Cost Accountant Jobs in Illinois

Cost Accountant jobs in Illinois are consistently active, with strong demand from entry-level staff accountants through senior and managerial roles, concentrated in manufacturing, food and beverage, and financial services. Chicago, Peoria, and Rockford are the primary hiring centers, home to major employers such as Caterpillar, Kraft Heinz, and Deere and Company, all of which maintain significant Illinois operations with ongoing cost accounting needs. The most in-demand specialties include standard costing and variance analysis, inventory cost management, and plant accounting supporting Illinois's deep manufacturing base. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles21
Top employerKraft Heinz
Top cityChicago, IL
Cities hiring17
Work type60% On-site
Top industryAutomotive

Showing 5 of 21+ Cost Accountant jobs

Life Fitness / Hammer Strength
Cost Accounting Manager
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Life Fitness / Hammer Strength
Added 1d ago
Cost Accounting Manager
Life Fitness / Hammer Strength
Rosemont, Illinois
Data Analytics
Data Science
$93k - $136k/yr
Hybrid
Bachelor's degree in finance
1,001-5,000

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DMG MORI
Senior Cost Accountant
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DMG MORI
Added 1d ago
Senior Cost Accountant
DMG MORI
Hoffman Estates, Illinois
Accounting
Bookkeeping & AP/AR
Compliance & Legal
Bachelor's degree in finance
1,001-5,000

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Cole-Parmer Instrument Company
Sr. Mgr, Global Cost & Operations Accounting
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Cole-Parmer Instrument Company
Added 1w ago
Sr. Mgr, Global Cost & Operations Accounting
Cole-Parmer Instrument Company
Vernon Hills, Illinois
Business Operations
Executive Leadership & C-Suite
Project Management
$150k - $175k/yr
Bachelor's degree
1,001-5,000

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Vienna Beef Ltd
Cost Accountant / Manufacturing Business Analyst
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Vienna Beef Ltd
Added 1w ago
Cost Accountant / Manufacturing Business Analyst
Vienna Beef Ltd
Chicago, Illinois
Factory & Production Work
Manufacturing Operations
Quality Control
Bachelor's degree

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Prater Industries
Senior Cost Accountant
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Prater Industries
Added 1w ago
Senior Cost Accountant
Prater Industries
Bolingbrook, Illinois
Account Management
Business Development
Business Strategy
$80k - $120k/yr
Master's degree in business administration
51-200

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See All 21 Cost Accountant Jobs in Illinois

Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

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Cost Accountant Jobs by City in Illinois

Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Chicago
5 jobs
Cary
1 job
Dixon
1 job
Niles
1 job
Sauget
1 job
Addison
1 job
Clinton
1 job
Bartlett
1 job
Rosemont
1 job

Cost Accountant Job Market in Illinois

A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

Kraft Heinz
Kraft Heinz2 open roles
1
14841 open role
Ecos
Ecos1 open role

Top Industries Hiring

  • Automotive
  • Manufacturing

What Illinois Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in cost accountant jobs across Illinois.

  • Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a closely related field required
  • CPA licensure or active CPA candidacy recognized by the Illinois Board of Examiners preferred
  • Proficiency in ERP systems such as SAP, Oracle, or Microsoft Dynamics required
  • Two or more years of cost accounting or management accounting experience in manufacturing
  • Strong working knowledge of standard costing, variance analysis, and inventory valuation methods
  • Advanced Excel skills including pivot tables, VLOOKUP, and financial modeling workbooks

Cost Accountant Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a cost accountant in Illinois?

Start with a bachelor's degree in accounting or finance, which is the baseline for virtually every Illinois cost accountant posting. Illinois does not require a state license specifically for cost accountants, but employers strongly prefer candidates who are a licensed CPA or actively pursuing the CPA exam through the Illinois Board of Examiners. Passing all four CPA exam sections and meeting Illinois's experience requirement significantly strengthens your candidacy, particularly with manufacturing and food industry employers.

How much do cost accountants make in Illinois?

Cost accountants in Illinois earn a median of about $80,230 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $54,510 for the lowest 10% to over $131,990 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire cost accountants in Illinois?

Employers hiring cost accountants in Illinois right now include Kraft Heinz, 1484, and Ecos, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Illinois's deep manufacturing and consumer goods sectors mean consistent openings at both large headquarters operations and regional plant sites throughout the state.

Which Illinois cities have the most cost accountant jobs?

Chicago, Cary, and Dixon lead for cost accountant openings in Illinois. Chicago dominates due to its concentration of corporate headquarters and financial services firms, while Peoria and Rockford reflect the heavy manufacturing and heavy equipment industries anchored by employers like Caterpillar that require dedicated plant and cost accounting teams on site.

Are there remote cost accountant jobs in Illinois?

Yes, though the role leans more toward on-site than many pure finance positions. About 40% of cost accountant openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting that plant-level inventory and production costing often requires physical presence. Month-end close responsibilities, standard cost reviews, and financial reporting tasks are the functions most commonly performed remotely when employers do offer flexibility.

How can I get hired as a cost accountant in Illinois with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is an accounts payable, accounts receivable, or general ledger staff accountant role at a mid-size Illinois manufacturer, which provides the inventory and cost exposure needed to move into cost accounting. Large Illinois employers in food production and heavy equipment regularly hire new graduates into rotational finance or plant accounting associate programs. Completing the CPA exam sections early and gaining any ERP system familiarity, even through coursework, gives candidates a clear edge over other applicants without direct experience.

Where can I find and apply to cost accountant jobs in Illinois?

You can find and apply to cost accountant jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings across the state's manufacturing, food and beverage, and financial services sectors. Find the roles that fit your background and apply directly to the employers posting them.

See All 21 Cost Accountant Jobs in Illinois

Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find Cost Accountant Jobs