Senior Financial Analyst - Varsity Spirit Products

VARSITY SPIRIT, A VARSITY BRANDS COMPANY - THE DRIVING FORCE IN SPIRIT ACROSS CHEER, DANCE, BAND AND YEARBOOK

For over 50 years, Varsity Spirit has 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, Varsity Spirit’s 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.

OUR COMMITMENT TO SAFETY

At Varsity Spirit, the safety and wellbeing of the young people we serve is of the utmost importance. Since our inception 50 years ago, we have been – and remain – steadfastly committed to doing our part to create a safe and positive environment for our participants’ physical, emotional, and social development, and promoting an environment free from abuse and misconduct. Varsity has a zero tolerance for abuse in its programs, events, and associated business activities. Varsity is committed to reporting all suspicions, allegations, and incidents of abuse in full accordance with local laws and reporting requirements. Learn more at Our Commitment to Safety - Varsity.com.

WORK TYPE: Hybrid (Monday-Thursday / WFH Friday)

LOCATION: Farmers Branch, TX Brands Headquarters - 14460 Varsity Brands Way

WORK HOURS: 8am - 5pm CT

TRAVEL: Travel is minimal; occasional out-of-area or overnight travel may be expected based on business needs. 

HOW YOU WILL MAKE AN IMPACT:

The Senior Financial Analyst, Varsity Spirit Products supports both accounting accuracy and forward-looking financial analysis for the business. The role provides month-end close support, reconciliations and accrual analysis while leading budgeting, forecasting, management reporting, variance analysis, and business performance insights. This position partners closely with Finance leadership, Accounting, Sales, Operations, and functional leaders to ensure reported results are accurate, forecasts are well supported, and management reporting provides clear visibility into profitability, accountability, and operational execution. A key expectation is to connect accounting detail with forward-looking financial insight and translate financial data into practical actions that improve financial accuracy and business performance. 

WHAT YOU WILL DO:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or 

responsibilities required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any 

time with or without notice. 

• Support month-end close activities, including preparation or review of journal entries, accrual analysis, account reconciliations, expense review, and investigation of unusual or unexpected activity. 

• Ensure financial results and supporting schedules are accurate, complete, timely, and appropriately documented for management review, audit requests, and control requirements. 

• Prepare monthly management reporting and executive-ready commentary that clearly explains performance versus budget, forecast, prior year, and key business metrics. 

• Provide back up support for sales commission accruals and payments, including reviewing calculations, documentation, plan alignment, and appropriate treatment in financial reporting and forecasts 

• Analyze revenue, gross margin, operating expenses, working capital, accruals, balance sheet activity, and other financial results to identify trends, risks, opportunities, and actionable business insights. 

• Partner with business and functional leaders to review financial performance, validate forecast assumptions, explain variances, resolve accounting or reporting questions, and develop corrective actions as appropriate. 

• Lead and support annual budget, rolling forecast, and long-range planning activities, including development of financial models, assumptions, templates, and business partner inputs. 

• Build scenario models and sensitivity analyses to evaluate pricing actions, cost initiatives, investments, and changes in operating assumptions and communicate implications to decision makers. 

• Support internal and external audit requests by providing accurate schedules, reconciliations, explanations, and supporting documentation. 

• Continuously improve close, reporting, forecasting, data quality, documentation, internal controls, and analytical tools to increase accuracy, efficiency, and insight. 

• Other duties as assigned. 

QUALIFICATIONS:

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities 

• Strong understanding of financial statements, month-end close, journal entries, accruals, account reconciliations, budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, management reporting, and key business drivers. 

• Ability to connect accounting results to budget performance, forecast expectations, profitability, operational performance, and business decision-making. 

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to reconcile financial activity, identify trends and root causes, and recommend practical solutions. 

• Effective business-partnering and communication skills with the ability to translate detailed accounting and financial information into clear insights for financial and non-financial audiences. 

• Demonstrated ownership, attention to detail, organization, and ability to manage multiple close, reporting, and planning deadlines with limited supervision. 

• Ability to constructively challenge assumptions, anticipate business needs, and proactively identify accounting, reporting, or financial risks and opportunities. 

• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and proficiency with ERP, financial planning, reporting, and business intelligence tools. 

Success Indicators 

• Accurate and timely month-end close support, reconciliations, accrual analysis, budget, forecast, variance analysis, and management reporting deliverables. 

• Clear identification and explanation of key accounting activity, financial drivers, risks, opportunities, and performance trends. 

• Improved forecast accuracy through disciplined assumptions, accurate accounting inputs, business partner engagement, and proactive risk and opportunity tracking. 

• Effective partnership with Finance, Accounting, Sales, Operations, and functional leadership. 

• Executive-ready reporting and commentary that connects accounting results to management decisions and future financial performance. 

• Continued improvement in close processes, reporting tools, forecasting processes, documentation, internal controls, data quality, and analytical capabilities. 

Education, Certification and Experience 

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a related field required. 

• Five or more years of experience in accounting, financial analysis, FP&A, budgeting, forecasting, management reporting, or a related accounting or finance role. 

• Strong understanding of financial statements, month-end close, account reconciliations, accruals, budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, and management reporting. 

• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and experience with SAP or other ERP, financial planning, reporting, or business intelligence systems. 

• Experience supporting accounting and finance activities in business unit finance, manufacturing, distribution, apparel, consumer products, or a similar environment preferred. 

• Experience developing budget and forecast models, executive reporting packages, dashboards, KPI reporting, reconciliations, or automated financial analysis tools preferred. 

• CPA, CMA, MBA, or progress toward a professional certification preferred. 

• Experience supporting SOX, audit, internal controls, financial statement review, or balance sheet reconciliation requirements preferred. 

Supervisory Responsibility 

This position has no direct reports. 

Physical Demands and/or Work Environment 

This job operates in a professional office environment.  Largely a sedentary role with some filing requiring the ability to lift files, open filing cabinets and bending or standing on a stool as necessary. 

Other Duties 

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice. 

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the employee for this job.

OUR VALUES

Service - We lead with heart. We champion community.

Passion - We love what we do. It fuels our purpose.

Integrity - We do what we promise. We own our actions and decisions.

Respect - We earn it by giving it. Because everyone deserves it.

Innovation - We never stop striving to be better. For ourselves and our community.

Transparency - We are committed to openness and honesty in everything we do.

OUR BENEFITS

We are committed to putting you and your families first. For benefits eligible roles, we offer a variety of choices and costs as well as program enhancements that align with our responsibility to elevate the employee experience. Some of our offerings include:

• 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
• 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!

Eligibility for company-sponsored benefits is determined by scheduled work hours, and the terms of the applicable benefit plans. Benefit offerings and eligibility requirements may vary by position and are subject to change in accordance with plan documents and applicable law.

Varsity Brands companies are equal opportunity employers. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran’s status, age or disability.