Job Description: Trade Promotions Accounting Analyst

Position Summary:

The Trade Promotions Analyst is responsible for ensuring that trade, brokerage, label, marketing, and promotional programs are properly established and maintained in the applicable systems. The role involves safeguarding company assets by promptly validating and processing payment and deduction data. This is achieved by maintaining accurate and orderly physical files and computer databases, and by facilitating the flow of payment and deduction processing through consistent and timely resolution.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Marketing/Promotion Setup:

• Establish and maintain marketing/promotion items in the applicable system (trade rebates, brokerage, buying group rebates, MAP funds, operator promotions, label allowances, etc.).
• Maintain applicable system/database to reflect and track deals offered by sales.

1. Customer and Partner Inquiries:

• Research inquiries from customers and business partners related to promotional items.
• Communicate findings promptly.

1. Payment Processing:

• Process and maintain the applicable system or database for the preparation of payment requests for trade-related items.
• Ensure approval is obtained before submitting to Accounts Payable for payment.

1. Deduction Document Management:

• Receive incoming deduction documents and support from team members or customers for trade-related items.
• Review to determine if the program has been set up.
• Contact customers for additional backup if the provided support is not adequate.

1. Customer Data Validation:

• Enter or review customer data in the applicable database to determine the validity of the customer’s claim and the related available accrual.
• Analyze database items for accuracy compared to customer deductions/payment requests, price changes, etc.

1. Credit Requests:

• Prepare credit requests for items supported by existing trade programs.
• Resolve any discrepancies with Sales and/or customers.

1. Invalid Trade Deductions:

• Contact customers to secure repayment for invalid trade deduction items, providing necessary information to support the amount allowed for the trade program.

1. Database Maintenance:

• Maintain deduction database information in the Blacksmith system.
• Maintain physical files of deductions currently open and in the resolution process.

1. Reporting:

• Prepare reports to track the status of payment requests and deduction balances.
• Communicate progress to management.
• Develop/maintain reports to communicate trade spending information, accrual balances, and to support monthly P/L variance analysis.

1. Special Projects:

• Undertake other projects as requested by management to support the Finance department.

1. Collaboration:

• Collaborate closely with onsite teams and participate in onsite meetings to drive departmental objectives.

Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor's degree in a business-related field or equivalent experience.
• Related Experience: 1 - 3 years of business experience.
• Experience in Customer Service, Sales/Marketing, or Accounting/Finance is strongly preferred.
• Equipment/Software Skills: Excellent knowledge of all Microsoft Office, database access, and spreadsheet programs (should be able to create formulas, link and summarize data, etc.) required.
• Experience working with databases and exporting to Excel is preferred.