Manager - Accounts Receivable & Collections

Stout • Chicago, IL

7d

About The Position

At Stout, we’re dedicated to exceeding expectations in all we do – we call it Relentless Excellence ® . Both our client service and culture are second to none, stemming from our firmwide embrace of our core values: Positive and Team-Oriented, Accountable, Committed, Relationship-Focused, Super-Responsive, and being Great communicators. Sound like a place you can grow and succeed? Read on to learn more about an exciting opportunity to join our team. Impact You’ll Make This role plays a critical role in driving the firm’s cash flow performance while protecting and strengthening client relationships. You will own and optimize the end-to-end collections process, serve as a key connector between Finance, client-facing leadership, and Legal, and deliver clear, measurable improvements in A/R aging, DSO, and overall collections effectiveness. Own and drive the firm’s collections strategy, ensuring timely resolution of outstanding invoices and consistent cash collection. Improve visibility and accountability across A/R by proactively managing aging, prioritizing high-risk accounts, and escalating issues appropriately. Strengthen collaboration between Finance, client-facing teams, and Legal to resolve billing disputes efficiently and professionally. Serve as a trusted partner to leadership by delivering actionable insights through reporting, analysis, and recommendations. Lead process improvements and technology enablement initiatives that modernize and scale the collections function. What You’ll Do In this role, you’ll manage day-to-day collections activity while partnering cross-functionally to resolve issues, mitigate risk, and improve processes.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in accounts receivable and collections, preferably within a professional services environment.
• Demonstrated experience managing sensitive client communications related to payment and billing issues.
• Strong understanding of A/R aging, collections workflows, and escalation processes.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with senior internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple accounts and deadlines simultaneously.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with collections platforms such as HighRadius, Billtrust, Tesorio, or similar tools.
• Experience partnering with legal teams or outside collections counsel.
• Familiarity with professional services billing models (time & materials, retainers, fixed fee).
• Experience with ERP systems such as Workday, NetSuite, Sage Intacct, or similar.

Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end collections process for outstanding invoices, including routine follow-ups, escalations, and resolution.
• Actively manage A/R aging, prioritizing collection efforts on high-dollar and high-risk accounts.
• Maintain regular client contact via email and phone to confirm invoice receipt, resolve questions, and secure payment commitments.
• Track and document all collection activity, maintaining clear records of client communications and payment status.
• Partner closely with Project Managers, Managing Directors, group COOs, and client service teams to resolve billing disputes and unblock delayed payments.
• Escalate materially past-due accounts to Finance leadership with clear recommendations, including payment plans, work holds, or further escalation.
• Provide timely and accurate A/R status updates to stakeholders, including weekly or monthly aging summaries.
• Assist in establishing and refining credit and collections policies aligned with a professional services environment.
• Identify accounts requiring escalation and coordinate next steps with the internal Legal team.
• Prepare detailed account documentation and history for referral to outside collections counsel when necessary.
• Act as the primary point of contact with outside counsel through resolution, settlement, or write-off.
• Partner with implementation consultants to support the successful launch of HighRadius in 2026.
• Serve as the subject matter expert for the HighRadius platform post-implementation.
• Produce regular reporting on A/R aging, DSO trends, and collections performance for Finance leadership and group COOs.
• Identify root causes of delayed payments and partner with Finance to improve billing and collections efficiency.
• Support month-end close activities related to A/R reserves, write-offs, and audit support.

Benefits

• At Stout, we offer a comprehensive Total Rewards program with competitive compensation, benefits, and wellness options tailored to support employees at every stage of life.
• We foster a culture of inclusion and respect, embracing diverse perspectives and experiences to drive innovation and success.
• Our leadership is committed to inclusion and belonging across the organization and in the communities we serve.
• We invest in professional growth through ongoing training, mentorship, employee resource groups, and clear performance feedback, ensuring our employees are supported in achieving their career goals.
• Stout provides flexible work schedules and a discretionary time off policy to promote work-life balance and help employees lead fulfilling lives.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees