Lead Specialist Merch Payable

About us:

As a Fortune 50 company with more than 400,000 team members worldwide, Target is an iconic brand and one of America's leading retailers.

Joining Target means promoting a culture of mutual care and respect and striving to make the most meaningful and positive impact. Becoming a Target team member means joining a community that values different voices and lifts each other up. Here, we believe your unique perspective is important, and you'll build relationships by being authentic and respectful.

Overview about TII

At Target, we have a timeless purpose and a proven strategy. And that hasn’t happened by accident. Some of the best minds from different backgrounds come together at Target to redefine retail in an inclusive learning environment that values people and delivers world-class outcomes. That winning formula is especially apparent in Bengaluru, where Target in India operates as a fully integrated part of Target’s global team and has more than 4,000 team members supporting the company’s global strategy and operations.

• Right on pace with Target’s distinctive retail brand, Target Finance and Accounting are transforming for the better. As so much more than a behind-the-scenes number-cruncher, you will be a truly collaborative partner with a seat at the table. You’ll bring your unique point of view, experience and passion for the work to your team and internal clients. Within Accounting, you’ll enjoy the interesting challenges of the competitive retail space, and you’ll have a 360-degree impact—rather than on just one part of the business. You’ll see your contributions come to life in virtually every area of this dynamic enterprise. And you’ll grow and be challenged in your career while having a healthy balance with life outside of work. A role in the Controller’s Group/Finance Ops calls on your skills for quality financial and inventory reporting and accurate financials and technical accounting while providing thoughtful and responsive support, expertise and guidance to business partners. Your role will be critical to ensuring the success of Target’s business initiatives and core retail operations.
• A role with Merchandise Payables reconciling store/DC invoices for prompt and accurate payment.  This individual will provide extraordinary customer service to vendors and merchants by researching, resolving, and negotiating disputes relating to deductions from invoice payments in a thorough and timely manner, while ensuring protection of company assets.
• Use your skills, experience and talents to be a part of groundbreaking thinking and visionary goals.  As a Lead Specialist, Merchandise Specialist you’ll have the opportunity to
• Invoice Reconciliation - Reconciles DC/Store invoices for prompt and accurate payment.  Identifies opportunities to improve payment process. Maintains organized correspondence file of incoming, in
• research, and resolve disputes.  Maintains working knowledge of distribution, inventory, purchase order, markdown, unit information, transportation and accounts payable systems. 
• Vendor Relations - Provides extraordinary customer service to vendors and merchants by resolving disputes.  Researches all items disputed relating to deduction for shortage, cost differences, markdown allowance reversals, return discrepancies, accounts payable violations, terms/discounts and other miscellaneous vendor issues to establish their validity.  Coordinates research with the Merchants, Vendor Relations and Transportation to establish validity of deductions. 
• Productive Partnerships - Proactive in developing productive partnerships with Merchandising, vendors and other areas of Target.  Includes necessity to travel/work downtown and/or other off-site locations.  Learns and understands the process and business of our customers.
• Process Ownership: Collaborate with stake holders, training team, process analysts & management in ensuring the stability of the process. In addition, any process changes/updates are shared & knowledge gaps are filled based on scenarios. Also ensure that necessary training requirements are completed for team.
• Process Improvement:  Identifies invoice and purchase order issues which cause reoccurring processing problems and disputed deductions, including special focus on Individual Performance Vendors (IVP). Work with supervisor to challenge status quo to resolve these continuing problems. Contact the responsible parties to correct the issue, and follow up to ensure the correction was implemented. 
• Facilitates Communication - Maintains an excellent level of verbal and written communication between vendors, HQ partners in Minneapolis and other areas of Target.  Initiates, coordinates and leads meetings between teams, Merchandising, vendors and/or other areas of Target.
• Team and A/P Accountability - Operates in a “team structured” environment assisting with training and sharing expertise and information.  Works with other team members and takes responsibility for covering for any or all in your business group.  Participates in developing, implementing and achieving objectives/goals with the Team Lead and Supervisor that are consistent with team, department and A/P.
• Team Metrics & Compliance: In strong collaboration with the Manager/Sr. Manager, plan & execute daily/weekly workload management to ensure that the set goals are met on productivity, accuracy & team deliverables. Also make sure control compliance standards are satisfactory for the team.
• Mentoring / Buddy – Acts as a buddy and mentor to new hires in the team and bring them up in the learning curve and also helps underperforming team members to resolve issues pertaining to the

• Leads, Supervisor or Manager.
• Job duties may change at any time due to business needs.

About you:

• Four-year degree or equivalent experience
• 2-4 years of previous accounting or accounts payable experience
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills (verbal and written)
• Excellent negotiation, organizational and problem solving skills
• Experience with Word, Excel, Access knowledge
• Strong teamwork and conflict resolution skill