Position Overview:

The cost accountant position will work under the guidance of the Cost Accounting Manager and VP, Corporate Controller in playing a key role in the company’s project costing, revenue recognition and month end closing process. The cost accountant position is accountable for monitoring the progress of projects, investigating variances (https://www.accountingtools.com/articles/2017/5/8/variance) , reviewing expenses, and ensuring that project billings are issued to customers. The cost accountant will work closely with the project team, particularly Account Managers. The ideal candidate will have a 4 year degree in accounting or related field (strongly preferred) and have 2 to 3 years of general accounting experience. The candidate should be detail oriented with strong written and verbal communication skills and an aptitude toward systems and automation.

Responsibilities:

• Participate in the Month End closing

• Close out project accounts upon project completion, within a timely manner

• Use of costing system to accumulate costs, review for correctness and compare to the sales agreements

• Make expense accruals where supplier invoices have not yet been received or posted to project accounts

• Monitor and prepare transfers of expenses, where appropriate and approved, into and out of certain projects accounts or job numbers

• Review expense transactions posting to a project account for duplication

• Verify all transactions posting to a project account for completeness (labor, materials, add-ons)

• Interface with Account Executives to supply final costing and create FINAL project billings to customers

• Verify mathematical accuracy of all billings sent to the customer

• Confer with receivables staff regarding unpaid billings

• Compile information for external auditors, as required

• Maintain close, supportive and professional relationships with other Corporate Departments including but not limited to HR, Accounting and Finance, Account Management, Account Directors and IT

• Develop in-depth knowledge of various business processes and understand their impact on various transactional systems. Where automation is lacking, ensure manual processes with proper controls and documentation exist to support accounting and finance

• Assist Cost Accounting Manager with analyzing quarterly/annual sales budgets

• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance or Accounting

• Technical Skills (GAAP Accounting)

• A minimum of 2 years experience in the accounting field

• Excellent interpersonal skills with strong customer service focus

• Ability to communicate accounting and financial information to others

• Microsoft office a must; NetSuite, experience a plus

• Proven ability to demonstrate critical thinking skills, collaboration, independent reasoning, discretion, analytical skills and judgment with applied business acumen.

• Strong attention to detail, a positive attitude, and a team player

• Ability to operate within a fast-paced environment

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Company Overview:

Sparks is a live + digital brand experience agency. We specialize in creating connection–-real human connection–-onsite, online or anywhere. Through a mix of sound strategy, breakthrough creative and flawless execution, we create memorable trade show exhibits, live and virtual events, brand activations, retail stores, corporate environments and other immersive experiences that deepen relationships, inspire action, and build trust--and we do it all over the world.

We operate an open and inclusive culture where all recognize, respect, appreciate and encourage individuality regardless of race, gender, age, religion, culture, ideology, economic status, disability or sexual orientation. We believe that everyone at all levels of our organization is accountable for building this culture and we are challenging ourselves daily to seek and build diversity and equality in any way that we can–and we welcome your ideas to do so.

Think you’ve got what it takes to hang with us?

We’ve built our reputation on creating awesome experiences for our clients, but equally important is the experience we create for our people. Yes, we work hard. But we also make it a point to have fun. And we find our people work that much harder when work doesn’t feel so much like, well, work. If you share our mindset, we should chat.

We’ve always got our eyes peeled for smart, hungry people who think that what we do isn’t so much a job as it is a way of life. And while any company can supply stuff like benefits (and, of course we do too!) our greatest benefit comes from the amazing people you’ll interact with daily, who will challenge and push you to think harder, be more creative and love what you do.

Sparks provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.