Accounts Payable Research Coordinator

JOB OVERVIEW:

Under direction, the Accounting Coordinator coordinates the activities of procedural and administrative departmental accounting work to ensure generally accepted standard accounting principles, established procedures, departmental guidelines, and regulatory requirements are adhered to.

ROLES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Coordinate day-to-day activities of the Accounts Payable research area. This includes training, cross training, monitoring workload status, supporting and reviewing team activities, accurate and timely research of invoices, interpreting and resolving problems for vendors and restaurant management, and special projects.

• Research vendor payment inquiries while guiding vendors towards the self-service tools available in the Vendor Management Portal and Darden's Procure to Pay system

• Supports onboarding efforts for the Vendor Management Portal and Darden's Procure to Pay system, including tracking the progress of onboarding initiatives

• Promote open communications, good working relations and a helpful teamwork environment for smooth Accounts Payable workflow

• Maintain effective communications and interactions among all areas of the Accounts Payable staff and management. This also includes effective communication with all departments

• Provide leadership and direction for A/P Research staff. Help identify potential issues and provide recommendations for resolution. Serve as the main point of contact for research issues

• Communicate with and assist supervisor and co-workers with projects as assigned

DAILY/WEEKLY DUTIES:

• Daily coordination of the research area, including scheduling and coverage for the phone queue, monitoring and assignment of research mailbox, monitoring status of key vendor aging statements and assisting team in answering and resolving questions/issues

• Prepare weekly summaries and performance metrics for management and team meetings

• Interpret and resolve problems relating to accounts payable vendors, departments and restaurants

• Prepare and/or review transmittals

• Run vendor history reports and perform research for outside requests

• Promote a positive team environment

• Ensure invoice corrections are processed and recorded accurately in Oracle and One Notes

• Oversee and/or assist with debit balance resolution and recovery

MONTHLY DUTIES:

• Provide teamwork support for all areas during month-end process as needed, ensuring required month-end transactions and accruals are completed timely and accurately

• Manage and maintain P&L mailbox, ensuring adequate coverage and timely responses

• Process journal entries associated with intercorp charges

Reconcile inter-corporate account activity and resolve balancing issues

• Prepare monthly GL account reconciliations as assigned

• Assist supervisor and management team with special projects, audits, and special requests

REQUIRED SKILLS:

• Strong interpersonal skills, helpful teamwork attitude

• Proven leadership ability and capable of working well with others to promote a positive team attitude

• Professional, helpful approach in working with management, restaurant support center personnel, restaurant management and outside entities

• Accounting knowledge, control minded

• Ability to make good decisions while working under pressure in a fast paced, high-volume environment

• Self-starter with strong organizational skills and ability to prioritize a high-volume workload

• Sense of urgency and willingness to make tough decisions

• Attention to detail with strong analytical skills and follow through

REQUIRED TECHNICAL SKILLS:

• Three (3) to four (4) years responsible experience in the administrative and procedural functions of accounting work

• Thorough knowledge of A/P functions: invoice processing, batching, encoding and research

• Working knowledge of Oracle, Discoverer, IBPM (Imaging) & expertise with PC software (Excel, Word, Outlook, etc.)

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Previous experience in restaurant or hospitality a plus

• Bachelor's Degree in Finance, Accounting or Business a plus

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