COOPERATIVES OFFER MANY JOB OPPORTUNITIES, MAYBE EVEN ONES YOU MIGHT NOT THINK OF. TAKE A DEEPER DIVE INTO SOME OF THE CAREERS THAT ARE OFFERED BY AGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVES.
Trang J. | Nebraska
Trang works at a cooperative in Nebraska and shares what her experience working on the accounting team at the co-op is like.
What do you do for your job?
I primarily process invoices. I do this for 33 locations along with all Information Technology related invoices. I also prepare and perform check runs and mail them to pay vendors along with reconciling statements.
Describe what your day looks like:
My day starts with checking my email for new and incomplete tasks from the previous day, and reaching out to location managers on new and pending invoice approvals. As I get approval for invoices, I will begin to process and code them into our accounting system for checks to be created and payments made. Depending on my set schedule that day, I may be performing a check run next, monitoring a specific email group for new invoices that need approval from managers, or answering questions to ensure past invoices that were processed have actually been paid and that the statements reflect that. The last thing I typically do each day is spend a little bit of time preparing for the next day so that I am as efficient with my time as possible.
Why did you choose this career?
Before starting in the cooperative world, I worked as a pharmacy technician. However, I enjoy this much more because I can still use my strength of being good with numbers in addition to having the opportunity to learn about a lot of new things. Since the co-op deals with so many different vendors, I’ve been able to expand my accounting knowledge on taxes, the difference between goods and services and so on. I have also been able to build relationships with many vendors and coworkers. I feel like I am part of a big family which I did not feel before changing professions.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give someone entering the workforce?
I was unsure of what I wanted to do when I graduated. So my biggest advice to anyone who is unsure about what career to choose, is to just work hard towards what it is you like to do. Do research on the field and find people you know who may be in the field and ask them for advice. Don’t be afraid to go after what you want to do. You will be surprised of what you are capable of doing if you put your mind to it.
Take a look at actual job openings at one of the largest agricultural cooperatives in the Midwest, Central Valley Ag, to see if there are any jobs that interest you.