Accounting Specialist

This opportunity is on our Accounts Receivable team specializing in handling short paid invoices. This position is responsible for managing a deduction portfolio, including working directly with our customers and brokers and cross functionally with Sales, Trade Marketing, and Customer Service to resolve open deductions timely and accurately. This position also continuously investigates opportunities to streamline processes, control risk and provides excellent customer service.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Investigates and resolves deductions based on assigned DFA customer accounts by analyzing customer, account, promotion and/or payment detail
• Receives, organizes, and distributes deductions with necessary backup to the assigned area of responsibility
• Determines validity of each deduction and accurately documents and executes appropriate disposition
• Contacts customers for additional information to resolve deductions as necessary
• Processes requests for payment on invalid deductions
• Work in collaboration with the Sales team, Trade Marketing, Customer Service, Logistics and Broker offices to obtain needed information to ensure deductions are resolved timely
• Builds and maintains strong partnerships with internal customers
• Identifies deduction patterns that indicate potential operational issues requiring proactive corrective action
• Identifies and implements opportunities for process improvement within areas of responsibility
• Maintains process documentation and standard operating procedures for areas of responsibility
• Performs other duties as requested

Required Minimum Qualifications:

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in General Business, Accounting, Finance, or related field preferred.

Necessary Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• A minimum of two years' experience in Customer Service, Deductions, Accounts Receivable and/or general Accounting
• Strong communication skills
• Demonstrated organizational skills and attention to detail
• Possess ability to multi-task and prioritize workload
• Ability and willingness to work with a sense of urgency and within deadlines Proactive in anticipating issues and able to think outside the box to resolve issues promptly.
• Prior experience in Excel with working knowledge of pivot tables and reporting capabilities a plus.
• Ability to take ownership of assigned tasks and see through to completion
• SAP experience a plus

An Equal Opportunity Employer including Disabled/Veterans