Trade Accounting Analyst - Franklin, TN

Job description

A mutually rewarding experience.

Work. Realize your ambitions. And realize there's more to being in business than just making a profit. That's the Mars philosophy. And the opportunity we offer every one of our Associates. An opportunity to take what you do and make it mean more for you, for those around you and for the planet. What you get here is challenging, interesting work. You get the tools you need to do a great job and you get to have the best possible people on your side to help you do it. And at the same time as getting to find ways to do business better today than we did it yesterday and driving a great career, you also get to build a more enlightened business and drive sustainability.

Because it's never just about a single person, a single project or a single brand. It's about how you can grab everything that's within your reach here and use it to pursue mutual, long-term gain. It's about having ideas. And ideals. Being prepared to risk failure because the promise of success means we'll all be a little better off. It's that mix of integrity and ambition that makes Mars such a special place to work. And why working here is always about more than just a job.

About Mars, Incorporated

Mars is a family-owned business with more than a century of history making diverse products and offering services for people and the pets people love. With almost $35 billion in sales, the company is a global business that produces some of the world's best-loved brands: M&M's®, SNICKERS®, TWIX®, MILKY WAY®, DOVE®, PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, WHISKAS®, EXTRA®, ORBIT®, 5™, SKITTLES®, UNCLE BEN'S®, MARS DRINKS and COCOAVIA®. Mars also provides veterinary health services that include BANFIELD® Pet Hospitals, Blue Pearl®, VCA® and Pet Partners™. Headquartered in McLean, VA, Mars operates in more than 80 countries. The Mars Five Principles – Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom – inspire its more than 100,000 Associates to create value for all its partners and deliver growth they are proud of every day.

Mars Petcare is looking for Trade Accounting Analyst, Franklin, TN

Purpose of Role

This role tasked with ensuring the proper accounting, forecasting, reporting, administration and control processes for all related Trade investment activities. This includes period brand allocations of expenses and sound analyses of accrued and expense balances as well as updating internal control processes. It is responsible for ensuring accurate and complete trade accrual from the trade management system “Compass” into our accounting system “Atlas”. This role will work closely with cross functional partners to ensure system stability and process/audit compliance. This position monitors and updates the internal control processes and procedures related to trade promotions and is the primary point of contact for questions regarding overall trade promotion expenses.

Principal Accountabilities

·  COMPASS / ATLAS SAP Financial Systems – Maintains the integrity of the system and data relating to this area. This system is the basis for trade promotion period close entries, brand & item allocations, reviewing/ driving ROI performance, and overall budget/ LE management.
·  Period Close – responsible for journal entries related to Trade Finance including:
·  Performs period close journal entries for expense recognition, accruals/deferrals and account analysis/reconciliation at the end of each period for Trade investments
·  Weekly review of financial results through COMPASS/ ATLAS integration – including trade on-invoice expenses, deductions/ promotional spend, closeouts, markdowns, listing fees, logistics rebate, etc.
·  Analyzing and reconciling trade expenses between SAP & COMPASS to ensure expense recognition & data integrity across trade reporting & analytics.
·  Ensure proper controls & governance over the COMPASS system including monitoring system access, limits of authority, timeliness of event entry & closure resulting in the creating & release of related accruals
·  Tracking & clearing any debit accrual balances or necessary reclassification entries
·  Driving efficiencies in reporting by ensuring accurate use of trade tactics/ sub-tactics, COPA mapping between COMPASS and SAP, and adding new features/ set-ups (3rd party payee, sub-accounts, etc.)
·  Reporting – prepares and analyzes period close reporting including – weekly & period end trade accrual model, item/ product hierarchies, Cash P&L, accrual forecast, comparison of actuals to forecast, period analysis of deferred and accrued balances
·  Responsible for prepaid accounting related to trade including accounting journal entries, reconciliations, and any re-classes that are needed.
·  Maintains adherence to Mars financial policies and procedures
·  General Ledger – Maintains integrity of chart of accounts including COPA and value mapping to management reporting (HELIOS)
·  Assists in developing the annual operating plan ensuring proper reporting set-up & integration of reporting tactics across Trade, Shopper, and Logistics paid to the retailer
·  Reviews and ensure appropriate accrual levels are in place for Trade accounts.

Key Competencies

·  Steadfastly pushes self and others for results
·  Uses rigorous logic and methods to solve difficult problems with effective solutions
·  Probes all fruitful sources for answers
·  Can see hidden problems
·  Spends his/her time, and the time of others, on what is important
·  Quickly zeros in on the critical few and puts the trivial many aside; Eliminates Roadblocks

Key Functional Skills

·  Accounting - The knowledge and application of Mars, Inc. accounting policies and principles, U.S. GAAP (as described in the Finance Manual) in order to meet business reporting requirements for providing timely and accurate reporting of financial results.
·  Financial Control - The knowledge and application of business processes, internal control concepts and practices, and auditing techniques to ensure cost-effective protection of business assets and approval of and governance over business activities at the appropriate level in the organization.
·  Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to motivate and influence without direct reporting authority in order to achieve objectives.
·  Strong analytical capabilities coupled with the ability use storytelling through transparent communication of results, identify issues, obtain mutual agreement relative to the resolution and drive change.
·  Ability to manage detailed information, understand complex processes and use relationships to achieve results.
·  Must have a high degree of self-direction with the ability to constantly seek innovative ways to perform tasks in an efficient and timely manner.
·  Must be proactive, high energy, detailed-oriented when appropriate, results-oriented, and willing to drive change

Minimum Qualifications

·  Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance or related financial field
·  2-5 years of work experience in Accounting or Finance
·  Financial modeling experience

Preferred Qualifications

·  CPA or MBA preferred
·  CPG experience preferred

Mars is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process because of a disability, it is available upon request. The company is pleased to provide such assistance, and no applicant will be penalized as a result of such a request.

Nearest Major Market: Nashville
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