AR Specialist

SKIDMORE•West Chester Township, OH

13d•Onsite

About The Position

Skidmore Sales and Distributing is seeking a detail-oriented, hard-working AR Specialist to join its Finance team. Working within the authority established by the Skidmore Credit Policy, the specialist collects invoices, applies customer payments, maintains accounts receivable records, releases orders, and sends customer statements. The role works regularly with customers and coordinates with sales representatives and internal and external departments as needed. The position also supports credit evaluations and recommendations, customer account setup and maintenance, collections, payment research, chargeback and deduction processing, and general accounting and administrative tasks. It provides secondary backup at the reception desk and assists with special projects as required.

Requirements

Associate degree in a related discipline, or equivalent knowledge and skills normally acquired through completion of an associate degree.
2–5 years of professional experience in accounting.
Calm, organized, patient, diplomatic, and confident demeanor when working with staff and customers.
Advanced attention to detail and accuracy.
Intermediate ability to prioritize a wide-ranging workload and work independently.
Intermediate verbal and written communication skills for a range of audiences, primarily staff and customers.
Intermediate knowledge of Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
Intermediate ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and customers.

Nice To Haves

Experience in accounts receivable and collections efforts.

Responsibilities

Release credit holds and inform sales representatives when orders are held.
Verify customer credit standing using account-file information and, when appropriate, withhold shipment until payment is received.
Evaluate customer credit history and recommend changes to credit limits, special arrangements, payment-term deviations, account closure, credit-limit adjustments, or collection action based on payment history and purchase activity.
Set up new customers in the ERP system and update customer credit activity, billing addresses, and credit limits in computer files.
Complete and respond to credit reference requests from outside suppliers.
Assist in maintaining sales tax forms and other customer documents.
Maintain, review, complete, and close accounts receivable notes.
Apply lockbox, check, ACH, wire transfer, and credit card payments to customer accounts.
Investigate customer claims of invoice payment and research and process chargebacks, deductions, returns, and bad checks.
Interview customers by telephone to investigate complaints, verify charges, or correct account errors, involving other departments or personnel as needed.
Answer accounts receivable phone inquiries and follow up.
Follow up on outstanding invoices and obtain and mail invoice copies as requested.
Contact customers by phone or mail as necessary to update accounts; ascertain collection status and outstanding balances.
Review delinquent accounts considered uncollectible to ensure collection efforts have been exhausted before bad-debt classification or referral to a collection agency.
Research deductions arising from goods damaged during shipment and examine, apply, and resolve credit memo issues.
Inform sales representatives of customer pricing or freight discrepancies.
Assist with special projects, help formulate credit policies and develop credit ratings and credit ceilings, and perform other general accounting and administrative tasks as needed.
Provide secondary backup at the reception desk.