Cost Accountant jobs in West Fargo, ND

Job Summary

Supports cost management efforts with the implementation, coordination, and maintenance of cost management strategies for our open market business. This includes focus on ensuring cost competitiveness for key product categories and vendors through the execution of cost analysis, vendor Special Pricing Agreement (SPA) rationalization and implementation of tiered SPA strategy, opportunity identification for cost savings and profit improvement.

Responsibilities

Essential Functions

• Reviews key product categories/vendors by branch, area or region to determine cost competitiveness, ensure market relevance and establish cost confidence with BSE branch personnel.
• Engages key branch/regional personnel as well as key company stakeholders as needed throughout category evaluations.
• Evaluates current market conditions, vendor/category alignment and strategies.
• Works to understand current cost structures (SPAs, regional vs branch, backside vendor programs, etc.).
• Works with field personnel to capture local market feedback to complete competitive market analyses.
• Utilizes system data and analytics to gather market intelligence on pricing competitiveness.
• Presents findings and recommendations to key branch and company stakeholders and implement any agreed upon results.
• Works with vendors to negotiate pricing based on evaluation findings as necessary.
• Supports identification of cost management opportunities through analytics, market feedback and commercial intelligence to demonstrate due diligence, actively managing costs and ensuring market relevance in our pricing.
• Analyzes cost differences between different locations, regions and customer types across the enterprise.
• Supports the identification of opportunities to negotiate better SPA costs for more customers, rationalizing existing SPA’s or working to improve into stock pricing.
• Utilizes market analytics and key indices (e.g. commodities) to identify opportunities for cost negotiation with vendors.
• Provides oversight and documentation of cost savings delivered through opportunity identification and market analysis.
• Adheres to the Vital Factors and Goals and Controls process.

Non-essential Functions

• Supports communication to branches and customers to create confidence in price strategies.
• Promotes Service Excellence by sharing examples with the team while identifying and following through on new opportunities for teamwork.
• Continues to grow industry/field experience through different branch/customer/manufacturer visits throughout the year.
• Performs other duties as assigned by supervisor or designate.

Qualifications

• Minimum four-year degree or the equivalent in work experience.
• Previous procurement, sales or marketing experience with knowledge of electrical, utility, industrial products and systems preferred.
• Strong knowledge of the SAP materials management system and previous forecasting experience is preferred.
• APICS certification or proven knowledge of MRP and supply-chain knowledge preferred.
• Strong working knowledge of PC for Windows, Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Access, and PowerPoint), Internet, email and SAP software preferred.
  

Skills and Abilities

• Strong interpersonal, written and verbal communication, analytical and problem-solving skills
• Highly motivated
• Excellent customer service skills include being competent, accurate, responsive and engaged

Physical Requirements

Frequency at which you would carry/lift in a typical day:
Occasionally 0 – 33% Frequently 34 – 66% Continuously: 67 – 100%

• Lift from Waist:
  • < than 10 lbs. - Not at all
  • 10 to 25 lbs. - Not at all
  • 26 to 50 lbs. - Not at all
  • 51 to 75 lbs. - Not at all
  • 75 to 100 lbs. - Not at all
  • 100 lbs. - Not at all
• Lift from Floor:
  • < than 10 lbs. - Frequently
  • 10 to 25 lbs. - Frequently
  • 26 to 50 lbs. - Occasionally
  • 51 to 75 lbs. - Not at all
  • 75 to 100 lbs. - Not at all
  • 100 lbs. - Not at all
• Carried for Distance:
  • < than 10 lbs. - Not at all
  • 10 to 25 lbs. - Not at all
  • 26 to 50 lbs. - Not at all
  • 51 to 75 lbs. - Not at all
  • 75 to 100 lbs. - Not at all
  • 100 lbs. - Not at all

Physical Activity

Frequency at which you would do the following in a typical day:

• Sitting (a continuous period of being seated) - Continuously
• Standing (for sustained periods of time) - Frequently
• Walking (moving about on foot to accomplish tasks) - Frequently
• Bending/stooping (downward and forward) - Occasionally
• Crawling (moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet) - Not at all
• Climbing/Walking Stairs (ascending or descending) - Frequently
• Reaching (extending arms in any direction) - Frequently
• Crouching/squatting (bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine) - Occasionally
• Kneeling (bending legs at knee to come to rest on knee(s)) - Occasionally
• Balancing (maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling) - Occasionally
• Repetitive motion (substantial movement (motions) or the wrists, hands, and/or fingers) - Continuously
• Pivoting (movement in any direction with one foot, keeping the other in contact with the floor) - Occasionally
• Pushing/Pulling (using upper extremities to press against or draw or tug) - Occasionally
• Grasping (Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm) - Continuously
• Fingering (picking, pinching, typing; working with primarily fingers and not whole hand) - Continuously
• Talking (expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word) - Frequently
• Driving (the control and operation of a motor vehicle) - Occasionally
• Desk work (work usually performed at a desk) - Continuously
• Use of a computer - Continuously
• Use of a telephone - Frequently
• Hearing (Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels) - Continuously
• Exposure (to adverse weather & temperature conditions) - Not at all
• Travel (travel needed to perform job duties) - Occasionally

Additional Information

This job description is a summary of the job duties and responsibilities and is not intended to cover all possible job duties and is subject to change at the employer’s discretion. Employees must be able to perform the essential job duties and satisfy job requirements either with or without a reasonable accommodation.