Accounting Associate - Collections- Hybrid in Fairlawn, OH

OEC • Columbus, OH

5d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Accounting Associate - Collections manages past-due customer accounts to reduce delinquency and protect company cash flow. The role monitors accounts receivable aging, contacts customers, resolves outstanding balances and billing disputes, negotiates payment plans, and maintains accurate account records for monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting.

Responsibilities also include payment posting and account reconciliation, preparing aging and bad-debt reports, issuing past-due notices and demand letters, recommending escalation to collection agencies or legal referral, processing credit card payments through RBS, supporting billing and subscription database tasks, and coordinating credit holds and releases with Sales and Account Management. The position provides clerical and team support and ensures collection activity complies with applicable laws and company policies. The role is hybrid in Fairlawn, Ohio.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.
• At least 3 years of experience in collections, accounts receivable, or credit support, including payment negotiation and past-due account management.
• Working knowledge of FDCPA and collections best practices.
• Advanced Excel skills, including pivot tables and VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, for aging and account analysis.
• Comfort with high-volume outbound calls and firm, professional payment conversations.
• Strong communication, organization, and relationship-building skills across teams and stakeholders.
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines simultaneously.

Responsibilities

• Review accounts receivable aging daily and prioritize customer outreach based on risk, balance, and days delinquent.
• Code and post payments and reconcile related accounts.
• Contact customers by phone, email, and letter to secure payment.
• Negotiate and document payment plans.
• Resolve billing discrepancies, short pays, and disputes, coordinating with Sales and Customer Service as needed.
• Maintain detailed collection notes and account histories for each contact and promise-to-pay.
• Prepare month-end, quarter-end, and year-end aging summaries and bad-debt exposure reports, researching data to resolve discrepancies.
• Send past-due notices and demand letters and escalate accounts according to collection stage.
• Recommend and document chronically delinquent accounts for collection agency or legal referral.
• Process credit card payments via RBS.
• Track monthly bad-debt write-offs, update payment terms, process billing and statements per contract terms, and manage the billing system's subscription database.
• Recommend and coordinate credit holds, releases, and restrictions with Sales and Account Management while balancing collections with customer relationships.
• Ensure collection activity follows applicable debt collection laws, including FDCPA, and internal policies.
• Provide clerical support, assist with special projects, and back up teammates during absences.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision benefits starting Day 1.
• 401(k) with company match.
• Unlimited Flex Time Off and 10 company-paid holidays.
• Professional development programs and tuition assistance.
• Employee resource groups and exclusive employee discounts.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED