Freight Audit / Carrier Pay Lead (Trucking & Brokerage)

Freight Audit & Carrier Settlements Lead
San Francisco, CA
Compensation: $120,000–$140,000 annually, plus bonus

We are seeking an experienced transportation finance operator to lead carrier pay and freight audit across both brokerage and asset-based operations. This role requires deep, hands-on knowledge of trucking, rate confirmations, accessorial charges, and shipment-level auditing.

This is not a traditional corporate AP or general accounting role. We are looking for someone who has worked directly in freight brokerage or asset-based trucking environments and understands the operational realities of carrier settlements.

The Freight Audit & Carrier Settlements Lead will serve as a player/coach — remaining close to the work while leading and improving how carrier finance operates at scale.

Role Overview

You will own the end-to-end freight audit and carrier payment process, ensuring accurate, timely, and contract-compliant settlements for third-party carriers and company-owned assets. This role sits at the intersection of Finance and Operations and plays a critical role in protecting carrier relationships, managing working capital, and preventing margin leakage.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day freight audit and carrier settlement operations across brokerage and asset divisions while supervising and developing team members.
• Review and approve carrier invoices against rate confirmations, contracts, and load documentation including BOLs, PODs, detention, TONU, layover, fuel surcharge, and other accessorial charges.
• Own the resolution of disputes, short pays, duplicate payments, and settlement discrepancies, partnering closely with Operations and Billing teams.
• Oversee driver pay and owner-operator settlements where applicable, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
• Maintain strong load-level audit controls to prevent overpayment, margin erosion, and processing errors.
• Ensure settlement accuracy within TMS and financial systems, including NetSuite and reporting tools.
• Provide visibility into carrier liabilities, accruals, and cash requirements with a strong understanding of shipment-level exposure.
• Identify opportunities to reduce freight costs through tighter auditing, dispute prevention, process automation, and operational discipline.
• Standardize and document freight audit workflows to support growth without proportional increases in manual effort.
• Serve as the escalation point for carrier-related financial issues and protect long-term carrier relationships through clear and consistent communication.

Required Experience

• 5–8 years of experience in freight brokerage, asset-based trucking, or transportation finance operations.
• Direct experience in freight audit, carrier settlements, transportation accounting, or driver pay oversight.
• Strong understanding of rate confirmations, carrier contracts, and accessorial billing structures.
• Hands-on experience working within a TMS environment.
• Experience operating in a player/coach or team lead capacity.
• Familiarity with NetSuite and BI/reporting tools.
• Strong operational judgment, attention to detail, and ability to balance financial control with practical execution.

Preferred Experience

• Experience managing both third-party carrier settlements and asset-based driver pay.
• Experience in high-growth or technology-enabled logistics environments.
• Demonstrated ability to implement process improvements or automation within freight audit workflows.

Benefits

Competitive salary with annual bonus opportunity
Medical, dental, and vision insurance
401(k) plan with company match
Paid time off, including holidays
Employee wellness and support programs
Opportunities for professional growth and development

This role is ideal for someone who understands trucking at a granular level, enjoys being close to the work, and wants to shape how carrier finance operates in a fast-scaling logistics organization.