Director of Billing and Collections

Empower Brands•Richmond, VA

18h

About The Position

Position Summary: The Director of Billing and Collections will be responsible for building and leading the company's billing and collections function. This is a newly created role within Empowers Accounting & Finance shared service team, which will be charged with spearheading the unification of three billing units into a centralized Center of Excellence (CoE). This role will architect a best-practice shared service model designed to improve operational efficiency, standardize global workflows, and scale recovery operations. This leader will be responsible for ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant invoicing and collections for all revenue streams across Empower Brands while reducing outstanding receivables and improving cash flow. This position requires a deep understanding of the end-to-end order-to-cash process, ensuring accuracy, efficiency, and compliance in all billing activities. You will be responsible for optimizing billing processes, fostering a high-performing team, and collaborating with cross-functional departments to support the financial health and operational excellence of the company. This person will drive automation, improve efficiency, and implement best practices to scale our billing operations in a high-growth environment. Key Areas of Focus: Billing & Collections Strategy & Execution: Own the end-to-end invoice billing process, ensuring timely and accurate invoicing for Empowers key revenue streams – franchisee billing, national accounts, and company operated locations. Develop and optimize collections strategies to reduce DSO (Days Sales Outstanding) and minimize bad debt exposure. Collaborate with franchise development, revenue operations, and sales teams to align billing with contract lifecycle changes. Process Optimization & Technology: Automate billing & collections workflows to increase efficiency and reduce errors. Implement and optimize billing and payment platforms (e.g., FortisPay, One Inc, Stripe, or similar). Introduce AI-driven collections strategies (e.g., predictive scoring for delinquent accounts). Enhance customer payment experience, including self-service options and flexible payment plans. Compliance & Risk Management: Establish robust controls, reporting, and compliance frameworks, ensuring global readiness, financial integrity, and auditability. Lead audits, reporting, and reconciliation efforts to maintain compliance with Franchise Disclosure Documents and GAAP accounting standards. Specifically, maintains compliance related to the Current Expected Credit Loss standard (ASC 326). Develop and enforce collections policies, including handling of delinquent accounts and coordination with brand leadership and legal on recoveries. Team Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration: Build and lead a high-performing billing and collections team. Work closely with sales and customer service teams to improve payment adherence while maintaining strong customer relationships. Partner with finance and treasury teams to ensure accurate cash flow forecasting, financial statement reporting, subledger support and reconciliation.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, or business required (CPA or MBA preferred).
Minimum of 7 years of experience in billing, collections, or revenue cycle management in Franchisor/Franchisee or large National Account Management model.
Minimum of 5 years of leadership/management experience.
Expertise in billing automation, ERP systems, work order management, and collections platforms (FranConnect, HubSpot, Corrigo, NetSuite, Workday, etc.).
Deep knowledge of GAAP accounting standards related to revenue and credit loss recognition (ASC 606, ASC 326).
Data-driven approach, with experience using SQL, Tableau, or Excel to analyze billing trends and optimize collections.
Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to collaborate across Finance, Operations, Sales, and IT.
Strong attention to detail.
Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

Own the end-to-end invoice billing process, ensuring timely and accurate invoicing for Empowers key revenue streams – franchisee billing, national accounts, and company operated locations.
Develop and optimize collections strategies to reduce DSO (Days Sales Outstanding) and minimize bad debt exposure.
Collaborate with franchise development, revenue operations, and sales teams to align billing with contract lifecycle changes.
Automate billing & collections workflows to increase efficiency and reduce errors.
Implement and optimize billing and payment platforms (e.g., FortisPay, One Inc, Stripe, or similar).
Introduce AI-driven collections strategies (e.g., predictive scoring for delinquent accounts).
Enhance customer payment experience, including self-service options and flexible payment plans.
Establish robust controls, reporting, and compliance frameworks, ensuring global readiness, financial integrity, and auditability.
Lead audits, reporting, and reconciliation efforts to maintain compliance with Franchise Disclosure Documents and GAAP accounting standards.
Specifically, maintains compliance related to the Current Expected Credit Loss standard (ASC 326).
Develop and enforce collections policies, including handling of delinquent accounts and coordination with brand leadership and legal on recoveries.
Build and lead a high-performing billing and collections team.
Work closely with sales and customer service teams to improve payment adherence while maintaining strong customer relationships.
Partner with finance and treasury teams to ensure accurate cash flow forecasting, financial statement reporting, subledger support and reconciliation.