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

The hope is that because these two methods have many similarities, it should be relatively easy for governments to upgrade to true cost accounting as it becomes more widely adopted.

From Salon ● Feb. 28, 2024

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

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

Each separate business, the bakeries, the pool room, the meat shop, was put on a cost accounting basis and the manager knew just which one was making or losing money.

From Consumers' Cooperative Societies in New York State by Consumers' League of New York, The