Senior Accountant, Inventory

Position Summary

The Senior Accountant, Inventory is a key member of the Controllership organization responsible for the accuracy, integrity, and timely reporting of inventory-related financial activity in accordance with Company policies and established accounting standards. This position independently manages complex inventory accounting activities and serves as a subject matter resource for inventory valuation, account reconciliations, financial close, reserves, pricing adjustments, inventory movements, and related financial reporting.

The role is responsible for analyzing and recording inventory transactions, preparing and reviewing journal entries and balance sheet reconciliations, investigating variances and discrepancies, and ensuring appropriate accounting treatment for items such as book-to-perpetual adjustments, short-dated inventory, excess and obsolete inventory reserves, blocked inventory, inventory in transit, floor stock adjustments, pricing changes, and return-to-vendor activity. The Senior Accountant, Inventory also supports gross margin analysis, inventory metrics, external audit requirements, and the maintenance of complete, accurate, and audit-ready supporting documentation.

Working across Accounting, Finance, Product Management, Accounts Payable, Business Intelligence, and operational teams, this position provides financial insight, resolves complex inventory-related issues, strengthens internal controls, and identifies opportunities to improve reporting, processes, data quality, and system effectiveness. The role regularly interacts with internal leadership, external auditors, vendors, service providers, and other financial professionals and is expected to exercise sound judgment, strong analytical capability, and a high degree of ownership in support of the Company's financial reporting and operational objectives.

Essential Functions and Duties

Inventory Accounting & Financial Close:

• Independently manage assigned inventory accounting activities through the monthly financial close, ensuring transactions are recorded accurately, completely, and within established reporting deadlines.
• Prepare and post journal entries related to inventory activity, including price changes, blocked inventory, short-dated inventory, excess and obsolete inventory reserves, book-to-perpetual adjustments, and other inventory-related transactions.
• Prepare, review, and reconcile assigned inventory-related balance sheet accounts, investigate reconciling items, and resolve discrepancies on a timely basis.
• Review and reconcile inventory-in-transit activity, research aged or unmatched balances, and coordinate resolution with appropriate business partners.
• Evaluate inventory transactions and accounting issues to determine appropriate treatment in accordance with Company policies, and established accounting practices.

Inventory Valuation, Reserves & Financial Analysis:

• Analyze inventory balances, activity, and trends to support accurate inventory valuation and identify potential financial reporting risks or unusual activity.
• Review and analyze short-dated, excess, obsolete, blocked, and other at-risk inventory and support the calculation, documentation, and recording of appropriate inventory reserves.
• Analyze inventory-related expense account variances, investigate significant fluctuations, and provide clear explanations of actual results and key drivers.
• Support gross margin analysis by evaluating inventory-related activity, pricing changes, adjustments, and other transactions that may affect reported financial performance.
• Prepare recurring and ad hoc inventory analyses that provide management with insight into financial trends, exposures, and operational drivers.

Pricing, Floor Stock & Return-to-Vendor Activity:

• Analyze pricing changes and related floor stock adjustments to ensure appropriate accounting recognition and accurate financial reporting.
• Monitor and follow up on related customer invoices, vendor credits, and other settlement activity to ensure transactions are complete, accurate, and appropriately recorded.
• Manage accounting activities associated with return-to-vendor programs for major seasonal and other designated suppliers.
• Partner with Product Management and other stakeholders to validate return activity, reconcile supporting data, and provide appropriate clearing or accounting instructions to Accounts Payable.
• Research and resolve discrepancies related to vendor returns, credits, pricing adjustments, and other inventory-related financial transactions.

Audit, Controls & Financial Reporting:

• Prepare and maintain complete, accurate, and audit-ready schedules, reconciliations, analyses, and supporting documentation for inventory-related accounts and transactions.
• Support external and internal audit requests by providing timely documentation, explanations, reconciliations, and other information related to inventory accounting and valuation.
• Execute inventory-related accounting controls in accordance with established policies and procedures and identify opportunities to strengthen control effectiveness.
• Investigate accounting discrepancies and control exceptions, determine root causes, and coordinate corrective actions with appropriate stakeholders.
• Escalate significant accounting, reporting, or control matters to Controllership management as appropriate.

Reporting, Systems & Process Improvement:

• Partner with Business Intelligence and other functional teams to develop, enhance, and validate inventory reporting that improves visibility, accuracy, and financial decision-making.
• Evaluate inventory accounting processes and identify opportunities to improve efficiency, standardization, automation, data integrity, and control effectiveness.
• Participate in financial system, ERP, reporting, or process enhancement initiatives affecting inventory accounting and related financial workflows.
• Assist in validating financial data, reporting logic, and system outputs to ensure inventory-related information is complete, accurate, and appropriately reflected in financial reporting.
• Develop and maintain clear process documentation, reconciliation support, and accounting work-papers for assigned areas of responsibility.

Cross-Functional Partnership & Business Support:

• Serve as an inventory accounting resource to Accounting, Finance, Product Management, Accounts Payable, Business Intelligence, and operational teams.
• Partner with cross-functional stakeholders to research and resolve complex inventory-related accounting, reporting, and transaction issues.
• Communicate financial findings, significant variances, accounting considerations, and identified risks clearly and effectively to management and business partners.
• Provide financial analysis and accounting support to management for operational initiatives, inventory decisions, and other business matters requiring inventory accounting expertise.
• Provide backup support for designated accounting responsibilities and perform other duties as assigned by Controllership or Accounting management.

