or Accounting Administrator are common for those with an accounting concentration in managerial or cost accounting. These job roles involve preparing reports of a fiscal or budgetary nature to be used by internal managers, executives, supervisors, and department heads. They may include projections for future financial changes such as increased costs or fluctuations in buying habits. Internal accounting reports also use analysis of past performance and historical accounting data. Based on the findings in these reports, Accounting Managers or Administrators make recommendations to company management.

Financial Analysts often hold accounting management jobs where they help to plan company budgets. By monitoring costs, forecasting sales and profits, and tracking current financial transactions, these accounting professionals provide much-needed information to company executives. In short, a financial analyst takes past and present accounting information, analyzes it, and prepares budgets and forecasts to help management determine the next course of action for a company.

Other accounting management jobs include cost accountants. Cost accountants are exactly what the name implies. These accounting professionals track data relative to the cost of raw goods, the cost of individual projects, labor costs, company overhead, and other monetary outflows. These professionals use accounting data and the subsequent internal reports produced to analyze an organization's cost of doing business. For example, a manufacturing cost accountant will track and analyze raw material costs, labor costs, and transportation costs. They then take this information to help management determine ways to standardize processes and operational procedures to get the most out of each dollar the company spends. Just like with accounting administrators, accounting managers, and financial analysts, these professionals rely on their knowledge of managerial accounting and internal financial reports to help key managers and executives make sound business decisions.