Financial Management Trainee

About Us:

Formed in 1924 Cowan Systems is a privately owned company head quartered in Baltimore, MD and enjoys a history of excellence and quality in the transportation business. Today, Cowan’s state-of-the-art fleet has grown to 2,100 power units and 6,500 trailers operating out of 40 locations nationwide.

Due to continued growth, Cowan Systems, LLC is seeking the top talent in the industry to join our team. Cowan Systems, LLC is a national truckload carrier that specializes in providing high quality dedicated fleet services for companies requiring first-rate performance. Cowan Systems offers dedicated fleet services which provide a customized transportation package designed to meet the specific needs of the shipper, such as specialized equipment, strict timetables, and custom reporting. Our 100% supply chain solution includes local and long-haul trucking services, brokerage, warehousing, and driver leasing.

Our recipe for success has always been our people, and after 90 years in business, we remain focused on attracting and retaining superior talent. We strive to recruit the most qualified people, while recognizing and encouraging the value of diversity in the workplace. Cowan hires professionals with the aptitude and personality to consistently exceed our customers’ expectations. We take great pride in our ability to provide progressive business partnerships within the rapidly evolving transportation industry.

Cowan is committed to providing a healthy, safe, and stable work environment that promotes individual success, equal opportunity for learning, and professional growth. In our family-oriented environment, we treat everyone with dignity and respect. Through the emphasis of our team-work philosophy, we maintain a balance between professionalism and the ability to have fun.

Our Mission:

At Cowan Systems, LLC our mission is to provide logistics and transportation services that create value for our clients, suppliers, employees, and owners. We pursue our work with diligence, intelligence, and a high regard for the safety of our employees, stakeholders, and the public.

Our Vision:

Cowan Systems is an industry leader and the carrier of choice because of our passion for service, best in class drivers, professional management team, commitment to safety, drive for innovation, and our culture of continuous improvement and quality excellence.

Our Values:

• Safety of our team drives every decision we make
• An entrepreneurial spirit fostered by healthy work environments
• Fiscal responsibility
• Exceptional Customer service

Job Summary:

The Financial Management Trainee role is an exciting new opportunity within our organization that will allow participants to learn the transportation business from the bottom up and gain the skills necessary to successfully build a career with Cowan Systems in Administration, Billing, Payroll, Analytics, and other areas of the business. We provide thorough training both on the job and in the classroom and participants will have room for growth and advancement within the organization as well as a competitive base salary. The trainee starts their initial 8-week training period in Halethorpe, MD where you will learn the basics of the Transportation Industry and Cowan Systems. This will be followed by 8 weeks of training with or Payroll, Analytics, Carrier Settlements, and Billing departments where you will learn the back-office side of the business. Your education will carry on long after you have left the formal training phase of the Financial Management Trainee program once assigned to your final role you will receive further training specific to the department. Once the employee reaches this phase, more doors of opportunity open as the employee continues to evaluate their interests and career goals. There is no such thing as a typical day for our Financial Management Trainee’s, every day is different, and every day brings with it a new set of challenges.

All of the job duties below will be taught to each candidate through a structured training program with structured check reviews and clearly defined objectives for each week of training. Successful completion of the training program is required for permanent placement. Further employment opportunities will be reviewed with trainees as they go through the program and follow-on interviews will be conducted with department leadership through a formal application and selection process.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

This job may have periodic leadership / management responsibilities throughout the program.

Job Duties:

Analytics / Accounting

• Perform financial forecasting, reporting, and operational metrics tracking.
• Analyze financial data and create financial models for decision support.
• Report on financial performance and prepare for regular leadership reviews.
• Analyze past results, perform variance analysis, identify trends, and make recommendations for improvements.
• Overview of the companies AP and AR processes.

Billing / Revenue

• Communicate directly with customers regarding billing concerns and requirements.
• Audit dispatch data and customer paperwork.
• Provide customer support for requested back-up documentation.
• Assist the Accounting department regarding outstanding invoice balances.
• Audit weekly dispatch data and execute resolution on any continuity issues found.
• Correct TMW issues through our ticket system to ensure data integrity.
• Produce weekly invoices while adhering to customer deadlines.
• Run weekly Mileage and Toll reporting.
• Accurately update company and customer KPI reports.

