A/R Analyst

Cabot Creamery - Waitsfield, VT

Full-time - Entry Level

Waitsfield, VT

Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods

About the position

Agri-Mark/McCadam/Cabot Creamery offers a career steeped in over 100 years of commitment to farmers, family, mission, purpose, sustainability, respect, integrity, work ethic, teamwork, and pride in award-winning products. As the world's first dairy co-op to achieve B Corp certification in 2012, we are dedicated to transforming the global economy to benefit all people, communities, and the planet. This position is primarily responsible for the analysis and reporting of Accounts Receivable transactions related to the sales of manufactured dairy products, including cheese, butter, cultured, whey, and milk powder. The role involves providing cross-functional support to the A/R team on billing, cash posting, and collection activities, collaborating with different departments to research customer deductions, and assisting with the dispute resolution process. Additionally, the position entails investigating and processing certain settlement transactions related to trade promotions spending, as well as gathering credit information to assist management in making informed decisions on customer credit evaluations.

Responsibilities

• Prepare schedules related to A/R, billing, trade spending and deduction activities.
• Prepare A/R reconciliations for Trade, Whey/Powder and Storage segments.
• Track A/R 'roll forward' report to monitor and report out KPI statistics.
• Oversee bad debts write off activity in Reserve for Uncollectible Accounts.
• Review and track monthly transactions in Sales Returns and Allowances accounts.
• Oversee cash flow model for daily sales and cash receipts transactions.
• Investigate material discrepancies in projected vs. actual sales and cash receipts.
• Revise cash flow model assumptions as needed based on evaluation of sales, payment and deduction trends for major customers.
• Reconcile daily and monthly cash activity reports to tie out to deposits.
• Assist with month end close procedures, ensure transactions are in balance and in correct period.
• Monitor activity in daily EDI invoicing reports and address any transmission errors with IT dept.
• Cross train to provide backup support for billing, cash posting, deductions, and collections.
• Perform daily invoicing process and ensure that all reports tie out before activity is posted to the general ledger.
• Prepare powder storage monthly invoices and statements.
• Investigate ongoing customer concerns or billing / pricing issues that arise.
• Collaborate with fellow team members to troubleshoot issues that impact A/R performance.
• Support A/R supervisor with ad hoc reporting and account payment analysis.
• Explore opportunities to leverage automation to improve A/R functions.
• Assist deductions administrators with investigating and resolving deduction transactions.
• Prepare outstanding deductions report and follow up on inquiries as needed.
• Evaluate backup documentation to determine the validity of disputed non-trade claims.
• Track and follow up on payback requests for invalid deductions.
• Review weekly check requests from Blacksmith TPM system and submit report to A/P.
• Research and validate post audit claims for trade promotions events.
• Reconcile trade spending accounts and post monthly adjustments to general ledger.
• Prepare Outstanding Deductions reports, including pending Trade Collections claims.
• Identify unusual variances in trade spending accruals and research accordingly.
• Assist manager with preparation of monthly trade spending accrual journal entries.
• Process adjustments to correct transactions in the A/R or trade promotions systems.
• Assist with processing credit memos for product returns, pricing, or customer complaints.
• Collaborate with customers and other departments to reduce unauthorized deductions.
• Investigate opportunities to streamline and improve the overall workflow of deduction activity.
• Process customer credit applications and obtain trade and bank references.
• Retrieve information from credit services to assist with evaluating customer credit worthiness.
• Keep colleagues informed of the status of new credit applications.
• Review new customer set ups to ensure the customer Master Data file has correct information.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, business, or finance.
• Minimum of 2 years' work experience in accounting related fields.
• Requires a good base knowledge of GAAP accounting rules and concepts.
• Prior experience with B2B, CPG or food manufacturing companies is desirable.
• Demonstrate strong analytical, problem-solving and decision making skills.
• Solid math and logic skills, attention to detail, accuracy with balancing and reconciling transactions.
• Excellent computer skills and advanced Excel spreadsheet skills are essential.
• Strong organization and time management skills to establish priorities for handling multiple tasks.
• Professional communication and interpersonal skills, ability to forge relationships.
• Demonstrate 'can-do' and solutions-oriented mindset with a cheerful outlook.
• Ability to maintain focus and work effectively under pressure while upholding sense of urgency.
• Display initiative to work independently as well as collaboratively in a team environment.