Merchandising Assistant

The merchandising assistant will play a critical role in processing rail documents and support the Heartland Co-op business units to execute shipments.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Process Corn, Soybean, Wheat, and Milo rail and barge billing/invoicing, including documents for export, BOL, and freight.
• Process and maintain accounts payable and receivable for rail and barge related items to ensure accurate and timely payment of funds.
• Apply for rail incentives and make decisions on whether or not to dispute any rail incentive failures with railway.
• Maintain daily position spreadsheets and provide this information to the merchandisers to assist them in executing trades.
• Process and maintain truck grain scale tickets to ensure accurate inventory and positioning.
• Assist merchandisers with daily customer service duties and inquiries.
• Makes decisions and recommends adjustments/corrections upon analysis of records.
• Other duties as assigned by management.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms and talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include Close vision and Ability to adjust focus.

Lift Level: Light

Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently. Required walking or standing to a significant degree; or requires sitting most of the time but entails pushing and/or pulling of arm or leg controls.

Qualifications

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

• Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; Gathers and analyzes information skillfully; Develops alternative solutions.
• Customer Service - Manages difficult or emotional customer situations; Responds promptly to customer needs; Meets commitments. Maintains confidentiality; Remains open to others' ideas and tries new things.
• Written Communication - Edits work for spelling and grammar; Able to read and interpret written information.
• Attendance/Punctuality - Is consistently at work and on time; Ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent.
• Quality - Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; Monitors own work to ensure quality.
• Quantity - Completes work in timely manner.
• Safety and Security - Observes safety and security procedures.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Education/Experience: Two-year accounting degree or; or two-year accounting experience is required; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Language Ability: Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.

Reasoning Ability: Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Computer Skills: To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of Excel and Word software.

Certificates and Licenses: No certifications needed.

Supervisory Responsibilities: This job has no supervisory responsibilities.