Milk Accounting Specialist

Milk Accounting Specialist 
(Non-Union / Hourly)

Department: Procurement

Reports To: Producer Payroll & Equity Manager

Location: Edwardsville, IL 

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Pay Range + other compensation components: 60,000-75,000

Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, STD, Thrift, Life Insurance 

Shift (if applicable): M-F 7:00AM-3:30PM / 7:30AM-4:00PM

Position Overview

The Milk Accounting Specialist is responsible for ensuring the accurate and timely reconciliation of milk, cream, and procurement-related transactions to support monthly producer payroll and financial reporting. This position plays a critical role in validating transactional data, maintaining accurate producer records, processing producer payroll, and supporting financial integrity of the Procurement department. 

Key Responsibilities

The Milk Accounting Specialist shall be responsible for, but not limited to, the following:

• Reconcile monthly milk receipts, components, and transactional data to ensure accurate producer and supplier payments.
• Process producer payroll, including validating payment calculations, reviewing exceptions, and ensuring timely and accurate payment distribution.
• Enter and maintain producer assignments, deductions, premiums, and other payroll-related information.
• Research and resolve discrepancies involving producer payments, milk receipts, cream transactions, and procurement records.
• Reconcile bulk cream and other procurement-related transactions to ensure financial accuracy and completeness.
• Generate, review, and distribute recurring departmental reports related to milk procurement, producer payroll, cream activity, and other operational metrics.
• Validate data accuracy across multiple systems and collaborate with Accounting and Procurement teams to resolve issues. 
• Respond to producer inquiries regarding payroll, deductions, payment calculations, statements, and related account information.
• Maintain accurate producer records while ensuring compliance with company policies and applicable regulations.
• Assist with month-end closing activities, reconciliations, audits, and financial reporting as needed.
• Identify opportunities to improve reconciliation processes, reporting efficiencies, and internal controls.
• Support equity and stock processes.
• Assist with year-end statements and 1099s.
• Support departmental projects, system implementations, testing, and continuous improvement initiatives. 

Required Qualifications

• Experience working with large data sets and financial reconciliations.

The following is preferred:

• Associate or bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field. 
• Two or more years of experience in payroll, accounting, reconciliation, finance, or a related analytical role.
• Experience in agriculture, dairy, procurement, or commodity-based industries.
• Experience with ERP, accounting, or producer payroll systems. 

Required Skills/Abilities: 

• Strong organizational skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• High attention to detail and accuracy with strong reconciliation and accounting skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment. 
• Advanced Excel skills and experience working across multiple data sources.

Required Soft Skills:

• Strong communication and customer service skills with the ability to interact professionally with producers and internal departments.
• High degree of accuracy, integrity, and confidentiality when handling financial information.

Competency

• Detail-Oriented Execution- delivers highly accurate financial work with strong controls.
• Regulatory Expertise- navigates federal order requirements with confidence.
• Analytical Problem Solving- identifies trends, issues, and opportunities quickly.
• Ownership Mindset- acts as a steward of cooperative financial performance.
• Continuous Improvement- drives efficiency and process optimization. 

Working Conditions

• Minimal travel expected; may attend meetings or training sessions as needed.
• (S)he will be required to sit and stand for long periods of time.
• Will be required to lift and move large amounts of paperwork (box of files).
• Will be required to stoop, bend, and reach above the head and below the knees to file and retrieve data. 

About Prairie Farms – “Farmer Owned. Locally Produced. Since 1938.”

We are a farmer-owned cooperative. This means we are owned and operated by over 800+ farm families who are critical members of society. They have selflessly taken on the tremendous task of producing nutritious, high-quality milk for a growing population, which requires being on the job 24/7, 365 days a year.

We have represented American agriculture since our founding in 1938. Many of our dairy farms are operated by several generations of family members with roots dating back to the 1800s. On average, each farm milks around 120 cows and everyone pitches in to keep them happy and healthy - which means around-the-clock care!

Our Mission:

• To produce dairy products of the highest quality
• To conduct our business with professional integrity
• To exceed expectations of our customers and consumers
• To support our communities in a positive, sustainable manner
• To deliver exceptional patronage to our network of farm families
• To simply “do right” for our farm families, employees, and communities

EEO Statement

Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.