Driver Relations

• Confirm driver plans with drivers providing driver with any required information to complete the assignment including special load requirements (Hazmat, specialty equipment, etc.)
• Assist managers with driver face to face check in of drivers, and correct verification of driver paper work against entries in TMW systems.
• Data entry, scanning, indexing, and filing of driver payroll ensuring all records are submitted accurately and on time.

Safety and Maintenance Focus

• Promote culture of safety in all daily activities by proactively address safety concerns by communicating safety goals and standards to all drivers, providing resources for safety concern resolution.
• Ensure Fleet follows DOT requirements for hours of service and driver fitness before dispatch.
• Perform periodic inspections of company equipment to identify unreported maintenance issues and accident damage. Participate in pre-trip inspections with drivers on a regular basis.
• Maintain, track, and report appropriate equipment levels daily at all customer locations.

Customer Relations

• Address all customer needs and concerns as they arise during shift and escalating any customer issues requiring a higher level of involvement to the Operations Manager or Terminal Manager.
• Work closely with Fleet Managers and Customer Service Representatives to ensure proper documentation is received for all freight movements and provide customer support for requested back-up documentation.
• Assist with fleet planning and the creation of an executable freight delivery plan that meets the service requirements of our customer and ensure our revenue goals for each driver.

Operations

• Assist with tracking, updating, and closing of loads using Total Mail and TMW systems to communicate with drivers and update freight movements. Notify fleet management of any discrepancies noted or missing documentation in the system for late deliveries, detention, or other accessorial charges
• Assist with planning for on time delivery to ensure customer goals are being met for service by providing fleet management with expectations and updated special load requirements as dictated by the customer.
• Effectively dispatch a fleet using proper procedures for real time management of freight and drivers ensuring high level of data accuracy within the system.
• Identify and communicate assessorial charges to be collected for detention, storage, rescheduled deliveries, lumper charges, etc. by properly documenting in TMW.
• Collect and inspect driver manifest and other necessary documentation necessary to pay the driver and invoice the customer upon the completion of each driver shift to include bill of ladings and lumper receipts.
• Review revenue per truck per day and perform quarterly fleet performance reviews with Terminal Manager and Operations Manager to identify areas of opportunity and develop improvement plan as needed to address deficiencies.

Leadership

• Collaborates with all frontline managers to learn the day-to-day business operations (i.e. Terminal Manager, Operations Manager, Fleet Planner, Fleet Manager, Terminal Administrative Clerk)
• Collaborates with all Support Teams and Management to learn the day-to-day business support operations and how all components of the organization work together to meet our overall objectives.
• Completes the assigned Operations Management Training curriculum and all other assigned trainings
• This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required for the position. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Job Qualifications:

• 2 years of work experience
• Associates degree or bachelor’s degree is preferred
• Computer applications experience and proficiency in Microsoft Office
• Excellent customer service, problem solving, and decision-making skills
• Solid business acumen
• Self-starter with excellent interpersonal communication and problem-solving skills
• Must be punctual and reliable with the ability to work off hours as dictated by the business
• Must be able to ride in vehicle for up to 12 hours or sit at a desk for up to 12 hours per day
• Ability to develop a working knowledge of all terminal operation aspects
• Prior leadership experience highly desired
• Frequently required to sit, stand, walk, talk, hear, operate a computer keyboard, and speak on the telephone. Must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds

Competencies:

• Customer Focused: Passionate drive to meet the needs of our customers and offer unique solutions that deliver on their expectations
• Strong interpersonal skills, including written and oral communication skills
• Self-starter willing to quickly adapt, prioritize, and organize. Ability to manage a process from start to finish
• Ability to set clear expectations and work with others to accomplish specific goals
• Effective and professional verbal and written communication skills
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Complex problem solving and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions

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