General Responsibilities:

• Adheres specifically to all company policies and procedures, Federal and State regulations, and laws.
• Display dedication to position responsibilities and achieve assigned goals and objectives.
• Always represent the Company in a professional manner and appearance.
• Understand and internalize the Company's purpose.
• Display loyalty to the Company and its organizational values.
• Display enthusiasm and dedication to learning how to be more effective on the job and share knowledge with others.
• Work effectively with co-workers, internal and external customers and others by sharing ideas in a constructive and positive manner; listen to and objectively consider ideas and suggestions from others; keep commitments; keep others informed of work progress, timetables, and issues; address problems and issues constructively to find mutually acceptable and practical business solutions; address others by name, title, or other respectful identifier, and respect the diversity of our work force in actions, words, and deeds.
• Comply with the policies and procedures stated in the Injury and Illness Prevention Program by always working in a safe manner and immediately reporting any injury, safety hazard, or program violation.
• Ensure conduct is consistent with all Compliance Program Policies and procedures when engaging in any activity on behalf of the company. Immediately report any concerns or violations.
• Other duties as assigned.

Education, Knowledge, Skills, and Experience

Required Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a closely related field.

Preferred Education:

• Additional coursework or specialized training in accounting, finance, inventory accounting, financial reporting, or a related discipline.

Required Knowledge:

• Strong knowledge of accounting best practices with demonstrated understanding of inventory accounting, inventory valuation, financial reporting, and month-end close requirements.
• Demonstrated understanding of inventory-related accounting concepts, including reserves, excess and obsolete inventory, short-dated inventory, inventory in transit, pricing adjustments, vendor returns, and related balance sheet and income statement impacts.
• Familiarity with internal controls, financial audit requirements, account reconciliation standards, and documentation expectations within a controlled accounting environment.
• Comprehensive understanding of journal entry preparation, balance sheet reconciliations, variance analysis, financial statement impacts, and supporting accounting documentation.
• Proficiency with integrated enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, including inventory and general ledger functionality; SAP experience preferred.
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Excel, including complex formulas, data analysis, reconciliations, and financial reporting.

Preferred Knowledge:

• Understanding of accounting and inventory processes within healthcare, pharmaceutical distribution, life sciences, or another complex inventory-intensive industry.
• Familiarity with high-volume inventory environments involving significant product movement, pricing changes, vendor credits, and return-to-vendor activity.
• Exposure to multi-entity, multi-location, or large-scale accounting environments.
• Working familiarity with business intelligence, reporting, or data visualization tools used to support financial and operational analysis.

Required Experience:

• Minimum seven (7) years of progressive accounting experience, including significant experience in inventory accounting, financial analysis, balance sheet reconciliations, journal entries, and month-end close.
• Demonstrated history of independently managing complex accounting responsibilities with a high degree of accuracy, ownership, and accountability.
• Proven ability to research and resolve complex accounting discrepancies, reconcile financial and operational data, and determine appropriate accounting treatment within established policies and accounting guidance.
• Established record of preparing complete, accurate, and audit-ready work-papers, reconciliations, schedules, and supporting documentation.
• Cross-functional experience partnering with Finance, Accounting, Operations, Accounts Payable, Product Management, or other business functions to resolve financial and inventory-related issues.

Preferred Experience:

• Background within a large-scale organization, complex operating environment, or company with annual revenue of $1 billion or greater.
• Industry experience within healthcare, pharmaceutical distribution, life sciences, or another highly regulated or inventory-intensive industry.
• Public accounting background or significant experience supporting external financial statement audits.
• Involvement in ERP implementations, financial system enhancements, process improvement initiatives, automation, or reporting optimization.

Required Skills:

• Strong analytical, critical-thinking, and problem-solving capabilities, with the ability to identify trends, investigate discrepancies, evaluate financial impacts, and develop well-supported conclusions.
• High degree of accuracy and attention to detail, particularly when working with complex financial data, inventory balances, reconciliations, and accounting entries.
• Demonstrated ability to independently prioritize and manage multiple responsibilities while meeting established financial close, reporting, and audit deadlines.
• Sound professional judgment, including the ability to escalate significant matters appropriately and make decisions within the scope of assigned responsibility.
• Strong written and verbal communication abilities, including the ability to clearly explain accounting matters, financial results, variances, and identified issues to both financial and non-financial stakeholders.
• Excellent organizational and documentation capabilities, with the ability to prepare clear, structured, and audit-ready work-papers, reconciliations, schedules, and process documentation.
• Effectiveness working both independently and collaboratively within a fast-paced, cross-functional environment.
• Ability to build effective working relationships with internal leadership, business partners, external auditors, vendors, and service providers.
• Discretion and professionalism in maintaining appropriate confidentiality and handling sensitive financial and business information.

Preferred Skills:

• Demonstrated ability to identify and implement opportunities for process improvement, standardization, automation, and enhanced financial controls.
• Proficiency with business intelligence, data a