Sr Accounts Receivable and Deductions Specialist

Bel, makers of iconic brands including GoGo squeeZ, Babybel, The Laughing Cow, and Boursin is a growing global company that values your contributions, strives to create a sense of belonging for everyone and offers career growth and development opportunities, as well as competitive total compensation and meaningful well-being benefits from day one. For All, For Good, our company signature, reflects Bel’s commitment to Purpose*Full Snacking which unlocks nourishment, joy, and the future of food by providing fruit, veggie and dairy goodness - for all. 

The company has headquarters in Chicago (Bel USA) and New York City (Materne North America) and operates 4 manufacturing plants in Little Chute, WI; Brookings, SD; Traverse City, MI; and Nampa, ID.

Job Description Summary

The Sr. Accounts Receivable & Deduction Specialist is responsible for the full accounting life cycle management of a specific portfolio of customers and the day-to-day operations of the Accounts Receivable & Deduction department. This role will manage the deduction process, ensure timely posting of customer payments, follow-up on past due invoices and provide detailed analysis of all deductions to ensure accurate and timely reconciliation and resolution.  In addition, this role will participate in supporting special departmental initiatives and projects when assigned. This position will be set in a fast-paced environment and will require accuracy, time management, and flexibility.  This is a remote, non-exempt role based in Chicago.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Cash application: Manages daily cash receipts, retrieves lockbox deposits and ACH/EFT reports; creates electronic files and performs cash application.  Maintain tracking files and make updates daily.
• AR Balances: Collaborates with the Treasury group to reconcile the general ledger and bank accounts.
• Deductions: Responsible for deduction research and clearing in a timely manner: Assess open Debit Memo’s ensuring consistent, timely & accurate reporting and reconciliation.
• Websites: Monitors customer-based websites to obtain deduction and payment documentation.
• EDI: Utilizes EDI platform to retrieve remittance details and solve invoicing issues.
• Brokers: Prepare and process broker check requests, maintaining files and preventing deductions from occurring by processing check requests timely. 
• Escalations: Follow guidelines for proper escalation of unresolved items.
• Credibility: Establish relationships cross-functionally and with Customers / Brokers to maintain a steadfast focus on achieving goals and meeting Key Performance Indicator (KPI) targets.
• DEALS: Provides internal support cross-functionally regarding deals that can be closed or remain open due to unresolved deduction balances.  Utilize trade management tool.
• Collections: Monitor customer accounts, identifying past-due payments. Follow up with customers on past-due invoices via phone and/or email. Manage collection efforts.  Maintain detailed records of collection activities, including communication of payment arrangements, and any actions taken.
• Dispute Resolution: Investigate and resolve customer inquiries, deductions, billing disputes and/or past due invoices. File claims for all invalid deductions. Handle unique or complex billing scenarios. 
• Communication: Value added and action-oriented collaboration cross-functionally to Inform others of any specific issues or trends. 
• Credit Reviews: Verify the creditworthiness of customers, setting credit limits, and monitoring accounts.
• Accounting Support: Prepare audit files (external, internal and tax) and month-end / fiscal year analyses.
• Other duties: All other duties & special projects as assigned by direct manager or senior management.

Qualifications and Competencies

• High School Diploma or equivalent required; Some accounting college coursework is preferred.
• 10+ years of related AR experience required.
• 5+ years related experience in a deduction/collection role, analysing and reconciling items such as: Trade/Billbacks, Shortages, Logistic Penalties, Spoils and/or other AR deduction miscellaneous items.
• Experience working with Trade Fund/Promotion Management tools preferred.

• Highly proficient technology skills including ERP SAP ECC [or SAP HANA S4] systems and Microsoft Suite [specifically Excel, Word, and Power Point].

• Ability to work indep