Job Details

Senior Collections Specialist

AFL manufactures industry-leading fiber optic cable, connectivity and accessories and provides engineering and installation services for some of the largest telecom customers in the world. Our company was founded in 1984 with a single fiber optic cable and today, we manufacture thousands of products, generate an excess of $1.5B in revenue, and employ approximately 7,000 associates worldwide. At AFL, we recognize that our employees are our greatest asset. We hire and train each individual, investing in them to ensure success in their careers. With a commitment to professional development and growth, let us connect you to your next career opportunity.

What We Offer:

• A hybrid in office schedule for qualifying employees
• Flexible time off policy
• 401K Company match (up to 4% - dollar for dollar)
• Professional development, training, and tuition reimbursement programs
• Excellent medical, dental, vision, and life insurance policy options
• Opportunities for career advancement with an industry leading company!

Job Summary

The Senior Collections Specialist is the collections team lead and independently manages a complex accounts receivable customer portfolio. This position is primarily responsible for resolving complex billing and deduction issues, ensuring timely collections and improved DSO, while building strong customer relationships. This role requires regular interaction with external customers and internal departments including Customer Service, Sales, Finance, Tax and Treasury.

Responsibilities

The account management activities include, but are not limited to the following:

• Assist Collection Specialists with the most complex issues as the first level of escalation.
• Research and resolve complex billing issues and other billing discrepancies by collaborating with the customer, Customer Service, Sales, Inventory managers, Tax and others as needed. Negotiate within assigned scope of authority, or seek appropriate approvals as needed to resolve the discrepancy.
• Analyze recurring issues to identify the root cause and work cross-functionally to review and revise internal processes to resolve.
• Analyze assigned customer accounts to evaluate past due invoices and follow up with the customer to discuss the status and establish a plan for resolution.
• Analyze deductions in a timely manner. Research and gather supporting documentation to support the authorization of credit memos to clear valid deductions or work with the customer to resolve invalid deductions.
• Analyze each assigned customer's DSO to ensure compliance with company metrics and strategize with Customer Service and Sales on ways to improve the outliers. Using this data, have regular communications with the customers to ensure timely payments.
• Make decisions regarding credit holds as needed to manage collections and ensure proper communication of those actions to Customer Service and Sales.
• Maintain detailed notes on customer accounts regarding conversations and collection efforts.
• Collaborate with the Credit Analyst to proactively perform credit reviews to manage credit line increases in a timely manner to avoid shipment delays.
• Consolidate and finalize the weekly reports for management to highlight aged balances, planned resolution and contributing factors to the current DSO.
• Reconcile complex customer accounts with the customer on a regular basis to ensure all invoices are accounted for and to identify any issues before amounts are past due.
• Provide data on collections to Treasury to assist with cashflow forecasting.
• Provide backup coverage for Collection Specialists.
• Assist with onboarding and training of new credit team staff.
• Assist with collection of data requested during internal/external audits.
• Adhere to and promote the environmental, health and safety policies of AFL.

Personal Qualities

• Advanced accounting knowledge and understanding of the end to end order to cash process to recommend and implement improvements.
• Ability to lead staff to achievement of team goals.
• Ability to work independently and use critical thinking skills.
• Ability to make quick decisions for timely resolution of issues.
• Ability to build strong internal and external customer relationships.
• Excellent customer service and negotiation skills.
• Organized and detail oriented to manage a large customer portfolio.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Strong teamwork and interpersonal skills.
• Self-driven to achieve stated objectives with limited supervision.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Accounting or Finance
• 5+ years of experience in B2B collections and accounts receivable
• Proficiency in MS Office, particularly Excel for data analysis and reporting
• Oracle experience, preferred

Working Conditions

• Office environment where you are required to sit for most of the day, occasional walking around the facility; vision ability to include close vision and ability to adjust focus