Accounts Payable and Accounting Specialist-Racine

Why Great Northern

Established in 1962, Great Northern is a local, privately owned paper-based packaging manufacturer with a long history of providing secure, stable, and meaningful positions. You will experience a collaborative team-first, safe, clean, enjoyable, and predictable workplace where team members support and care for one another.

Our team members produce sustainable and eco-friendly products that are supplied to national brands that impacts people's day-to-day lives.

Great Northern is committed to making a difference in the lives of our team members, customers, and the communities in which we live and work. Many of our team members were referred by their friends and families who are already a part of the Great Northern team.

Position Summary

The Accounts Payable & Accounting Specialist is responsible for managing key accounts payable processes while supporting month-end close activities. This role will play an important part in ensuring accurate financial records, analyzing transactions, preparing accruals, and supporting continuous improvement initiatives, including automation of AP processes. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Review and process vendor invoices through automated workflow systems.
• Investigate and resolve invoice discrepancies, pricing variances, and receiving exceptions.
• Maintain vendor master data and ensure vendor records are accurate and up to date.
• Prepare and process payment runs and respond to vendor inquiries.
• Support annual 1099 reporting requirements.
• Prepare and record month-end accrual entries for expenses incurred but not yet invoiced.
• Analyze open purchase orders and receiving activity to determine accrual requirements.
• Reconcile AP subledger to the general ledger.
• Prepare balance sheet reconciliations related to AP and accrued liabilities.
• Assist with month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close activities.
• Review and validate general ledger coding for AP transactions and expense allocations.
• Assist with year-end close activities and audit requests.
• Develop reports for invoice cycle time, outstanding liabilities, unmatched receipts, and process efficiency metrics.
• Serve as a backup resource for select Staff Accountant responsibilities and participate in cross-training initiatives.
• Support AP automation initiatives and workflow optimization.
• Monitor automated processes and resolve exceptions.
• Develop and maintain process documentation.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, accuracy, and internal controls.
• Prepare recurring AP and accrual-related reports.
• Analyze spending trends and outstanding liabilities.
• Support ad hoc reporting and analysis requests.

Salary

Salary will be dependent upon experience.

Requirements

• Two or four year degree preferred.
• Three to five years of experience preferred
• Ability to analyze and solve problems.

The Benefits of Great Northern

• Competitive 401K with company match and a historically generous profit-sharing retirement savings contribution
• Paid vacation during your first year of employment
• 10 paid holidays/year and one floating holiday
• Medical plan options are available to provide flexibility in choosing the option that best suits your individual and family needs
• Dental and vision insurance available
• Company provided life insurance
• Opportunity to purchase additional life insurance
• A near-site clinic is provided for team members and their families, free of charge
• An on-site nurse and occupational therapist is available for team members
• Opportunities to advance your career and compensation level
• Health/fitness reimbursement

Hours

Monday-Friday, 8am-4:30pm.

Overtime as necessary.

Occasional travel may be required.

Expectation

To be successful your teammates will depend on you to have pride in your work, be on time, work safely, work effectively with others, be optimistic, take ownership of your responsibilities, and look for continuous improvement opportunities.

Great Northern is an equal opportunity at will employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of age, race, religion, color, disability, sex, sexual orientation or national origin.