Freight Audit & Payment Analyst

Freight Audit & Payment Analyst

Darigold is seeking an experienced and motivated Freight Audit & Payment Analyst to join our Bulk Milk Hauling team. As a Freight Audit & Payment Analyst, you are responsible for evaluating, interpreting and optimizing carrier billing activities to ensure accuracy, compliance and financial integrity. This role exercises independent judgment in analyzing billing discrepancies, interpreting carrier contracts and recommending solutions that impact cost, operational efficiency and vendor performance. This position partners cross-functionally to resolve complex billing issues and drive continuous improvement in transportation payment processes.

Darigold is the fifth largest dairy cooperative in the United States based on milk volume and one of the largest privately held organizations headquartered in the state of Washington. Since 1918, our producers have taken pride in producing dairy products with unsurpassed quality. Today, we are one of the nation's largest agricultural cooperatives, producing over 8.5 billion pounds of milk every year. Through innovative technology and our efficient, flexible production capabilities, we deliver value-added products and customer-driven solutions. Darigold is now known throughout the world for bringing fresh, wholesome dairy products and ingredients from the Northwest to people all around the globe.

What You Will Do:

• Analyze and interpret carrier freight invoices to ensure alignment with contractual terms, internal policies and financial controls.
• Evaluate billing discrepancies and exercise independent judgment to determine appropriate resolution, including approving adjustments or recommending corrective actions.
• Investigate complex billing issues and identify root causes, developing and implementing solutions to reduce recurring exceptions.
• Assess carrier compliance with contractual and operational requirements and provide recommendations to improve billing accuracy and performance.
• Interpret and apply general ledger coding structures to ensure proper financial treatment of freight expenses, making determinations in non-routine scenarios.
• Partner with internal stakeholders (Transportation, Finance, Procurement) to resolve escalated billing issues and ensure alignment on financial and operational outcomes.
• Develop and deliver analytical reporting and insights on carrier performance, exception trends and cost drivers to inform business decisions.
• Identify opportunities to improve billing processes, controls and system utilization and recommend enhancements to increase efficiency and reduce risk.
• Exercise discretion in prioritizing work, managing competing demands and determining appropriate escalation paths.
• Serve as a subject matter resource on freight billing practices, systems and carrier agreements.
• Improve current process of rate management, tracking and comparisons across multiple haulers.

What You Will Bring:

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Supply Chain, Business or related field or equivalent experience.
• 2+ years of experience in transportation finance, logistics, billing analysis or related discipline.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze data, interpret contracts or policies and make decisions based on findings.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to evaluate situations and recommend solutions.
• Experience working with transportation management systems (TMS) or financial systems preferred.
• Ability to read, analyze and interpret freight payment procedures and carrier pricing contracts.
• Ability to present information, responding to questions and providing answers to vendors and/or internal teams as it relates to carrier freight bills.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills.
• Ability to manage time effectively, prioritize tasks and collaborate within a team environment.
• Intermediate or Advanced Excel skills.

Who You Are:

• Self-motivated and self-directed, operating with a high sense of urgency.
• Comfortable working independently while contributing to a collaborative team environment.
• Comfortable with communicating directly.
• Continuous improvement mindset you look for a better way before you're asked to.

Benefits of Working at Darigold:

• 401k competitive employer matching
• Comprehensive medical, dental & vision benefits
• Employer paid life & disability coverage
• Paid time off and paid holidays
• 8 weeks paid parental leave
• Education assistance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible hybrid working arrangement where it applies (up to 2 days/week after initial 90 days and approval by hiring manager and HR)
• Compensation range: $80,168.40-$100,676.40 (individual wage based on previous experience, knowledge, and skills)

Our Commitment to Diversity:

Achieving our vision to Lead Dairy Forward requires cultivating and supporting a team with varying backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We are committed to providing a workplace based on mutual respect where all employees feel included and can bring their best and authentic selves to work every day. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and Affirmative Action Employer. We welcome all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, veteran status, disability, marital status, creed, religion, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.