Accounting Associate (Part-Time)

Work at Simmons•Emporia, KS

About The Position

The Accounting Associate supports the Plant Controller and plant production management by reconciling inventory or production activity and preparing reports. The role generates production batch or inventory reports from the database, compares them with shop-floor documents, investigates discrepancies and variances, and collaborates with production or accounting counterparts to resolve issues. Unresolved issues are escalated to the manager for direction or support. The position processes accounts payable by matching vendor invoices with receiving reports and purchase orders, verifying account coding, and coding invoices without related purchase orders to appropriate expense accounts. It maintains invoice files, tracks financial accruals, determines the taxability of items, and prepares, reviews, and distributes reports and estimates accurately and on time. The role also cross-trains with other accounting employees to support continuity of daily functions. As a team member, the Accounting Associate participates in team development and communication, coordinates work to support best practices, attends team meetings, and helps address issues affecting team cohesiveness. The position is expected to understand and support Simmons’ operating systems, including quality, security, office environment, company policies, and LEAN, and to communicate concerns and improvement ideas. Other duties may be performed in support of business objectives.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
1–2 years of accounting, clerical, or administrative experience.
Basic understanding of math and accounting principles.
Personal computer, calculator, and 10-key skills; working knowledge of Word and Excel.
Accurate data-entry skills and attention to detail.
Strong organizational, interpersonal, analytical, and verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to work independently and maintain accuracy while being detail-oriented and organized.
Ability to walk to different departments, use a computer, communicate with customers, vendors, or employees, visually verify information, and perform typing and 10-key operation throughout the shift.
Ability to use personal protective equipment as required when visiting a facility.
Very occasional domestic travel to multiple facilities or work sites; very occasional overnight travel may be required for training.

Nice To Haves

Experience with ERP systems.
Experience in a food-processing or manufacturing organization.
Some college education, especially accounting classes.
Military experience.

Responsibilities

Reconcile production or inventory reports by comparing database reports with shop-floor documents and analyzing discrepancies and variances.
Collaborate with production or accounting counterparts to resolve discrepancies and escalate unresolved issues to the manager.
Process vendor invoices, match them with receiving reports and purchase orders, verify account coding, and code invoices without related purchase orders to expense accounts.
Generate weekly summary reports and communicate them to the management team.
File invoices accurately and maintain the filing system.
Track financial accruals, identify and estimate costs, and communicate them to the supervisor.
Determine the taxability of items and code them accordingly.
Prepare, review, and distribute reports and estimates accurately and on time, and respond to questions about reports.
Cross-train with other accounting employees to ensure daily functions are covered during absences.
Participate in team development, communication, implementation of team concepts and policies, coordination of work, and appropriate team meetings.
Support Simmons’ operating systems, communicate concerns and improvement ideas, and perform other duties as necessary in support of business objectives.