Credit & Collections Specialist

Kaufman Container•Cleveland, OH

About The Position

The Credit & Collections Specialist is responsible for managing customer credit and collections activities to support strong cash flow and minimize credit risk. This role applies to established credit policies, conducts credit reviews for new and existing customers, and leads pro-active collection efforts to reduce delinquency and resolve payment issues. In addition to day-to-day accounts receivable and collections responsibilities, the Credit & Collections Specialist plays a key role in improving and standardizing department processes, identifying opportunities for automation, and partnering cross-functionally to increase efficiency, accuracy, and visibility within the credit and collection's function.

Requirements

High School Diploma or equivalent (Associate's or Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business preferred).
Minimum three (3) years of experience in accounts receivable, credit, and collections, with demonstrated expertise in improving processes, workflows, or systems within an AR or collections environment.
Demonstrated experience driving process improvements or automation within AR or collections.
Experience using spreadsheet software.
Experience using computerized financial systems.

Nice To Haves

General bookkeeping experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Process customer credit card payments and refunds.
Responsible for monitoring and maintaining all customer accounts- customer calls, account adjustments, small balance write-off, and customer reconciliations, and notifying customer service and sales regarding any potential collection issues.
Accountable for reducing delinquency for customer accounts.
Reconcile customer disputes as they pertain to payment of outstanding balances that are due.
Establish and maintain effective and cooperative working relationships with internal and external customers.
Negotiate payment plans as needed and offer alternative payment methods.
Update and maintain the customer call log with information collected regarding customer issues.
Review all incoming credit applications, including a D&B report, and recommend credit limits and terms for approval.
Process on-line bank information daily by reporting disbursements, debit or credit amounts on the grid note worksheet and list the total of all wires and ACH transactions.
Post ACH payments from the bank.
Input daily deposits into the Daily Balances spreadsheet.
Turn over accounts to a collection agency when all other efforts have been exhausted, and work with the collection agency and/or attorney in collection and bankruptcy proceedings.
Email Salesperson Aging report.
Email Previous Day report for A/P administrator.
Run credit-hold reports and partner with sales and customer service to resolve holds efficiently.
Reconcile Accounts Receivable and Bad Debt accounts; identify trends and recommend corrective actions.
Review delinquent accounts and apply late payment penalties and interest to past-due invoices.
Special projects assigned by the Controller and the VP of Finance.
Evaluate, recommend, and help implement tools, workflows, and system enhancements to improve collections efficiency, cash application accuracy, and reporting visibility.
Develop and maintain standardized collection procedures, escalation paths, and documentation practices.
Partner with IT, accounting leadership, and system vendors to automate manual processes where feasible (e.g., payment application, statements, reminders, reporting).
Create and maintain dashboards or reports to track aging, DSO, delinquency trends, and collection effectiveness.
Identify root causes of recurring disputes or late payments and collaborate cross-functionally to reduce future occurrences.
Handling Access account for offsite file storage.
Backup for posting lockbox and processing deposits.
Back up for Directs, Warehouse Invoicing, and RMA's.
Process weekly wire transfers initiated by A/P.