International Account Specialist Job

The International Account Specialist is responsible for the International Sales and/or Purchase Order Management process, customer satisfaction (internal and external), support, account reconciliation, and supporting the revenue stream of Bostik.  Working in a customer service team, interfacing with plants/shipping locations, Logistics, Credit, Accounts Receivable, Regulatory, and other Bostik departments.   This position operates in a highly regulated international environment. #LI-TJ1

Key Activities

Import/Export/Order Management (50%)

Export Order management will include a group of customers (internal and external) segmented by market or global region.  Import activity includes order management of purchases for foreign sourced raw materials, finished goods replenishment, or 3rd Party sales to customers. 

Export

• Accurate sales order entry
• Providing complete and correct Shipper Letter of Instruction (SLI) information to Bostik’s Forwarder for booking, US Customs, and document distribution
• Ensuring all Export orders received are entered & acknowledged within 48 hours of receipt
• Accurate & timely SAP Customer Master record maintenance
• Arranging logistics and transportation
• Providing costs of transportation as part of the pricing equation for international sales
• Consistent use of the Bostik document distribution process for export documents to Bostik’s Forwarder. 
• Using custom SAP reports to track & report the progress of booking requests, shipping, sailing, and document distribution to customers.
• Communicating and update order status to internal & external parties.

Import

• Issuing purchase orders to foreign suppliers, and communicating requirements for importation of goods into the United States
• Maintaining required documentation and update import order information for stock requirements used by production facilities and/or domestic sales. 
• Submission of ISF10+2 to USCPB maintaining compliance at or above the national average.
• Completing audits of import to ensure compliance

Export & Import

• Investigating, approving, documenting, and paying charges through the use of Shipment Cost Documents. 
• Maintaining up-to-date and accurate files and complete audits for import and export shipments as required by Arkema Import Self-Assessment status with US Customs and Border Protection.
• Consistently executing transactions and understands Import/Export processes.  

Resolving issues (20%)

Investigate and resolve residuals on a timely basis, create credit and adjustments within authorized limits, or requests approval when needed.  Enter and close complaints in each BU's specific complaint system within established service level. Record complaints and correctly assign to investigating party; understand implications of issues and effectively manage the complaint process.  Continually work with internal and external parties to avoid or reduce the impact of issues because of rolled booking, port demurrage, additional charges, etc.

Data Management (10%)

Maintain and update data including customer master data, pricing master data (based on pricing agreed to by commercial team), and pricing data in sales orders. 

Training (10%)

Actively participate in all required training in the proper time frame for learning new processes, reports, process changes. Training includes product training, process training and periodic mandatory regulatory training required.

Additional Activities (10%)

Identify need for new ISO Procedures; make recommendations for revisions.  Perform other business specific related activities as directed to support sales and distribution processes. May include inside sales, import, export, collections, forecasting, supply chain, various report requests (SAP BW, WBBR, etc.), master data maintenance.  Attend supply chain and S&OP meetings, understand changes and impact to product delivery; communicate information and impact to the team.

Qualifications / Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree with emphasis in Business, Engineering or Supply Chain or equivalent relevant customer service experience.
• 3 to 5 years of experience with bachelor’s degree or 6+ years of relevant customer service experience. 
• Minimum 2 years of international exp. (50% of job is international order management) and 3-6 years of experience in a customer service or other customer facing role.
• Customer order processing in an enterprise system, SAP is strongly preferred.
• Intermediate skills in Microsoft applications: Word, Excel and Power Point.  
• Knowledgeable in and consistent use of Incoterms 2010

Competencies

• Strong communication and presentation skills, problem solving & decision-making skills
• Creates a relationship with customers (internal & external), possesses appropriate business knowledge and can offers solutions to issues within business specific limits.
• Communicates with foreign affiliates, customers, and suppliers for desired results in a multi-cultural environment. 
• Well versed in international terminology and proper use of such terminology, including of parties involved in international transactions, Broker/Forwarder/Notify Parties/Consignee/Steamship Line/NVOCC/consolidator/etc.
• Understands the role of each party in the international processes. 
• Strong knowledge of SAP/ERP Master Data, has demonstrated knowledge of the export/import order processes and key fields for expected results, Available to Promise (ATP), etc.
• Exercises good judgment on all tasks by evaluating the impact of decisions on customers and the organization.
• Strong analytical skillset and ability to act upon issues, proposing the best solution to international shipping issues.  Determines solutions which are in the best interest of Arkema Inc.