Cost Accountant, Senior

Varsity Spirit, a Varsity Brands company, is the driving force in spirit across cheer, dance, band, and yearbook. For over 50 years, we have been the leading global source for all things spirit, including cheerleading, dance team, performing arts, and yearbook. Focused on safety, entertainment, and traditional school leadership, our 5,000+ employees are dedicated to celebrating school spirit. A leader in apparel innovation, educational camps, clinics, competitions, and yearbook, Varsity Spirit impacts more than a million athletes each year.

At Varsity Spirit, the safety and wellbeing of the young people we serve is of the utmost importance. We are steadfastly committed to creating a safe and positive environment for physical, emotional, and social development, free from abuse and misconduct. Varsity has a zero-tolerance policy for abuse and is committed to reporting all suspicions or incidents in accordance with local laws.

About the role

The Senior Cost Accountant delivers accurate, timely, and actionable financial analysis related to product costing, inventory valuation, gross margin performance, operating expenses, and cost optimization opportunities. This role partners closely with Operations, Supply Chain, Procurement, Accounting, and Finance leadership to analyze cost drivers, explain variances, support budgeting and forecasting, and provide insights that improve profitability and business performance. You will think strategically, identify emerging risks, investigate root causes, recommend solutions, and influence cross-functional stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and analyze standard costs, including materials, labor, overhead, freight, and other cost components.
• Analyze product costs, actual costs, standard costs, and gross margin performance to identify trends, variances, and improvement opportunities.
• Prepare monthly cost, inventory, margin, and variance reporting with clear explanations of business drivers and financial impacts.
• Perform variance analysis related to inventory, cost of goods sold, labor, overhead, freight, operating expenses, and purchase price variances.
• Partner with Operations, Supply Chain, Procurement, Accounting, and Finance to identify cost reduction opportunities and improve operational efficiency.
• Support inventory valuation processes, reserves, reconciliations, accruals, journal entries, and month-end close activities.
• Develop financial models to support pricing decisions, sourcing initiatives, make-versus-buy analyses, product profitability evaluations, and operational improvements.
• Monitor cost trends, margin performance, and inventory exposure to proactively identify risks and recommend corrective actions.
• Support annual budgets, long-range planning, forecasting, and financial modeling activities.
• Assist with internal and external audit requests by providing documentation, analysis, and supporting schedules.
• Continuously improve reporting processes, analytical tools, controls, and decision-support capabilities.
• Collaborate cross-functionally to ensure alignment between financial objectives and operational execution.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in accounting with at least 3 years in cost accounting, financial analysis, manufacturing finance, inventory accounting, FP&A, or a related finance function.
• Strong understanding of cost accounting principles, inventory valuation, forecasting, budgeting, and variance analysis.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Experience working with ERP systems and financial reporting platforms.

Skills

• Strong understanding of cost accounting principles, inventory valuation methodologies, standard costing, variance analysis, budgeting, and forecasting.
• Ability to analyze large data sets, identify trends, interpret results, and communicate findings effectively.
• Knowledge of financial statements and the operational impact of cost accounting decisions.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel, including advanced analytical and modeling capabilities.
• Experience with ERP systems, financial reporting tools, and business intelligence platforms.
• Ability to build strong partnerships with both financial and non-financial stakeholders.
• Strong problem-solving, organizational, and project management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated strategic thinking and proactive approach to identifying and resolving business issues.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in manufacturing, distribution, apparel, consumer products, or other inventory-intensive industries.
• Experience with standard costing, bills of materials, routings, purchase price variances, freight analysis, and inventory reserves.
• CPA, CMA, or progress toward professional certification.
• Experience developing dashboards, automated reports, or analytical tools.
• Prior experience supporting audits, SOX compliance, or internal controls.

Success Indicators

• Accurate and timely completion of cost, inventory, margin, and variance reporting.
• Clear identification and communication of key cost drivers, opportunities, and financial risks.
• Measurable contribution to cost reduction, margin expansion, and operational efficiency initiatives.
• Effective collaboration and business partnership across Operations, Supply Chain, Procurement, Accounting, and Finance.
• Proactive identification, escalation, and resolution of financial and operational issues.
• Continuous improvement of reporting processes, controls, documentation, and analytical tools.
• High-quality financial analysis that supports business decision-making and profitability improvement.

Schedule

Hybrid (4 days in office / 1 day remote). Primarily onsite in the Memphis, TN or Farmers Branch, TX office.

Travel

Minimal; occasional out-of-area or overnight travel may be required.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health care benefits.
• HSA employer contribution / FSA opportunities.
• Wellbeing program.
• 401(k) plan with company matching.
• Company-paid life, AD&D, and short-term disability insurance.
• Generous My Time Off & paid holidays.
• Varsity Brands ownership program.
• Employee resource groups.
• Access to financial coaching and member-owned credit union.
• St. Jude partnership & volunteer opportunities.
• Employee perks including discounts on personal apparel and equipment.

Varsity Brands companies are equal opportunity employers.