Accounts Payable Specialist

Join the California Dairies, Inc. (CDI) team, a farmer-owned cooperative dedicated to sustainably producing the highest quality dairy products while fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration. CDI products are delivered locally and around the world. Our corporate function serves as the central hub for the CDI enterprise, driving strategic decision-making, innovation, overall business support, and growth across our diverse portfolio of dairy products and brands. We encourage you to be part of our team that's shaping the future of dairy, right from the heart of California!

Our commitment to CDI employees:

We believe in valuing our team with a total rewards package that goes beyond the basics. You'll find we offer competitive pay and incentive programs designed to recognize and reward your contributions. Competitive medical, dental, and vision benefits, generous paid time off, sick days & holidays, retirement plans designed to secure your future. We don't stop there. We've also cultivated a variety of valuable programs focused on your personal well-being and professional growth, ensuring you have the support you need to both inside and outside of work.

Job Summary

The Accounts Payable (AP) Specialist is responsible for managing and processing the company's invoices and payments accurately and on time. This role ensures compliance with company policies, maintains vendor relationships, and supports accurate financial reporting.

Essential Functions

• Process vendor invoices, expense reports, and payment requests accurately and timely
• Match invoices with purchase orders and receiving documents (2-way/3-way matching)
• Verify invoice accuracy, coding, approvals, and compliance with company policies
• Reconcile vendor statements and resolve discrepancies or payment issues
• Maintain accurate AP records and documentation
• Respond to vendor and internal inquiries professionally and promptly
• Assist with month-end and year-end closing activities
• Support audits by providing required documentation and explanations
• Ensure compliance with accounting standards and internal controls
• Resolve purchase order, contract, invoice, or payment discrepancies and documentation.
• Perform other duties as assigned by management.

Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)

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. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• 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. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Must have the ability to get along with co-workers, management personnel, customers, vendors, and employees in accordance with the company policies and working rules while ensuring a harmonious and conducive work environment.
• High attention to detail and strong organizational skills.
• Excellent regular full-time attendance in support of company objectives.
• Ability to handle confidential information.
• Ability to work independently while managing multiple priorities.
• Strong communication and problem-solving skills
• Experience working in a fast-paced or multi-entity environment.
• Strong understanding of AP processes
• Basic computational skills required.
• Simple math reasoning required.
• Proficient in using various PC-based software packages including Microsoft Word, Excel or similar work processing/spreadsheet software.
• Experience with an ERP system is required; Dynamics 365 is a plus.
• Must demonstrate good judgement when carrying out duties as assigned.

Education and/or Experience

• 2 years of accounts payable or general accounting.
• High School Diploma or equivalent.

Language Skills

English is required as the spoken and written language.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The company will make reasonable accommodations that do not cause and undue hardship to the company if such accommodation enables individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position. Normally works in a cubicle, well lighted and air-conditioned moderate noise level. Work requires a significant amount of sitting, some walking and standing relative to interaction with others. Excellent listening and speaking ability to respond correctly to visitors, vendors, employees, etc. Ability for perform multiple tasks at the same time.

ADA/FEHA

The Company will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and California's Fair Employment and Housing Act.

EEO

The Company is an equal employment opportunity employer.

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. The company will make reasonable accommodations that do not cause an undue hardship if such an accommodation enables individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

• Sitting/Standing/Walking: Office personnel spend about 75% of their workday sitting at their desk while performing computer or manual accounting and other clerical duties.
• Lifting/Carrying: Office personnel rarely carry items weighing over 15 to 20 lbs during the course of a workday. Most items would be files or documents weighing less than 10 lbs, and most would be carried short distances. They are directed to seek assistance for heavier items such as a full box of photocopy paper.
• Pushing/Pulling: Office personnel may occasionally push or pull files, stacks of documents, or boxes of documents, which may be in files or on shelves at any height during the course of a workday. They are directed to seek assistance for anything heavy.
• Squatting/Kneeling/Bending/Stooping: Office personnel frequently squat or kneel to retrieve and replace files and documents in file drawers or on lower shelves during the course of each workday.
• Twisting/Turning: Office personnel extensively twist, turn and move their head, neck, shoulders, arms and hands at various angles performing heavy computer input, and comparing information from their computer monitor with paper documents. While standing or sitting at their workstation, they occasionally twist or turn to retrieve or replace something form an area beside their workstation.
• Climbing/Balancing: Office personnel may need to walk up and down stairs several times through out a day. Office personnel may occasionally walk on uneven surfaces.
• Reaching: Office personnel may reach overhead to retrieve or replace files or documents on high shelves.
• Grasping/Manipulating: Office personnel need full range of motion in both hands for heavy computer input and for using other office equipment including calculators, typewriter, fax machines as well as for sorting through and organizing large stacks of documents.

The pay range is listed below and represents our good faith estimate upon hire. The final offer will depend on factors such as the candidates experiences, skills, and qualifications.