Rotational Accountant

Associated Wholesale Grocers•Kansas City, KS

101d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Accounting Rotational Program is an entry-level opportunity to be introduced to the various departments throughout the accounting department. This position will rotate through six accounting areas over a 24-month timeframe. The program is intended to provide individuals with a broad exposure to the company’s accounting systems and processes while also developing the skills and knowledge for a successful career with Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG). Placement opportunities after successful completion of the program include a variety of divisional or corporate roles within accounting. Ability to relocate regionally, post programs may be necessary for advancement at our division offices. Rotation Overviews Vendor Accounts Receivable (3 month rotation) This rotation will offer you the opportunity to learn about the vendor accounts receivable and billing modules utilizing AWG’s main accounting software and other related software products. Your time in this rotation will help provide an understanding of the importance of managing receivables to the financial structure of AWG. Introduction to cash applications, collections, various billing types and methods, as well as, balancing, roll forward, and transaction verifications. Transition into preparing and posting journal entries and completing assigned account reconciliations. Offers an opportunity to work and communicate with various departments related to questions arising from cash applications, billing uploads, collections of aged receivables, or working through possible billing or reconciliation issues. Accounts Payable (3-month rotation) As part of this rotation, you will have the opportunity to learn how to reconcile and account for many diverse accounts that encompass the large variety of transactions flowing through Accounts Payable, lending insight into the workings of several other departments throughout the organization Exposure to all types of payable processing, software, and tools, including the Accounts Payable 3-way matching software administered by this group. Transition to assisting in preparing journal entries and account reconciliations, giving you further insight into the impact that Accounts Payable has on the company’s financials. Accounting for Trade Promotions (3-month rotation) Accounting for trade promotions focuses on reconciling and accounting for marketing funds between vendors, AWG, and retail partners. Provide you with a more in-depth understanding of the various deal types that AWG works with and how they impact the financials. This role helps to build upon the prior rotations by leveraging the knowledge gained and expanding it further by focusing on reconciling each deal type, ensuring that AWG has captured and received all vendors owed funds. Provides for exposure to other non-accounting-related software, as well as opportunities to work closely with AWG merchandising staff Transition to helping prepare the various journal entries and account reconciliations for the area to gain a better understanding of the impact that trade promotions has on the financials. Vendor Relations (3-month rotation) Vendor relations assist our vendor partners in getting answers to a variety of questions concerning invoice status, responses to requests for repayment of deductions, backup documentation, and inventory count verifications. This experience will be based on our vendor relations application but will involve multiple other AWG systems used to research and verify these requests. Broad engagement with other departments for information and/or approvals through the vendor relations application will expose you to the workings of additional interrelated departments. You will also learn basic AWG policies that govern our interaction and communication. Once you have gained an understanding of the process, you will be exposed to the various reporting and analytical tools used to identify and facilitate process improvements and reduce the need for vendor requests. Financial Reporting (6-month rotation) This rotation focuses on introducing you to the various facets of preparing and analyzing financial statements from a corporate accounting perspective. You will work with experienced staff accountants and department heads in reviewing/approving financial transactions, preparing journal entries and account reconciliations, and reviewing and reporting on financial results. Assist with the period close process, preparing reports and performing variance analysis, presenting weekly and/or period results to senior leadership. Opportunity to learn about the inner workings of the various AWG subsidiaries, corporate operations, as well as work with corporate non-accounting staff. Exposure to AWG’s budgeting software, working with the department heads in support of the budgeting/forecasting process. Division Accounting (6-month rotation) As part of this rotation, you will have the opportunity to learn the responsibilities of the Division Accounting Team, and how it differs from the responsibilities within the Corporate Accounting groups. Learning what transactions are included in the division financial statements, and how the annual budgeting, forecasting, and period closing process take place. Transition to preparing various period end journal entries and assisting in the review, documentation and communication of period results. Opportunity to complete account reconciliations, ensuring the accuracy of the account balances and documenting required adjustments. Work closely with division personnel, learning what the various departments are responsible for, and you will participate in weekly staff meetings. Exposure to the various software and tools used by AWG, including those specifically utilized by the division teams.