Accounting Team Leader

Position Purpose

This role is responsible for leading the Accounts Receivable (AR) team while driving analysis and reporting related to customer deductions and promotional spending. The Accounts Receivable Team Leader will serve as a super-user of the new TPM system, providing critical reporting and insights to the sales team and other business partners. This position will collaborate closely with sales, pricing, customer service, and AR to review and resolve escalated deductions, identify root causes, and implement preventative measures. The role also supports broader company objectives through proactive problem-solving and cross-functional engagement.

II. Organizational Relationships

This position reports to the Director of Cost Accounting.  Peer occupations in the company include Customer Serivce Mnager and Pricing Manager.         

III. Position Responsibilities & Duties                                                                                                

1. Develop and Maintain Analytical Reporting

1. Develop and provide pro-active, specialized reporting to accounting and sales teams on promotional spending as a percent of sales, slotting expenses incurred, and returns and allowances dollars expensed.    
2. Generate periodic KPI reports for business leadership, highlighting trends and root causes of customer deductions.  
3. Provide ad-hoc reporting and analysis as needed to support business initiatives.

1. Lead the Accounts Receivable Team

1. Establish clear team goals and performance expectations.  Offer daily support through effective delegation, coaching, and feedback to ensure optimal team performance.
2. Foster professional growth and development of team members through mentorship and training opportunities.

1. Manage Deductions on Customer Accounts

1. Review escalated deductions to assess validity, and work with customers or brokers to recover invalid charges.
2. Identify recurring deduction trends and collaborate across functions to implement preventive process improvements.
3. Partner with the pricing team to enhance pricing condition accuracy and reduce deduction occurrences.
4. Provide guidance and support to the AR team in resolving complex issues.  

1. Champion the New TPM System

1. Leverage expertise in the current Vistex system to actively support the successful rollout of the new TPM platform.
2. Serve as a subject matter expert and super-user for the TPM system, offering training and ongoing support to team members.

III. Position Responsibilities & Duties (continued) 

1. Minimize days outstanding of receivables

1. Monitor and ensure timely resolution of deductions, escalating to the sales team when additional customer or broker support is needed.  

2. Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to support achievement of trade fund and deduction management goals.

3. Monitor collection activity and outstanding balances to ensure total accounts receivable remains within acceptable thresholds and aging targets.

1. Drive Cross-Functional Collaboration

1. Act as a liaison between Accounts Receivable, Sales, Pricing, and Customer Service to ensure alignment and timely resolution of deduction-related issues.
2. Promote open communication and shared accountability for customer financial performance.  

1. Continuous Improvement

1. Identify inefficiencies in AR and deduction processes, and lead initiatives to streamline workflows and eliminate waste.  
2. Promote a culture of process improvement within the team through regular feedback, collaboration, and innovation.

IV. Contacts

Internal contacts are most typically sales, customer service, and logistics personnel.  External contacts include customers, brokers, buyers, and auditors.

V. Scope of Authority

Assignments to this position are most often outlined and work in progress is reviewed occasionally.  Completed work is reviewed periodically.

VII. Essential Skills

1. Traits and Abilities:   

• Thrives on driving continuous improvement
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with a customer service focus.
• Dedicated team player 
• Ability to manage projects and work under the stress of deadlines
• Strong analytical skills with a demonstrated ability to analyze and interpret written business/statistical data
• Strong understanding of accounting transactions.
• Excellent organizational skills and must have the ability to multi-task  
• The ability to work well with others with a positive/encouraging attitude
• Works independently on assignments of standard difficultly
• Serves as an HPWP champion 

1. Related Experience/Educational Level:
2. 2+ years experience in Accounting
3. Bachelor’s degree in Accounting is preferred.  
4. Proficiency in MS Excel and Word
5. History of driving continuous improvement projects.

1.         Licenses/Certifications:  None required.