Credit & Collection Specialist

Horizon Hobby•Champaign, IL

3d•$20 - $24•Onsite

About The Position

The Credit & Collections Specialist is responsible for managing customer accounts to ensure timely payment of outstanding invoices while maintaining strong customer relationships. This role involves reviewing credit applications, monitoring aging reports, contacting customers regarding overdue balances, and resolving billing disputes in a professional and efficient manner. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, an effective communicator, and comfortable balancing firm collections practices with excellent customer service.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
1–3 years of experience in credit, collections, accounts receivable, billing, customer service, or a related finance/customer account role.
Strong verbal and written communication skills, including comfort with difficult customer conversations.
Working knowledge of Microsoft Excel and standard office software.
Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and ability to prioritize a high volume of accounts.
Ability to work independently, follow established policies, and meet deadlines.

Nice To Haves

Associate degree or higher in Accounting, Business, Finance, or a related field.
Experience with ERP, CRM, or accounts receivable systems.
Experience reviewing customer credit, resolving deductions/disputes, or managing credit holds.
Experience in a high-volume AR, distribution, manufacturing, or consumer products environment.

Responsibilities

Monitor accounts receivable aging reports and proactively contact customers with past-due balances by phone, email, and written correspondence.
Assist with payment arrangements and escalate settlement requests in accordance with company policy and approval limits.
Review credit applications and customer account information and provide credit limit recommendations for management review.
Review customer accounts and orders based on established credit criteria and release orders on hold as appropriate.
Place customer accounts on credit hold or release holds based on payment status, credit risk, and established company guidelines.
Investigate and resolve billing discrepancies, short payments, deductions, and disputed charges in collaboration with Sales, Billing, Customer Service, and other internal departments.
Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of collection activity, customer communications, payment commitments, and account status in the ERP/CRM system.
Prepare and distribute regular reports related to delinquent accounts, collection activity, account aging, and cash flow projections for management review.
Assist with preparing account documentation for escalation to management, legal counsel, or third-party collection agencies, as needed.
Process customer refunds, credit memos, write-offs, and other account adjustments as needed and in accordance with company policies.
Reconcile customer accounts and research unapplied payments, discrepancies, and other account activity as needed.
Communicate regularly with Sales regarding customer account status, credit limits, past-due balances, credit holds, payment issues, and collection concerns.
Exercise sound judgment within established credit and collections policies, escalating exceptions, disputes, or higher-risk accounts to management as appropriate.