Accounting Specialist

ACCOUNTING SPECIALIST Hybrid – Woodridge, IL DEPARTMENT Accounting REPORTS TO Accounting Supervisor TYPE Full-Time ABOUT COOK’S DIRECT Founded in 1997, Cook’s Direct was the first company to specialize in food service equipment and supplies for correctional facilities. Drawing on deep operational experience, we built an organization that understands the unique demands of high-volume, high-pressure institutional environments. Since then, we have grown our partnerships to include correctional, educational, and institutional facilities across the country. POSITION OVERVIEW Cook’s Direct is seeking a detail-oriented, process-minded Accounting Specialist to join our growing accounting team. This role owns a broad range of day-to-day accounting operations, including customer invoicing, cash application, marketplace accounting, and customer reporting. The Accounting Specialist keeps our Business Central job queues moving, manages credit card processing and disputes, and partners with sales, operations, and customer service to resolve issues and keep ERP data clean and reliable. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Core Accounting Operations Generate and distribute customer invoices accurately and in a timely manner Customer cash applications Manage issue processing and compile third-party documentation in support of customer claims, freight issues, and vendor recoveries Collaborate with sales, operations, and customer service teams to resolve disputes affecting payment Process inventory adjustments and ensure proper documentation, approvals, and GL impact Maintain Customer and Vendor ERP data integrity Other duties as assigned REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS High School Diploma or equivalent 3–5 years of progressive accounting experience, including hands‑on responsibility for reconciliations and cash application Working knowledge of GAAP and general ledger accounting principles Experience with ERP systems and a comfort level navigating job queue, batch posting, and exception handling Strong Excel skills, including pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, and formula‑based reconciliation work High attention to detail with strong organizational and time‑management skills Ability to manage multiple recurring deadlines (daily cash, weekly reporting, monthly close) without losing accuracy Clear written and verbal communication — comfortable interacting with customers, vendors, and internal stakeholders PREFERRED SKILLS Hands‑on experience with Microsoft Dynamics Business Central and accounting modules Background in distribution, e‑commerce, or inventory‑based accounting environments Exposure to customer rebate programs or government/institutional contract billing Experience with marketplace platforms (Amazon, etc.), including settlement reconciliation and collections DESIRED ATTRIBUTES Process‑oriented — sees the workflow behind the entry and looks for ways to make it cleaner, faster, and more reliable Methodical and accurate — takes ownership of reconciliations and follows through on every variance Curious — willing to dig into the “why” behind a discrepancy rather than just clearing it Collaborative — works well with operations, customer service, and leadership to resolve issues at the source Proactive — raises issues early and brings options, not just problems BENEFITS & COMPENSATION Competitive salary commensurate with experience Comprehensive health benefits (medical, dental, and vision) Paid time off (PTO) and paid holidays 401(k) plan Professional development opportunities Equal Opportunity Employer Cook’s Direct, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity in the workplace. We encourage all qualified individuals to apply. #J-18808-Ljbffr Cook's Direct