Cost Analyst

Be part of a growing, successful company in an exciting and challenging field. Border States is 100% employee-owned, which means you’re empowered to make decisions, find solutions and receive rewards for your hard work.

This position will be located in: Fargo, ND Remote work opportunity

Application Deadline: November 10, 2026.

Please note that the position may be filled before or after the listed application deadline. Applications will only be accepted while the posting remains active.

Pay Range: $64,300 - $80,000

*Individual compensation is determined based on several factors, including job-related skills and qualifications, education, relevant experience, work location, internal equity considerations, and the overall responsibilities of the position.

Job Summary

The Cost Analyst 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 Border States 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

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant work experience.
• No minimum years of prior experience required; relevant experience in procurement, sales, marketing, pricing, costing, supply chain, or distribution is 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.

Our History

Border States is a leader in the electrical supply distribution industry with approximately 130 locations in 31 states. Our employee-owners are second to none in delivering top-notch customer service and in demonstrating extra-ordinary people skills. We are one of the largest independent electrical distributors in the United States providing products and services to the construction, industrial and utility industries. Border States has a competitive benefit package and is a 100 percent employee-owned company. Employee-ownership is a significant part of our culture and our success stems from the dedication of our employee-owners. We practice open-book management and our employee-owners are empowered with clearly defined levels of authority to be innovative and decisive, allowing us to respond quickly to the needs of customers. Employee-owners understand their roles in the success of the company and care about customers’ needs, which drives our focus on adding value to everything we do. We recognize that not all customers are the same and each has specific requirements. Our employee-owners understand these diverse needs and have the commitment, resourcefulness and flexibility to outperform all others.

Values
As a Border States employee-owner, you’re responsible for living our mission, service philosophy and service standards.

Our Purpose
We believe unstoppable businesses shouldn't go it alone. We are owners - of relationships, of outcomes, of every moment these unstoppable businesses need to deliver.

Service Philosophy
We earn customer loyalty and confidence by caring about their needs and adding value to everything we do.

Service Standards
Border States employee-owners are competent, accurate, responsive, and engaged .

Your career
Join an experienced team at one of the largest electrical distributors in the United States. What are you waiting for?

Border States has a competitive benefits package which includes but is not limited to:

Health, Dental and Vision Benefits
Accident, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity
FSA & HSA
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
Disability Benefits
401(k) Retirement Plan
Life Insurance
Employee Assistance Program
Paid Holidays
Paid Volunteer Time
Personal Leave time and more!
Border States provides bonuses to their employee-owners upon the achievement of branch and company goals.

Equal Opportunity For All

It’s not just the law. It’s something we’ve believed in since our founding. We value the diversity of all of our employee-owners and will always be an equal opportunity employer.

Drug Free/Smoke Free workplace

Employment may be contingent on the offered candidate successfully passing one or more of the following pre-employment screenings:

• Criminal background check (required for all positions)
• Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) check (required for positions involving driving)
• Drug testing

The MVR check and drug testing vary by role and will be communicated to the offered candidate during the onboarding process and as applicable.