Trade Spend Deductions Associate/Specialist

Griffith Foods is the caring, creative product development partner helping food companies meet the evolving needs of consumers while sustaining the planet. As a family business founded in 1919 and headquartered in Alsip, Illinois USA, Griffith Foods is known for true, collaborative innovation guided by their Purpose of "We Blend Care and Creativity to Nourish the World". The company's product capabilities range from seasonings and marinades to coating systems and sauces that are better for people and better for the planet. For more information, visit www.griffithfoods.com.

Compensation Range: $50,851.72 -$ 67,802.12 -$ 84,752.52 USD Annual

Custom Culinary, a subsidiary of Griffith Foods, is hiring a Trade Spend Associate/Specialist to:

• Manage incoming trade spend deduction data, align backup documentation with trade programs, and oversee deduction processing.
• Prepare bill‑back upload files and maintain all deductions within the Blacksmith Deduction Management system.
• Collaborate with Accounts Receivable, customers, brokers, and BDMs to gather documentation and validate trade payment deductions.
• Identify and resolve trade spend issues, escalating when necessary with recommended actions.
• Match customer claims to corresponding trade programs in Blacksmith and create bill‑backs to validate deductions against programs entered in Forge.
• Identify, document, and analyze invalid deductions; provide supporting materials to recover invalid claims and ensure root‑cause corrections.
• Track customer repayments and ensure accurate recording by Accounts Receivable and Trade Spend.
• Maintain deduction balances within monthly targets and aging requirements.
• Advise Sales on proper Blacksmith program setup to ensure accurate accruals and efficient claim resolution.
• Support check request processing and develop Excel models for large buying‑group rebate claims.
• Create AP bill‑backs in Blacksmith, review non‑auto‑approved claims, and determine appropriate disposition.
• Investigate unauthorized claim amounts and verify accuracy of trade program details captured in Blacksmith.