Director of Accounting & Tax

Overview

The Director of Accounting & Tax serves as the company's senior accounting and tax leader and reports to the Sr. Director of Finance. Operating in a dynamic wholesale apparel environment, this role leads accounting for SG&A, royalties, standard costing, and customer discounts and allowances, oversees balance sheet accruals, and owns tax reporting and forecasting, along with the accounting close and internal controls, while supporting the company's continued growth across domestic and international distribution channels.

This role calls for a hands-on, technically strong leader who understands how these areas drive margin, working capital, and tax exposure in a seasonal wholesale apparel business. The Director of Accounting & Tax will build scalable processes, keep the books audit- and tax-ready, and serve as a trusted partner to Finance leadership.

Preferred locations: Lenexa, KS; New York City, NY; Tampa, FL; Jacksonville, FL

About Unrivaled Teamwear

Unrivaled Teamwear is the fast-growing parent company behind Gear for Sports and Knights Apparel. Headquartered in Lenexa, Kansas, we design, decorate, and deliver team gear — tees, fleece, performance wear, outerwear, headwear, and accessories — for customers ranging from big box retailers, college bookstores, golf courses and resorts, and national retailers.

We've grown quickly over the past year and expect that growth to continue.  We are looking for motivated candidates looking to grow their career alongside the business.

Essential Duties

Core Accounting Focus Areas & Close

• Own the monthly, quarterly, and annual close process, delivering accurate and timely results against a defined close calendar
• Own SG&A accounting, including expense accruals, allocations, and monthly variance analysis against budget, forecast, and prior year
• Oversee balance sheet accruals and reserves, account reconciliations, and journal entries, ensuring every balance sheet account is substantiated and reviewed each period
• Own standard costing, including annual cost rolls, standard cost maintenance, purchase price and production variance analysis, landed cost, inventory reserves, and cost of goods sold analysis
• Own accounting for customer discounts and allowances, including markdowns, co-op advertising, chargebacks, returns, and rebate programs, ensuring accurate reserves and gross-to-net revenue reporting
• Manage accounts payable, accounts receivable, and cash application functions with strong controls and timely processing

Financial Reporting & Controls

• Oversee preparation of accurate and timely monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements in accordance with GAAP
• Design, maintain, and test a robust internal control environment, including documented accounting policies, procedures, and segregation of duties
• Serve as primary point of contact for the annual financial statement audit; manage audit preparation, PBC requests, and resolution of findings
• Research and document technical accounting matters (e.g., revenue recognition, leases, inventory) and drive continuous improvement of accounting systems and processes
• Own royalty and licensing accounting across the company’s brand and collegiate licensing agreements, including royalty accruals, minimum guarantee tracking, licensor reporting, and royalty audits
• Lead consolidation, intercompany accounting, and standardization of financial reporting, systems, and processes across the company’s business units and legacy entities

Tax Reporting, Forecasting & Compliance

• Oversee federal, state, and local income tax compliance, including coordination with external tax advisors on return preparation and filing
• Manage multi-state sales and use tax compliance, nexus analysis, exemption certificate management, and audit defense
• Own tax reporting, including the income tax provision (ASC 740), deferred tax accounting, and estimated tax payments
• Own tax forecasting, including effective tax rate and cash tax projections, and partner with FP&A to build tax into the annual budget and periodic forecasts
• Manage property, franchise, and other indirect tax filings, as well as 1099 and other information reporting

Tax Planning & Risk Management

• Identify and evaluate tax planning opportunities, including entity structure, credits and incentives, and cash tax optimization
• Partner with supply chain and logistics teams on customs, duties, tariff classification, and import compliance, in coordination with external advisors
• Monitor changes in tax legislation and assess their impact on the company's tax position and reporting
• Support tax due diligence and structuring for acquisitions, financings, and other strategic transactions

Leadership & Team Development

• Foster a culture of analytical rigor, integrity, and continuous improvement within the accounting and tax function
• Partner with FP&A, operations, and business unit leaders to provide reliable accounting data and support decision-making
• Present financial results, key accounting matters, and tax updates to the Sr. Director of Finance and other key stakeholders

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field
• CPA required; Master's degree in Accounting or Taxation (MAcc / MST) a plus
• 8+ years of progressive accounting and tax experience, with 3+ years in an accounting leadership role (Director, Controller, Sr. Manager, or equivalent); public accounting experience preferred
• Prior experience in wholesale, consumer goods, retail, or apparel industries
• Deep expertise in U.S. GAAP, financial reporting, and management of the full close process
• Strong working knowledge of federal and multi-state income tax, sales and use tax, ASC 740 income tax accounting, and tax forecasting
• Strong understanding of standard costing, variance analysis, landed cost, and import duty and customs accounting
• Hands-on experience with SG&A accounting, customer discounts and allowances (gross-to-net), and balance sheet accrual management
• Proficiency with ERP systems (e.g., NetSuite, SAP) and BI / reporting tools
• Proven ability to lead teams, develop talent, and influence cross-functional partners

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with a company generating $100M+ in annual wholesale revenue
• Background in private equity-backed or investor-owned businesses
• Familiarity with international sourcing, transfer pricing, and multi-currency accounting
• Experience supporting audits, tax diligence, or integration during a financing event, acquisition, or strategic sale
• Experience implementing or optimizing close management or sales tax automation tools (e.g., FloQast, BlackLine, Avalara)
• Experience with licensed or brand-royalty business models (e.g., collegiate licensing, professional sports, or third-party brand licenses) a plus but not required

EOE/AA: Minorities/Females/Veterans/Disabled

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of all activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the associate.  Other duties will be assigned as needed.

We maintain a drug-free workplace and perform pre-employment substance abuse testing as well as participate in E-Verify.