IR Research Specialist, Accounts Payable

Darden Restaurants; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Darden Restaurants seeks an IR Research Specialist to research and resolve invoice payment inquiries, while ensuring SOX controls are observed. This role supports onboarding for the Vendor Management Portal and the Procure to Pay system, promoting supplier adoption of self-registration and self-service invoicing.

Responsibilities include handling the AP phone queue, guiding vendors to self-service tools, reconciling statements, and creating journal entries as needed.

Qualifications

• 1-3 years in a fast-paced, customer service or accounting environment.
• Self-starter requiring minimal supervision.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize a high-volume workload.
• Excellent attendance record and communication skills.
• Ability to interact with all levels of management by phone and in person.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced/high-volume environment and meet deadlines.
• Degree in Accounting or related field preferred.

Responsibilities

• Support AP phone queue including vendor and restaurant manager inquiries.
• Research vendor payment inquiries and guide vendors to self-service tools.
• Assist onboarding for Vendor Management Portal and Procure to Pay system, tracking onboarding progress.
• Support internal customer requests for invoice and payment inquiries.
• Monitor vendor research mailbox and Portal Support mailbox and respond timely.
• Research unpaid invoices in open interface, Discoverer, restaurant application and internal spreadsheets.
• Reconcile vendor statements with past due invoices/credit memos and take corrective actions.
• Communicate payment processes clearly with vendors.
• Research and resolve debit balances.
• Reconcile and monitor top 10/high-volume vendor statements.
• Create, key & upload journal entries as required.

Skills

Excel

Word

Outlook

Oracle

Discoverer

Education

Degree in Accounting or related field

Tools

Oracle

Discoverer

Job description

Job Overview

Under direction, the IR Research Specialist is responsible for researching and resolving invoice payment inquiries while assuring controls are maintained and SOX guidelines are met. The IR Research Specialist supports onboarding efforts for the Vendor Management Portal and Darden's Procure to Pay system while creating an emphasis on supplier adoption of self-registration and self-service invoicing and inquiry.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Support the Accounts Payable phone queue including vendor and restaurant manager inquiries
• Research vendor payment inquiries while guiding vendors towards the self-service tools available in the Vendor Management Portal and Darden's Procure to Pay system
• Supports onboarding efforts for the Vendor Management Portal and Darden's Procure to Pay system, including tracking the progress of onboarding initiatives
• Support internal customer requests for invoice and payment inquiries
• Support vendor research mailbox and/or Portal Support mailbox and respond timely to requests
• Research unpaid invoices in open interface, Discoverer, restaurant application and internal spreadsheets
• Reconcile vendor statements with past due invoices/credit memos, determine appropriate actions and complete corrections if needed
• Communicate effectively with vendors regarding correct payment processes
• Research and resolve debit balances
• Reconcile and continually monitor top 10/high volume vendor statements
• Create, key & upload journal entries as required

Required Technical Skills

• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word and Outlook
• Strong knowledge of Oracle and Discoverer (or related A/P systems)

Other Key Qualifications

• 1-3 years in a fast paced, customer service environment, and/or accounting environment
• Self-starter requiring minimal supervision
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize a high-volume workload
• Exhibits a sense of urgency, understands the importance of month-end closing deadlines
• Excellent attendance record
• Helpful attitude, positive teamwork spirit with a willingness to help
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to interact with all levels of management by phone and in person
• Strong follow-through for problem resolution
• Excellent customer service and phone etiquette skills
• Ability to work in a fast-paced/high volume environment and make appropriate decisions in a timely manner while meeting deadlines

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Degree in Accounting or related field, preferred