A bachelor’s degree is typically required to become a Cost Accountant, as well as strong math skills. Many Cost Accountants need to have experience in the employer’s industry or sector. The employee might start out in the finance department as a staff accountant, and transition over time into a cost accounting role.A Cost Accountant will likely have to work in a plant at some point and be involved with operations analyzing raw materials cost and appropriating labor costs. This will probably include multiple shifts and cost appropriation of premium labor pay to finished goods, as well as doing analysis on work in process.