Accounting Specialist

Description

Headquartered in Irvine, CA, Western Growers is a multi-faceted service agricultural organization and trade association founded in 1926 that operates a number of companies that offer a wide array of products and services to our member companies and other customers. Visit www.wga.com and watch this company video to better understand our family of companies.

Compensation: $47,463 - $66,703 with a rich benefits package that includes profit-sharing.

Job Description Summary

Undergeneralsupervision, the Accounting Specialist isresponsibleforprofessionalaccountingdutiesincludingtheexamination,analysis, maintenance, reconciliation, and verification of financial records; and perform related work as required. This position willworkunderwell-establishedguidelinestodevelopsufficientknowledgetoindependentlyperform andassumejourney-levelresponsibilitiesunder the supervisionofhigher-levelaccountants.Thisposition reports to the Vice President, Finance/Controller .

Q UAL IF IC A TIO NS

• Associate’s degree in accounting, business administration or related field; or a combination of training, education, and three (3) to five (5) years of experience that is equivalent and that provides the required knowledge and abilities preferred.
• Three (3)tofive (5)plusyearsofrelatedprofessional experience with a basic knowledge ofgenerallyacceptedaccountingprinciples(GAAP)encompassingfundamental theories, principles, and terminology of accountancy.
• Proficient end-user computer skills with Microsoft Office applications, particularly creating and interpreting excel spreadsheets.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, both measured by the ability to communicate information and ideas so others will understand, and a friendly, service-oriented attitude including the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal customers at all levels, and representing the organization to external customers, vendors and business partners outside the organization. Communication may be in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Abilityto think critically, analyzefiscaldataanddrawlogicalconclusions;identify accountingissuesandrecommend effective solutions; read, understand, and apply administrative and accounting policies to departmental functions; and perform basic to intermediate mathematical calculations.
• Strong work ethic with a criticalattentiontodetailandexcellentorganizational and time management skillstobeabletohandletasks for multiple legal entities with multiple lines of business inafast-paced environment.
  
  

D UTI ES A ND R ESPONS IB IL ITIE S

Accounting Support

• Timely perform monthly bank reconciliations for bank accounts owned by entities within the WGFC, including ensuring accuracy of reconciling items between bank and ledger balances, research and issue resolution of any discrepancies
• Perform monthly bank reconciliations for all PCMI TPA customer owned accounts established for the payment of self-insured claims, working closely with internal colleagues in the Admin Finance department who maintain individual customer account ledgers, including ensuring that ledger accounts properly reflect all activity (deposits, payment runs, voids, stop payments, reissues, etc.) and reconcile to bank statements.
• Responsible for the timely preparation and posting a variety of detailed accounting entries for all WGFC entities including critical thinking and analysis to determine appropriate allocation and recording within the accounting system for proper financial statement presentation.
• Reconciliation of assigned general ledger accounts to include budget variance analysis, including primary and subsidiary schedules where appropriate.
• May participate in the preparation, evaluation, justification, and maintenance of budgets and budgetary controls.
  
  

Treasury Support

• Post daily bank transactions from all banks and for all entities to the Accounting system.
• Research and cancel, where appropriate, stale dated checks according to Company policy for all cash management accounts and upload confirmations to all appropriate systems.
• Provide back-up support to the Senior Treasury Analyst for critical daily functions, which may include updating cash positions, review and decisioning of positive pay exceptions for all banks, provide various bank reporting to colleagues, process intercompany cash transfers and/or external wires as necessary, and respond to other various time sensitive inquiries that may arise.
  
  

Administrative Support

• Working closely with colleagues as to form and content, prepare and enter invoice detail into the Company’s Associate Management System (AMS) for services rendered to customers purchasing a variety of services offered by the Company, including H2-A, PACA, and WG University trainings and seminars.
• Maintain the Company’s fixed asset records, including invoice coding, maintenance of depreciation and cap-ex schedules, and determination of expense vs. capitalization in accordance with the Company’s capitalization policy.
• Maintain schedule of property tax filing due dates for all offices and jurisdictions; prepare all property tax returns and ensure accuracy and timely filing in accordance with jurisdictional requirements.
• Prepare or provide support for tax or other regulatory reporting as assigned.
• Assist external audits through preparation of schedules and analyses, document retrieval, and general organization.
  
  

Other

• Utilize allcapabilitiestosatisfyonemission—enhancethecompetitivenessandprofitabilityofour members. Do everything possible to help members succeed by being curious and striving to understand what others are trying to achieve, planning and executing work in a helpful and collaborativemanner,beingwillingtoadjusteffortstoensurethatworkandattitudearehelpfulto others, being self-accountable, creating positive impact, and being diligent in delivering results.
• All other duties as assigned.
  
  

P HY SIC AL D E MA NDS /W OR K E NVIRONMEN T

Thephysicaldemandsandworkenvironmentdescribedherearerepresentativeofthosethatmustbemetby an employee to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be madetoenableindividualswithdisabilitiestoperformtheessentialfunctions.Whileperformingthedutiesof thisjob,theemployeeisregularlyrequiredtocommunicatewithothers.Theemployeefrequentlyisrequired to move around theoffice.The employee isoftenrequired to use tools,objects,and controls.Thisnoise level in the work environment is usually moderate.