Position Purpose
The Manager provides guidance, instruction, direction, and leadership to the Grower Inventory & Customer Reconciliation team by acting as the subject matter expert of the audit, account reconciliation, and exception escalation process. The role will focus on establishing standardized procedures, developing an annual plan (but subject to intra-period ad hoc changes due to business requirements), measuring and communicating audit progress, and completing reconciliations in relation to customer stock audits. The Manager is responsible for managing and executing the Annual Customer Audit Plan, while ensuring accuracy in all audit reconciliations and compliance with the IFCO authority matrix. The Manager will also work closely with the grower customer base and IFCO’s grower sales team to escalate unresolved reconciliations through to customer billings, settlement negotiations, and cash collections. The Manager will guide the team to improve grower reporting and compliance processes to increase the efficiency of the 80+MM RPC pool, and supervise multiple new field roles designed to improve customer compliance.
The Manager is responsible for constructively listening, motivating, providing guidance and for tracking team progress and results. She is also responsible for ensuring that all policies, and procedures are up‐to‐date. Detects practices that are and are not working and identifies areas for process improvement and make recommendations to leadership. Assess the need for internal resource and customer training.
Major/Key Accountabilities
Direct leadership of Asset Specialists, Customer Reconciliation Analysts and Field Grower Inventory personnel
Collaborate with the business and the customers on best practice implementation design and process improvements Assist in developing a control environment that sets the tone of the organization and influences the control consciousness
Create opportunities for team members to provide input on procedures/processes and share their expertise with other team members.
Serve as a resource and subject matter expert to team members; providing them with guidance and is available to answer all questions around the audit process and reconciliation processes.
Develop and improve processes to more accurately reflect the physical location of the RPC pool throughout the RPC supply chain in IFCO’s ERP systems (SAP & Webclearing)
Build relationships with customers at all levels and implement multi-level control programs, including implementing a commercial billing program to charge for lost assets or excessive dwell
Communicate with customers and sales teams regarding reporting, compliance to rental terms, reporting automation options, and customer status updates.
Enforce the stock audit procedures that are specific to the NA market but are consistent with the objectives of the Global Audit Policy
Manage third party audit firm and the customer audits they execute, and visit customers when needed.
Monitor and measure the stock audit process and results
Establish strong partnerships with Customer Operations and Sales and work in a collaborative manner to constantly improve customer audit processes and outcomes.
Analyze and interpret complex data flows through the supply chain, with the objective of identifying audit variance drivers
Daily follow up with customers regarding asset reconciliation and recovery.
Manage inventory reports by collecting, analyzing, and summarizing data and trends.
Facilitate problem solving & collaboration
Develop more robust retail inventory tracking and reconciliation controls and implement throughout organization and retail partner network
Approves customer resets based on the needs of reconciliation
Monitor and manage MyIFCO (ship log reporting) with customers; improving automated reporting rate and accuracy of retail reporting.
Provide ad-hoc support and analysis to key business partners, including but not limited to: Sales, Customer Operations, Finance, etc.
Lead and/or support projects and business initiatives associated with or impacted by the audit process.
Communication – Clarify the AM process and risk to sales team/customer
Ensure that each team member feels that their work is valued, appreciated, and meaningful to the success of the team
Provides Training to New Team Members and other departments
Measures
Asset turns
Recovery rates
Maintaining accurate and timely records
Average customer DOH
Customer compliance
Accurate and effective customer reporting, reporting compliance
Authority/Decision Making
Approval of transactional changes to customer accounts
Manages 3rd Party Audit
Has first level of approval on customer resets
Challenges
Time management
Dealing with shifts in priorities based on immediate business requirements
Customer cooperation and compliance
Problem solving based on analysis
Coordinating 3rd part Audit vendor and the needs of IFCO
Key contacts
Internal:
Sales Team, Asset Reconciliation team, Asset Specialists, Accounting, Customer Operations, Asset Recovery Specialists
External:
Customers, External Auditor
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Business Administration, Supply Chain or equivalent discipline.
Demonstrated proficiency with a variety of computer software applications, including SAP, Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Word
Experience
3-5 years in one or multiple areas: Supply Chain, Finance, Audit/Inventory management or related areas in a results-driven, matrix business environment
At least 3 years managerial / supervisory experience
Demonstrated operational audit experience preferred
Experience in creating an environment in which people want to do their best while building strong team morale.
Ability to work in a dynamic environment with changing priorities, demonstrated ability to anticipate next steps, take initiative, exercise discretion and apply sound judgment.
Demonstrated professionalism and high quality customer service work ethic in order to liaison with business leaders, board members, and extensive external connections.
Proven ability to identify areas of opportunity to improve overall business processes.
Skills and Knowledge
Working knowledge of an SAP or other comparable ERP environments, Siebel, Microsoft Excel, Powerpoint, and Access Database
Ability to demonstrate leadership among a group of peers
Strong motivational and empowerment skills
Strong relationship management skills, able to form strong working relationships with diverse groups of people
Customer service orientation and ability to motivate others
Team orientation and desire / ability to partner and collaborate cross functionally
Collaboration and negotiation skills
Excellent listening and follow-up skills
Willingness and ability to travel 25% of the time
Methodical, process oriented, and solutions oriented problem solving skills
Languages
Essential:
English
Desirable:
Spanish