Trade & Deduction Accounting Manager

Job Title:       Trade & Deduction Accounting ManagerReports to:    Vice President of FinanceLocation:       Onsite- Berlin, NJStatus:           Full-time/Non-exemptShift:              Days, with flexibility based on company needsAbout the Company:The Sclafani family has been part of the food industry since the late 1800s, bringing authentic Italian flavors to the United States. Over the years, they built the Sclafani® brand, offering canned tomatoes and pizza and pasta sauces. In the 1950s, Dominick Sclafani created Don Pepino®, a fully prepared pizza sauce that remains a best-seller to this day. Today, both Sclafani® and Don Pepino® are part of Violet Foods, recognized as two of the finest brands of canned tomatoes and sauces. Their enduring quality comes from one simple secret: fresh, premium tomatoes in every recipe.Role Overview:Violet Foods is seeking a highly organized and analytical Trade Promotion & Deduction Accounting Manager to oversee trade spend accounting, deduction reconciliation, and promotional financial controls across our retail customers.This role will partner closely with Sales, Brokers, Customer Service, and Finance to ensure that all trade promotions, billbacks, scans, and other customer deductions are properly tracked, validated, accrued, and reconciled. The position plays a critical role in protecting company profitability by identifying invalid deductions, improving trade spend visibility, and strengthening financial controls around promotional programs.The ideal candidate has experience in CPG trade accounting, retailer deductions, and promotional spend analysis, and thrives in a fast-paced environment supporting national grocery and retail customers.Trade Promotion AccountingManage the financial tracking and accounting of all trade promotions including billbacks, scans, lump sum programs, slotting fees, and other promotional allowances.Ensure trade spend is accurately accrued, reconciled, and reported in the ERP system.Partner with Sales to validate promotional program details including pricing, funding structure, and timing.Monitor promotional budgets and ensure trade activity aligns with approved programs. Deduction ManagementReview, research, and reconcile customer deductions and chargebacks.Identify and dispute invalid or unsupported deductions with retailers, brokers, and distributors.Maintain documentation supporting promotional agreements and deduction resolutions.Track deduction aging and drive timely resolution to improve cash flow. Trade Reconciliation & Financial ControlsReconcile trade accrual accounts and ensure proper month-end close support.Prepare journal entries and supporting schedules related to trade promotions and deductions.Maintain detailed promotional documentation to support accounting compliance and audits.Develop standardized processes to ensure consistency and financial accuracy. Cross-Functional CollaborationWork closely with Sales and Broker partners to ensure trade promotions are executed and tracked accurately.Support Customer Service and Operations in resolving invoice discrepancies tied to promotional activity.Partner with Finance leadership to improve trade visibility and reporting. Reporting & AnalyticsDevelop reporting to track:Trade spend by customer and promotionDeduction trends and recovery ratesPromotion performance vs expectationsIdentify opportunities to improve promotional profitability and reduce leakage.Assist leadership with trade spend forecasting and budget tracking.Assist Finance Team with General Accounting Support as needed QualificationsRequiredBachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, or Business3–7 years of experience in CPG accounting, trade promotions, or deduction managementExperience working with retailer deductions (Kroger, Walmart, Target, etc.)Strong understanding of trade spending accounting and promotional funding structuresProficiency in Excel and ERP systemsPreferredExperience with CPG ERP systems (Aptean, Microsoft Dynamics, etc.)Experience with Trade Promotion Management systemsExperience working with brokers and syndicated data Key SkillsStrong analytical and reconciliation skillsExcellent attention to detailAbility to manage high volumes of deductions and promotional programsStrong cross-functional communication skillsProcess improvement mindset Success Metrics (KPIs)Deduction recovery rateDeduction aging reductionTrade accrual accuracyMonth-end close support timelinessPromotional documentation completenessPay range - 95K to 105K