Accountant, Accounts Payable & Operations

Overview

POSITION REQUIREMENTS: This is an on-site position Monday – Thursday with flexibility to work remotely on Fridays and is based at Red Lobster’s corporate office in Orlando, FL. 

SUMMARY

This role provides critical support for Red Lobster’s food and beverage ordering, distribution, and supplier payment processes. Responsibilities include coordinating communications, preparing account reconciliations, and resolving issues across these operational workflows. The position partners with internal teams at multiple levels and with external suppliers to research and resolve payment‑related discrepancies. In addition, this role provides critical support to Operations Accounting function with a primary focus on supplier reconciliations, month-end close activities, and inventory accounting. This position contributes to key projects and ongoing enhancements and assists with other essential functions as business needs arise. This role is ideal for candidates who are strong contributors, eager to build expertise, and thrive in a team-focused environment.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead respective accounting activities, including preparing and reviewing journal entries, reconciling balance sheet accounts, and resolving discrepancies in a timely manner.
• Analyze vendor statements to identify past‑due balances or credits and determine appropriate resolution actions, ensuring thorough follow‑through.
• Prepare and analyze inventory valuation reports
• Assist with internal and external compliance and reporting requirements, ensuring adherence to internal controls and external requirements
• Collaborate with internal purchasing teams and vendors to address pricing, product, or process discrepancies and drive resolution.
• Investigate unresolved variances or system issues impacting invoice accuracy, balances, or transaction activity, including collaboration with IT on resolution
• Assist restaurant managers with distributor ordering, receiving, and invoicing concerns, including delivery issues, catalog discrepancies, credits, and invoice mismatches.
• Lead recurring supplier meetings, providing updates and ensuring issues are resolved promptly.
• Support communications with external Utility payments consolidator and Utility companies directly to resolve issues and reconcile account discrepancies.
• Support external audits by preparing the required documentation and providing explanations for financial transactions as needed.
• Support the maintenance of accounting controls by partnering with the team to prepare and recommend updates to policies and procedures.
• Assist with ad hoc projects and support with other operational accounting initiatives as required.

REQUIRED EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance or Accounting
• 3+ years of accounting and/or accounts payable experience in a high-volume environment
• Solid understanding of accrual accounting, internal controls, and core accounting principles
• Experience with large ERP systems and reporting tools

OTHER KEY QUALIFICATIONS:

• Intermediate to advanced Excel skills (e.g., pivot tables, lookups, data analysis)and strong working knowledge of other Microsoft applications.
• Experience with reconciliations, accruals, and month-end close processes.
• Proven experience with account reconciliations and accruals
• Ability to manage high-volume, complex workloads while prioritizing multiple tasks and meeting deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Strong analytical mindset with attention to detail and problem-solving capabilities
• Effective communication, interpersonal, and teamwork skills with the ability to collaborate across diverse groups, including senior leadership and external partners.
• Ability to perform under pressure with a strong sense of urgency during close and system activities.
• Self-motivated and accountable, with the ability to take ownership of responsibilities through to completion
• Experience with supply chain platforms is a plus.