Accounts Receivable Specialist III

Title: Accounts Receivable Specialist III

Reports to: Credit and Collections Manager

Location: Columbia, MD

Position Summary:

The Accounts Receivable Specialist is responsible for all aspects of collections and account reconciliation for the portfolio. The functions include but are not limited to risk assessment, collections and payment, reconciliation, dispute resolution, and monitoring account balances to determine account / order credit holds.

Essential Functions:

• Assist in adherence to Accounting Department policies and procedures
• Monitors accounts receivable balances and utilize documented process to collect
• Communicates with key customers to clear receivables, resolve disputes and monitor compliance to credit control procedures
• Effectively organizes and prioritizes distribution and high-risk accounts based on amount and days past due and utilizes appropriate form of communication to match urgency level of the account
• Handle incoming customer calls and/or work department team email inbox to resolve customers request and issues
• Investigate and fully resolve customer payment disputes and billing discrepancies in a timely and professional manner.  This includes determining root causes and ensuring resolution
• Follow the formal dispute resolution process and always seek process improvements
• Escalate accounts when deemed necessary
• Work with internal/external customers to resolve collections issues
• Negotiate payment schedules for delinquent accounts with the prior approval of the Credit and Collection Manager
• Meet/Exceed monthly cash targets based on the business needs
• Perform general accounting clerical duties
• Prepare weekly status report on collections activity
• Prepare weekly report on payment commitments
• Assess and determine the credit worthiness of new and existing customers
• Releasing and monitoring daily account/orders for credit holds
• Assist as a backup person for Cash Applications when deemed necessary
• Other duties that are assigned

Performance Criteria:

• Investigate past due balances and resolve outstanding discrepancies with the urgency in getting portfolio of accounts to Current status.
• Monitor assigned portfolio of accounts closely for any new discrepancies and striving for process improvements
• Handle incoming customer calls in a professional manner and assist with A/R team email inbox to resolve customers’ requests timely and accurately
• Effectively prioritize accounts based on days past due and amount outstanding
• Research and release daily customer order holds due to credit issues as orders come in throughout the day
• Meet and/or exceed monthly cash collection targets
• Work with Customer Service Department and Sales Team on a regular basis to keep customer accounts precise and current

Qualifications / Education:

• Associate or bachelor’s degree in accounting or related field of study
• 5+ years of Business-to-Business cash collections
• Ability to work well with others, and be a point of reference for the team
• Expert knowledge of Microsoft Office programs (Outlook, Word, Excel)
• Self-sufficient and able to multi-task several tasks at once with minimal to no mistakes 
• Results oriented and driven by performance improvement
• Motivated individual that assists in driving healthy team motivation/competition
• Highly organized, detail oriented and self-directed
• Ability to complete routine reports and other correspondences timely and accurately
• Financial reporting experience
• Creatively thinks of new reporting ideas and AR process improvement
• Strong organizational skills and capable of meeting set deadlines
• Professional verbal and written communication skills
• Customer service oriented with strong written and verbal communication skills
• Expert knowledge and understanding of basic Accounting principles/practices
• Must be able to perform in a fast-paced high-volume environment