Senior Collections Specialist

divh2Senior Collections Specialist/h2pAFL 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./ppWhat We Offer:/pulliA hybrid in office schedule for qualifying employees/liliFlexible time off policy/lili401K Company match (up to 4% - dollar for dollar)/liliProfessional development, training, and tuition reimbursement programs/liliExcellent medical, dental, vision, and life insurance policy options/liliOpportunities for career advancement with an industry leading company!/li/ulpJob Summary/ppThe 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./ppResponsibilities/ppThe account management activities include, but are not limited to the following:/pulliAssist Collection Specialists with the most complex issues as the first level of escalation./liliResearch 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./liliAnalyze recurring issues to identify the root cause and work cross-functionally to review and revise internal processes to resolve./liliAnalyze assigned customer accounts to evaluate past due invoices and follow up with the customer to discuss the status and establish a plan for resolution./liliAnalyze 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./liliAnalyze each assigned customers 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./liliMake decisions regarding credit holds as needed to manage collections and ensure proper communication of those actions to Customer Service and Sales./liliMaintain detailed notes on customer accounts regarding conversations and collection efforts./liliCollaborate with the Credit Analyst to proactively perform credit reviews to manage credit line increases in a timely manner to avoid shipment delays./liliConsolidate and finalize the weekly reports for management to highlight aged balances, planned resolution and contributing factors to the current DSO./liliReconcile 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./liliProvide data on collections to Treasury to assist with cashflow forecasting./liliProvide backup coverage for Collection Specialists./liliAssist with onboarding and training of new credit team staff./liliAssist with collection of data requested during internal/external audits./liliAdhere to and promote the environmental, health and safety policies of AFL./li/ulpPersonal Qualities/pulliAdvanced accounting knowledge and understanding of the end to end order to cash process to recommend and implement improvements./liliAbility to lead staff to achievement of team goals./liliAbility to work independently and use critical thinking skills./liliAbility to make quick decisions for timely resolution of issues./liliAbility to build strong internal and external customer relationships./liliExcellent customer service and negotiation skills./liliOrganized and detail oriented to manage a large customer portfolio./liliStrong communication skills, both written and verbal./liliStrong teamwork and interpersonal skills./liliSelf-driven to achieve stated objectives with limited supervision./li/ulpQualifications/pulliBachelors Degree in Accounting or Finance/lili5+ years of experience in B2B collections and accounts receivable/liliProficiency in MS Office, particularly Excel for data analysis and reporting/liliOracle experience, preferred/li/ulpWorking Conditions/pulliOffice 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/li/ul/div