Collections Specialist I

Caleres • Clayton, MO

5d • Onsite

About The Position

Founded in 1878, Caleres, originally known as Brown Shoe Company, is a global footwear company comprised of some of the world's most loved brands including Famous Footwear, Sam Edelman, Naturalizer, Dr. Scholl's, Allen Edmonds, and many more. Caleres' legacy includes 145+ years of craftsmanship, a passion for fit, and a mission to inspire people to feel great...feet first. Join Our Finance Team as a Collections Specialist in St. Louis, MO! We're looking for a motivated and detail-oriented professional to join our Accounts Receivable team as a Collections Specialist. In this role, you'll help support healthy cash flow and strong customer relationships by managing outstanding receivables, resolving payment issues, and partnering with customers and internal teams to drive timely payment resolution. The ideal candidate is an effective communicator, highly organized, and thrives in a fast-paced environment where attention to detail and customer service matter.

Requirements

• Associate's degree in Business, Accounting, Finance, or related field preferred; equivalent work experience considered
• 0-2 years of collections, accounts receivable, customer service, administrative, or related business experience
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with a customer-focused approach
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to prioritize tasks and manage time effectively in a deadline-driven environment
• Willingness to learn systems, processes, and financial workflows
• Basic understanding of accounts receivable, collections, or accounting principles preferred
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Excel, Outlook, and Word

Nice To Haves

• Experience in retail, wholesale, distribution, or large corporate environments is a plus
• Experience with SAP or similar ERP systems is a plus

Responsibilities

• Conduct daily outreach to assigned customer accounts through phone and email communications to follow up on outstanding balances and secure timely payment.
• Assist customers with invoice copies, account statements, remittance reconciliation, and payment inquiries.
• Escalate disputed invoices, unresolved issues, and delayed payments appropriately to ensure prompt resolution and minimize aging balances.
• Record collection activities, customer interactions, payment commitments, and resolution progress within designated financial and collections systems.
• Partner with Accounting, Customer Service, Sales, Credit, and Disputes teams to identify and resolve payment obstacles, correct invoice issues, and improve collections effectiveness.
• Develop knowledge of collections processes, dispute workflows, credit holds, and key performance metrics.

Benefits

• 30% Associate Discount across Famous Footwear and Caleres brands
• 401(k)
• Health benefits
• PTO
• Access to earnings before payday
• Free, 24/7 confidential support and resources through our Employee Assistance Program
• Relaxed Dress Code
• Full access to our brand new downtown Clayton, MO office, including, onsite gym, Starbucks, Grab and Go Market, beautiful indoor/outdoor meeting spaces and free parking

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree