cost accounting

American  

noun

1. an accounting system indicating the cost of items involved in production.

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cost accounting British  

noun

1. Also called: management accounting.  the recording and controlling of all the expenditures of an enterprise in order to facilitate control of separate activities

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Other Word Forms

• cost accountant
  noun

Etymology

Origin of cost accounting

First recorded in 1910–15

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cost accounting

Some programs used to evaluate their curricula on a three- or five-year cycle because foundational subjects like financial and cost accounting rarely changed.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 18, 2026

A true cost accounting approach can illuminate the need for multidimensional solutions.

From Salon ● Feb. 28, 2024

The key is a method called true cost accounting, which examines the economic, environmental, social and health impacts of food production and consumption to produce a broader picture of its costs and benefits.

From Salon ● Feb. 28, 2024

If you need help determining the appropriate method for your industry, it’s advisable to consult a professional tax expert who understands the details associated with different cost accounting methods.

From Encyclopedia.com ● Jun. 26, 2018

The all-embracing term machine shop is divided into departments for drafting, designing, accounting, production, flow of work control, cost accounting and many other divisions.

From Industrial Progress and Human Economics by James Hartness