Job Details

Job Title: Collections and Deductions Analyst
Job Type: Temp to Hire
Duration: 4 months contract
Location: Remote

Job Overview:
This role is responsible for researching and reconciling customer disputes, payments, credits, invoices, and contracts to reflect the proper status and balance of the customer's account receivable and ensure payment recovery on invalid short payments/claims. Disputes are researched utilizing SAP, Customer and third-party websites and external and internal departments. Position handles significant high volumes which requires fast decision making and a self-starter requiring minimal supervision. Analyze historical customer payments and disputes to derive issues, trends and root cause analysis using multiple systems and customer supplied information.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Monitor and track the daily analysis of customer disputed invoices/short-payments on a very high volume-based activity.
• Perform analysis of customer accounts based on the customer's purchases, payment history, credit worthiness, credit limit exposure and our business strategy.
• Track and evaluate past due A/R accounts to reduce the risk of credit exposure
• Evaluate credit worthiness of accounts and determine proper account order hold or releases
• Ability to research cash application matters on customer account
• Evaluate aged items for bad debt write off and refund analysis
• Perform offsetting adjustments to ensure customer account balances are properly stated
• Contact customers to secure payment on overdue balances, issues resolution on open items
• Provide guidance and support to Sales and Operations Managers, Logistics, Common carrier disputes, outside Distribution operations about the release of orders to accounts that have aged accounts receivable.
• Maintain a strong cross functional communication with Sales, Logistics, and Management regarding identified account risks, potential credit problems, disputes and customer comments. Identify and escalate as necessary.
• Provide monthly and ad-hoc reports and updates to key stakeholders

Systems:

• Maintain and manage all data related to customer discounts, allowances and other deductions in SAP
• Track work on deductions issues unless the issue is resolved
• Research Cash Applications done on customers from Bank Statements

Compliance:

• Following SOP business rules, and through case creation, generate a credit memo where applicable to resolve customer financial disputes.
• Ensures GAAP, SOX and Watts policies and procedures are adhered to and the ongoing operation, maintenance and controls of the AR system;
• Ensure proper SOX documentation on customer accounts, credit memo issuance and approvals
• Support audits of deductions, payments and write-offs
• Identify and assist in the preparation of accounts for placement with collection agencies or 3rd Party activity.

Financial Responsibilities:

• Financial recovery of invalid disputed customer account receivables balances
• Negotiate and structure payment plans
• Ensure customer accounts are accurately stated in adherence to US GAAP
• Recommend write offs for uncollectable open invoices and disputed balances

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
Requires broad training in fields such as business administration, accountancy, generally obtained through completion of a four-year Bachelor's degree program

MINIMUM SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITY REQUIREMENTS:

• Associate Degree in Accounting or Finance, but Bachelor's Degree preferred
• 5 years of A/R software experience for large corporations such as SAP, Oracle, etc
• 5 years minimum of A/R Dispute resolution experience in a large organization, working with vendor portals
• 5 years minimum of Cash Application research and analysis
• Must have Advanced Excel skills: writing advanced formulas, Pivot Tables, V-lookups, etc.
• 5 years of experience working with functional groups and different level of employees throughout the organization to achieve business results effectively and professionally
• 5 years following GAAP and SOX requirements in a publicly traded company