Accounting Specialist

Description ACCOUNTING SPECIALIST LOCATION Hybrid – Woodridge, IL DEPARTMENT Accounting REPORTS TO Accounting Supervisor TYPE Full-Time ABOUT COOK'S DIRECT Every meal starts long before it reaches the plate. If you love what goes on behind the kitchen, so do we. Cook’s Direct is a national distributor of foodservice equipment and supplies, working with correctional, educational, and institutional facilities.

We’ve grown significantly over the last five years, outpacing industry benchmarks, and now rank in the top 30 in the country. Our company runs on EOS, a proven system based on clear goals, weekly scorecards, and accountability. Everyone knows our vision and where they fit. Our five core values and 29 principles chosen by our CEO guide how we work.

Company traditions like picnics, grab bags, potlucks, and toy drives keep it fun. Our best work is still ahead of us. If you want to help build what comes next and grow your career alongside a team that cares about getting there together, we’d love to connect.

POSITION OVERVIEW

Cook’s Direct is seeking a detail-oriented, process-minded Accounting Specialist to join our growing accounting team. This role owns a broad range of day-to-day accounting operations, including customer invoicing, cash application, marketplace accounting, and customer reporting. The Accounting Specialist keeps our Business Central job queues moving, manages credit card processing and disputes, and partners with sales, operations, and customer service to resolve issues and keep ERP data clean and reliable.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Core Accounting Operations

• Generate and distribute customer invoices accurately and in a timely manner
• Customer cash applications
• Manage issue processing and compile third-party documentation in support of customer claims, freight issues, and vendor recoveries
• Collaborate with sales, operations, and customer service teams to resolve disputes affecting payment
• Process inventory adjustments and ensure proper documentation, approvals, and GL impact
• Maintain Customer and Vendor ERP data integrity
• Other duties as assigned REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
• High School Diploma or equivalent
• 3–5 years of progressive accounting experience, including hands-on responsibility for reconciliations and cash application
• Working knowledge of GAAP and general ledger accounting principles
• Experience with ERP systems and a comfort level navigating job queue, batch posting, and exception handling
• Strong Excel skills, including pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, and formula-based reconciliation work
• High attention to detail with strong organizational and time-management skills
• Ability to manage multiple recurring deadlines (daily cash, weekly reporting, monthly close) without losing accuracy
• Clear written and verbal communication — comfortable interacting with customers, vendors, and internal stakeholders PREFERRED SKILLS
• Hands-on experience with Microsoft Dynamics Business Central and accounting modules
• Background in distribution, e-commerce, or inventory-based accounting environments
• Exposure to customer rebate programs or government/institutional contract billing
• Experience with marketplace platforms (Amazon, etc.), including settlement reconciliation and collections DESIRED ATTRIBUTES
• Process-oriented — sees the workflow behind the entry and looks for ways to make it cleaner, faster, and more reliable
• Methodical and accurate — takes ownership of reconciliations and follows through on every variance
• Curious — willing to dig into the “why” behind a discrepancy rather than just clearing it
• Collaborative — works well with operations, customer service, and leadership to resolve issues at the source
• Proactive — raises issues early and brings options, not just problems BENEFITS & COMPENSATION
• Competitive salary commensurate with experience
• Comprehensive health benefits (medical, dental, and vision)
• Paid time off (PTO) and paid holidays
• 401(k) plan
• Professional development opportunities Equal Opportunity Employer Cook’s Direct, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity in the workplace. We encourage all qualified individuals to apply. To apply, visit cooksdirect.com/careers