Trade Spend Deductions Associate/Specialist

Griffith Foods is the caring, creative product development partner helping food companies meet the evolving needs of consumers while sustaining the planet. As a family business founded in 1919 and headquartered in Alsip, Illinois USA, Griffith Foods is known for true, collaborative innovation guided by their Purpose of "We Blend Care and Creativity to Nourish the World". The company's product capabilities range from seasonings and marinades to coating systems and sauces that are better for people and better for the planet. For more information, visit www.griffithfoods.com.

Title: Trade Spend Deductions Specialist

Location: Remote role in the Chicagoland area. There is no relocation offered for this role at this time.

Compensation Range: $50,851.72 -$ 67,802.12 USD Annual

Custom Culinary, a subsidiary of Griffith Foods, is hiring a Trade Spend Associate/Specialist to:

• Manage incoming trade spend deduction data, align backup documentation with trade programs, and oversee deduction processing.
• Prepare billback upload files and maintain all deductions within the Blacksmith Deduction Management system.
• Collaborate with Accounts Receivable, customers, brokers, and BDMs to gather documentation and validate trade payment deductions.
• Identify and resolve trade spend issues, escalating when necessary with recommended actions.
• Match customer claims to corresponding trade programs in Blacksmith and create billbacks to validate deductions against programs entered in Forge.
• Identify, document, and analyze invalid deductions; provide supporting materials to recover invalid claims and ensure rootcause corrections.
• Track customer repayments and ensure accurate recording by Accounts Receivable and Trade Spend.
• Maintain deduction balances within monthly targets and aging requirements.
• Advise Sales on proper Blacksmith program setup to ensure accurate accruals and efficient claim resolution.
• Support check request processing and develop Excel models for large buyinggroup rebate claims.
• Create AP billbacks in Blacksmith, review nonautoapproved claims, and determine appropriate disposition.
• Investigate unauthorized claim amounts and verify accuracy of trade program details captured in Blacksmith.

The Expertise and Experiences You'll Need to Succeed:

Qualified candidates will have:

Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance from an accredited university or at least five years of relevant finance or accounting experience including activities such as: account reconciliation, accounts receivable, accounts payable, deduction management, trade payment processing, month-end accounting activities, planning, and analysis.

• Advanced data management skills and strong attention to details are required to successfully handle daily processing activities.
• Strong attention to detail, solid organization and communication skills, and a desire for continuous learning. In addition, the candidate must be able to apply a broad business perspective to this role.
• The position requires advanced Excel skills including but not limited to VLOOKUP, pivot table usage and development, and formula development.
• Microsoft D365 experience is a plus 5+ years of experience in financial roles with exposure to reporting, planning, variance analysis, and project analysis.
• Must have demonstrated experience successfully collaborating in cross functional teams.

What will set you apart:

• Trade-spend management experience in the Food industry is a plus.
• Blacksmith trade management software experience is a plus.

FOR HYBRID OR REMOTE ROLES: Custom Culinary & Griffith Foods embraces WorkFlex, allowing employees to work remotely, and select options like compressed work weeks, flex time, etc. that creates an effective workplace where work patterns meet the needs of both employers & employees. Most professionals come into the office once a week or less. Periodic onsite meetings may occur at our Lombard or Alsip (IL) locations.

Physical Requirements:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, stand and walk to communicate and listen effectively. This will require both office and plant floor environments. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. The employee will occasionally need to operate and drive a forklift or electronic pallet jack to transport materials or goods.

Environmental Concerns

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly exposed to moving mechanical parts and risk of electrical shock. The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions; high, precarious places; outside weather conditions and vibration. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud. Dust and odor present in environment.

We are proud of our benefits offerings. The Company offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements:

Medical, Rx, Dental, Vision, Flexible Spending & Health Savings Accounts, EAP, Health Advocacy, Financial Planning, Parental Leave, Care.com, Adoption & Surrogacy Assistance, Education Assistance/Tuition Reimbursement, Safety Reimbursement, Lifestyle Spending Account, Group Life & AD&D, Voluntary Life Insurance, Short Term & Long Term Disability, 401(k) Plan with Company Match, ESOP, PTO, Holiday's & Leaves, Accident Insurance, Critical Illness Insurance, Hospital Indemnity, Home & Auto Insurance, Pet Insurance, Identity Theft Protection, Long Term Care + Life Insurance & Legal Assistance.

EOE - Vet/Disability

EEO Notice of Rights

Custom Culinary is a subsidiary of Griffith Foods and is a provider of branded and customer brand / "private label" soup bases, flavor concentrates, sauces, gravies, and other flavor enhancing products. We sell primarily into foodservice - restaurants, hospitals, schools, and cafeterias - as well as industrial - food manufacturers, assemblers, and commissaries - and specialty retail - grocery store foodservice, convenience stores, and meal kits.

At Custom Culinary, we aim to Be True to the Food , and we are focused on authentically bringing flavor and excellent food, ingredients, and menu solutions to our customers.

At Griffith Foods and our affiliated companies, we know it's not about a "job" search - it's about searching for a place to drive impact, to have purpose, and to have a fulfilling career. We know it's not just about finding a job, it's about so much more. Here, you can be a part of something bigger than yourself. It's about thriving professionally while blending care and creativity for the greater good. Here you are valued for thinking differently in a space where we are working hard to create a reimagined future.

Griffith Foods is a family-owned business, founded in 1919 and headquartered in Alsip, Illinois USA.

Learn more about us at https://griffithfoods.com/careers/

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Griffith Foods believes that all persons are entitled to equal employment opportunity. Griffith Foods does not discriminate against qualified employees or applicants because of the following actual or perceived characteristics: race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, breastfeeding or related medical condition, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, genetic characteristic or information, AIDS or HIV status, order of protection status, marital status, military or veteran status, unfavorable discharge from military service, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law. Equal employment opportunity will be extended to all persons in all aspect of the employer-employee relationship, including recruitment, hiring, participation in benefit programs, training, promotion, transfer, discipline, layoff, recall, and termination.

#LI-EC2

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Griffith Foods believes that all persons are entitled to equal employment opportunity. Griffith Foods does not discriminate against qualified employees or applicants because of the following actual or perceived characteristics: race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, breastfeeding or related medical condition, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, genetic characteristic or information, AIDS or HIV status, order of protection status, marital status, military or veteran status, unfavorable discharge from military service, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law. Equal employment opportunity will be extended to all persons in all aspect of the employer-employee relationship, including recruitment, hiring, participation in benefit programs, training, promotion, transfer, discipline, layoff, recall, and termination.

Benefits:

Benefits for this role include Medical, Rx, Dental, Vision, Flexible Spending & Health Savings Accounts, EAP, Health Advocacy, Financial Planning, Parental Leave, Care.com, Adoption & Surrogacy Assistance, Education Assistance/Tuition Reimbursement, Safety Reimbursement, Lifestyle Spending Account, Group Life & AD&D, Voluntary Life Insurance, Short Term & Long Term Disability, 401(k) Plan with Company Match, ESOP, PTO, Holiday's & Leaves, Accident Insurance, Critical Illness Insurance, Hospital Indemnity, Home & Auto Insurance, Pet Insurance, Identity Theft Protection, Long Term Care + Life Insurance & Legal Assistance. There is also potential for a discretionary bonus, this bonus is based on personal & company performance and is not a guaranteed bonus plan.