Canny managers of costs? (5)
I believe the answer is:
scots
'canny managers' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both people as well as being plural nouns.
Maybe you can see an association between them that I don't see?
'of costs' is the wordplay.
'of' indicates an anagram (the answer comes from or 'of' the letters).
'costs' anagrammed gives 'SCOTS'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for scots that I've seen before include "A UK language" , "Folk from Fife" , "from Inverness?" , "North British" , "People from north of border" .)