Specialist 1 - Accounts Receivable

Position Summary

The Accounts Receivable Specialist is responsible for managing and collecting outstanding accounts receivable balances from commercial customers. This role focuses on reducing delinquency, improving cash flow, resolving payment disputes, and maintaining positive customer relationships while adhering to company policies and credit procedures. The successful candidate will work closely with customers, sales teams, customer service, and finance departments to ensure timely payment of invoices and accurate account reconciliation.

Key Responsibilities

Contact commercial customers by phone, email, and written correspondence regarding past-due invoices.
Review of invoice and payment status on customer facing portals
Monitor accounts receivable aging reports and prioritize collection efforts based on risk and delinquency levels.
Investigate and resolve payment delays, billing discrepancies, deductions, and disputes.
Negotiate payment arrangements with customers while aligning with company credit policies.
Maintain detailed collection notes and account activity records within the ERP or accounts receivable system.
Review customer accounts to identify trends, potential credit risks, and escalating delinquency concerns.
Collaborate with Sales, Customer Service, and Operations teams to resolve issues impacting payment.
Reconcile customer accounts and ensure unapplied cash, credits, and deductions are addressed promptly.
Prepare and maintain weekly cash collection forecasts, providing visibility into expected cash receipts and highlighting collection risks or delays.
Escalate high-risk or severely delinquent accounts to management when appropriate.
Recommend accounts for credit hold, collection agency placement, or legal action based on established guidelines.
Meet established key performance indicators (KPIs), including collection effectiveness, DSO reduction, percentage past due reduction, cash forecasting accuracy, and dispute resolution targets.
Assist with month-end reporting and audit requirements related to accounts receivable.

Qualifications

Required

High school diploma or equivalent.
5+ years of commercial collections, accounts receivable, or credit and collections experience.
Strong understanding of accounts receivable processes, collection practices, and cash application fundamentals.
Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Outlook, and ERP systems.
Strong verbal and written communication skills.
Excellent negotiation, problem-solving, and conflict resolution abilities.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred

Associate's or Bachelor’s degree in finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field.
Experience with Sage, or similar ERP systems.
Experience with Ariba, Coupa, Oracle Isupplier, Textura
Knowledge of commercial credit principles and financial statement analysis.
Experience managing business-to-business (B2B) customer accounts.

Key Competencies

Customer Relationship Management
Attention to Detail
Analytical Thinking
Conflict Resolution
Cash Forecasting and Reporting
Professional Communication
Results Orientation

Performance Metrics

Percentage of Accounts Receivable Past Due (% Past Due)
Days Sales Outstanding (DSO)
Collection Effectiveness Index (CEI)
Weekly Cash Forecast Accuracy
Dispute Resolution Cycle Time
Cash Collections Against Target
Customer Satisfaction and Relationship Management

Working Conditions

Remote work environment with the ability to work independently while maintaining high levels of productivity and accountability.
Regular interaction with customers, sales personnel, customer service representatives, and finance teams through phone, email, and virtual collaboration tools.
Occasional requirement to handle challenging collection situations while maintaining professionalism and strong customer relationships.
Participation in virtual team meetings, training sessions, and periodic business reviews.
Ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced, results-oriented environment.