Accounting & Finance Specialist

Who We Are:

Mid-States Distributing ("Mid-States") is the leading Farm, Ranch and Home Retail Cooperative in the US. Our company is owned by 28 independent Farm, Ranch & Home retailers (Members) who operate over 700 stores in 34 states with combined annual sales in excess of 7 billion dollars. Our member/owners retail items such as apparel & footwear, hardware & tools, agriculture parts & supplies, petroleum products, pet food, lawn & garden, animal health supplies, sporting goods, and a variety of other products for the Farm, Ranch and Home consumer. We do billions of dollars of business with some of the most recognizable brands in the world.

We place a tremendous amount of emphasis on creating a unique and positive company culture. Most of our employees will tell you this is the best place they have ever worked. We value high energy people who will help us deliver technology and process breakthroughs to make sure our retailers are always #1 in their markets. Our consumers are people raising kids, cows and quarter horses so traditional values like God, family and service are important virtues around here. If you are enthusiastic and competitive, have a great attitude, posess excellent communication skills, are good at building relationships, and you love to win – Mid-States is the place for you!

Position Summary:

Entry-level accounting position and excellent development opportunity, with high potential to advance and lead. Versatile, ambitious accounting & finance generalist, service-oriented professional, who takes pride in their ability to execute key accounting, treasury, and FP&A responsibilities, including all accounting controls, month-end close cycle, audit support, process improvements / automation, variance analysis and resolution, managing a portfolio of Supplier and Customer Accounts, processing transactions accurately and efficiently, and collaborating with team members – business partner, relationship builder, problem solver, analyst, planner, facilitator, communicator.

Essential Functions:

- Ensure that Accounting processes are completed accurately and on schedule. Complete monthly financial close procedures, develop and maintain accounting controls, support audit activities, and always evaluate results for reasonableness

- Manage a portfolio of Supplier and Customer accounts to ensure accurate and timely accounting of all transactions

- Monitor performance indicators, highlight trends and analyze variances

- Support functional departments (i.e. category management, inventory, supply chain and accounts payable) with ad hoc analysis and reporting as needed

- Support Pricing, Cost, and Inventory analysis to deliver target margins while remaining competitive

- Professional communication with Program Managers, Customers, and Suppliers to build trusted working relationships and solve problems

- Process supplier invoices, including three-way match and freight allocation, and enter invoices into ERP system (Microsoft Dynamics)

- Invoice customers for drop shipments and freight invoices

- Review and audit daily EDI transactions and manage exceptions; trouble-shoot errors and work with Suppliers and EDI services to refine programming, as needed

- Reconcile and resolve account discrepancies and past due items to ensure all vendors are paid on time, every time

- Create and post necessary entries related to overages, shortages, and damaged items

- Potential to cross train and gain professional experience in additional Corporate Financial Management functions, including FP&A, Treasury, Tax, Risk Management, Benefits, and Compliance

- Organize job duties, time, office files and space for maximum efficiency

- Perform special projects and other duties as needed

Competencies:

- Teamwork - Promote positive, respectful working relationships and working environment

- Service Orientation – Understand that serving our Suppliers and Customers well is essential for our business model

- Versatile – Natural curiosity to learn, willingness to work on anything with anyone, mental agility to transition effectively

- Process Management – ability to see how individual work fits together into broader business processes, ensures all individual elements are completed with quality, and constantly look for new ways to optimize

- Language and reasoning skills - Ability to identify problems, develop solutions, and facilitate implementation among multiple parties

- Analytical and forward-looking; instinctively asks Why and anticipates outcomes

- Combination of Accounting education and/or experience to ensure all transactions are processed in accordance with GAAP

- Must possess the ability to recognize and appropriately handle confidential materials

- Great communication and listening skills

- Organized, detail oriented, and motivated to succeed

- Proficient computer skills using Microsoft Office (Excel, Outlook and Word)

- Proficient keyboard aptitude, data entry accuracy and speed

- Strong attention to detail

Required Education and Experience:

- Accounting, Finance, or Business Degree

- College level course work in Accounting

- Accounting or financial internship or work experience preferred

Supervisory Responsibility: This position has no immediate supervisory responsibilities

Physical Demands and Work Environment: Generally the job requires 80% sitting, 10% walking, and 10% standing. This job is performed in a generally clean environment. The usual and customary methods of performing the job's functions require the following physical demands: some lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling, some stooping and significant fine finger dexterity.

Travel: There may be occasional travel for this position.

Other Duties: Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.