Accountant (Retail / Merchandise)

As the Accountant supporting Retail / Merchandise, you will be a key Finance partner to MLSE's retail and merchandise business, including Real Sports Apparel and other team and venue merchandise activity. You will combine strong accounting fundamentals with commercial curiosity to support the financial management of a fast-moving, consumer-facing business, helping ensure sales, inventory, cost of goods sold, and operating activity are recorded accurately, reported effectively, and understood by business leaders. Working closely with Retail / Merchandise, Finance, FP&A, Procurement, and other cross-functional teams, you will develop a strong understanding of product economics, inventory flows, sales channels, and margin drivers and help translate retail activity into accurate accounting and meaningful financial reporting. 

Building on the core responsibilities of the Accountant role, including month-end journal entries, accruals, reconciliations, monthly reporting, and financial analysis, this role elevates the focus on inventory accounting, cost of goods sold, gross margin, sales reconciliation, shrink and obsolescence, and actionable financial insight. Please note that due to changing priorities for the business, learning opportunities or volume, the client group supported may switch, however the key responsibilities will remain the same. 

RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Own key accounting activities for Retail / Merchandise, including month-end journal entries, accruals, revenue and expense recognition, inventory and cost of goods sold entries, account reconciliations, and supporting schedules. 

• Develop a strong understanding of MLSE's retail and merchandise business, including Real Sports Apparel, venue and event merchandise, e-commerce and other sales channels, product purchasing, inventory movement, and key margin drivers. 

• Analyze monthly financial results and retail activity, identifying trends and variances in sales, cost of goods sold, gross margin, product mix, inventory, shrink, markdowns, returns, freight, and other operating expenses requiring further investigation. 

• Support accurate inventory accounting by reviewing inventory receipts, transfers, adjustments, physical counts, shrinkage, obsolescence, and valuation-related activity, ensuring inventory balances are complete and appropriately supported. 

• Reconcile and analyze sales and tender activity across point-of-sale, e-commerce, payment processor, and financial systems, investigating discrepancies and ensuring revenue is recorded completely and accurately. 

• Prepare and enhance monthly reporting for Retail / Merchandise, providing clear commentary that connects financial results to sales volumes, product and channel mix, pricing, promotions, markdowns, inventory turns, and margin performance. 

• Serve as a trusted day-to-day Finance partner to Retail / Merchandise leaders, proactively supporting financial questions and helping stakeholders understand the financial implications of purchasing, pricing, promotions, inventory, and other commercial decisions. 

• Partner with FP&A on budgeting and forecasting, providing accounting expertise, historical insights, and an understanding of sales, inventory and margin drivers to support accurate financial outlooks and planning. 

• Partner with Retail / Merchandise and Procurement teams to understand product purchasing and receiving activity, investigate inventory and vendor discrepancies, and support accurate cut-off and financial treatment. 

• Maintain strong balance sheet governance, completing reconciliations and analysis while proactively identifying and resolving outstanding, aged, or unusual items. 

• Strengthen financial controls and processes around inventory, sales, cash/tender reconciliation, purchasing, receiving, returns, and cost recognition, identifying opportunities to improve accuracy, efficiency, scalability, and transparency. 

• Collaborate cross-functionally with Finance, FP&A, Retail / Merchandise, Procurement, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, e-commerce, and other teams to resolve issues and ensure appropriate financial treatment of business activity. 

• Support year-end audit requirements, including preparation of supporting documentation, inventory count support, and coordination with internal and external stakeholders. 

• Leverage Excel, Oracle Cloud ERP, point-of-sale, e-commerce, and other operational/financial tools to improve reporting, analysis, reconciliations, and process efficiency. 

• Contribute to special projects and strategic initiatives, bringing a Finance perspective to evolving retail and merchandise needs and opportunities. 

• Other duties assigned to support the needs of the department. 

QUALIFICATIONS 

• Completion of a post-secondary degree or diploma in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a related discipline. 

• 3+ years of relevant accounting experience, with demonstrated experience managing month-end activities, reconciliations, and financial analysis. 

• Enrolled in or completed a recognized professional accounting designation (CPA). 

• Strong knowledge and practical application of accounting principles, including revenue recognition, inventory accounting, cost of goods sold, accruals, and balance sheet accounting. 

• Demonstrated ability to move beyond transaction processing to understand commercial and operational drivers, identify issues, and provide meaningful financial insight. 

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with exceptional attention to detail. 

• Effective written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate financial concepts clearly to non-finance stakeholders. 

• Strong relationship-building skills and confidence working directly with business partners and cross-functional teams. 

• Advanced proficiency in Excel; experience with enterprise accounting and operating systems such as Oracle Cloud ERP is an asset. 

• Understanding of intercompany accounting and complex organizational structures. 

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet strict deadlines in a fast-paced, event-driven and consumer-facing environment while maintaining a high standard of accuracy. 

• Demonstrated initiative and ability to work independently while contributing effectively within a collaborative team. 

• Experience with retail, merchandise, apparel, e-commerce, inventory accounting, consumer products, or sports and entertainment is considered an asset. 

• Experience with point-of-sale systems, inventory management systems, physical inventory counts, shrink/obsolescence analysis, or high-volume sales reconciliation is considered an asset. 

Please apply by: Tuesday, September 22, 11:59 pm.