Specialist, Deductions

Specialist – Deduction Resolution

This role drives changes and improvements to the supply chain by managing deduction resolutions. Facilitate these changes by working with appropriate internal and external business partners. Work to streamline internal deduction processes. Understanding when issues need to be escalated and provide appropriate summarized information to suggest/enable decisions. This Specialist would be responsible for the following:
Understanding and escalating the lack of response from customer/field sales to enable resolution of deductions;
Participating/Leading customer specific process reviews and supply chain discussions;
Process improvement suggestions related to deduction processing.

• Research numerous types of retailer deductions including, but not limited to advertising and returned product disputes. Determine root cause and appropriate actions for resolution.
• Analyze trends in open deductions on the A/R in order to reduce discrepancies and implement permanent resolutions.
• Prepare monthly reports for Management, maintaining the A/R system by offsetting approved charge-backs and preparing adjustments for valid deductions.
• Prepare professional quality emails and spreadsheets for communicating with key customers and Sales on the status of open deductions, including requests for repayment of invalid deductions.
• Lead projects to improve the efficiency of deductions processing and increase standardization amongst accounts.
• Represent supply chain at variety of divisional meetings and collaborate with internal and external partners of the supply chain.
• Communicate effectively with key account directors, sales AVPs, finance directors and AVPs to resolve open deductions and ensure they are accrued on the P/L according to the budgets and negotiated contracts.
• Collaborate with the credit team to proactively resolve deductions and reduce open items on the A/R.
• Collaborate with cash application to improve deduction coding and application.
• Negotiate with retailers to resolve open deductions on the A/R.

• College degree or equivalent work experience required.
• Experience in or exposure to Supply Chain preferably with accounts receivable/financial experience.
• Proficient skills in Excel, Word and Outlook.
• Excellent analytical skills.
• Negotiation skills.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and organizational skills.
• Enthusiasm to work in a fast paced, team-oriented environment.
• Flexibility to work occasional extended hours as required.
• Ability to present data collected and analyzed to upper management.
• Dependable and reliable self-starter.
• Ability to seek effective and efficient ways to achieve results.
• Ability to build and maintain positive relationships with internal and external customers.
• Ability to influence internal and external stakeholders.
• Understanding when issues need to be escalated and provide summarized information to suggest/enable decisions.

• SAP experience is desired but not required.
• Business Process Improvement experience is desired but not required.