Accounts Receivable Specialist

Accounts Receivable SpecialistThe Accounts Receivable Specialist manages a high-volume portfolio of customer accounts, drives timely collection of outstanding invoices, and supports cash application activities to improve Days Sales Outstanding and optimize working capital. This role focuses heavily on collections and credit for larger, complex accounts, requiring strong reconciliation skills, cross-functional collaboration, and comfort working in a manual, evolving process environment.Responsibilities:Manage an assigned portfolio of 200+ customer accounts, with a focus on larger and more complex customers that require extensive reconciliation and attention.Ensure timely collection of outstanding invoices and proactively reduce past-due balances across the portfolio.Review aging reports regularly, identify collection priorities, and follow established collection strategies to maximize cash flow.Support initiatives to improve Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) and optimize working capital through effective collections and cash application.Process and apply customer payments accurately and promptly, including ACH, wire transfers, lockbox receipts, checks, and credit card payments.Research and resolve unapplied cash, payment discrepancies, short payments, overpayments, and remittance issues by working directly with customers and internal stakeholders.Perform daily cash application activities while maintaining strong internal controls and ensuring accurate posting within SAP.Complete account reconciliations and resolve billing discrepancies in collaboration with Sales, Customer Service, Operations, and Finance.Monitor customer accounts for potential credit or collection risks and communicate concerns and recommendations to leadership.Maintain accurate customer account records, aging details, and collection documentation in line with established procedures.Partner with Sales, Customer Service, Operations, and Finance to resolve billing and payment issues quickly and professionally.Support customer inquiries and collection escalations, responding in a timely, service-oriented manner.Assist with new customer onboarding by helping ensure accurate billing setup and complete customer information.Collaborate with third-party collection partners and internal teams to support effective accounts receivable and collection processes.Contribute to process improvement and automation initiatives that enhance efficiency, accuracy, and standard operating procedures.Work extensively in customer portals and EDI processes to track payments, review remittances, and manage collections and credit activities.Use Excel, including VLOOKUPs, to analyze account data, reconcile balances, and support reporting in a manual environment.Communicate with customers primarily via email (approximately 80%) and by phone (approximately 20%), sending statements and payment reminders to clarify what has been paid and what remains outstanding.Essential Skills:At least 2 years of hands-on Accounts Receivable experience.Proven B2B collections experience, including managing past-due balances and negotiating payment arrangements.Experience managing large, complex portfolios of customer accounts.Strong background in accounts receivable and cash application processes.Ability to read and interpret aging reports and prioritize collection efforts accordingly.Experience with account reconciliations and resolving billing discrepancies.Comfort working in a collections and credit-focused role with significant customer interaction.Proficiency with SAP or similar ERP systems for posting payments and managing customer accounts.Solid Excel skills, including the ability to use VLOOKUPs and work with large, detailed datasets.Strong customer service and communication skills, with the ability to handle collection escalations professionally.Ability to collaborate effectively with Sales, Customer Service, Operations, Finance, and third-party collection partners.Attention to detail and commitment to maintaining accurate records and strong internal controls.Additional Skills & Qualifications:Experience working with older or legacy SAP instances and adapting to system upgrades is beneficial.Familiarity with customer portals and EDI processes for billing, remittance review, and collections is advantageous.Experience supporting process improvement and automation initiatives in an accounts receivable environment.Comfort working in a manual, evolving process environment and helping establish new standard operating procedures.Ability to manage a high volume of accounts while focusing on complex reconciliations and larger customers.Strong organizational skills and the ability to balance email and phone outreach effectively.Interest in contributing to the development of KPIs and performance metrics for collections and credit.Experience working within a global organization or with cross-border teams is a plus.Work Environment:This role operates within a large, global organization with thousands of employees and a private equity ownership structure, offering exposure to team members across the globe. The accounts receivable function is in a growth and transformation phase, with processes that are currently more manual as the business establishes itself as a separate entity and formalizes standard operating procedures. The position follows a hybrid schedule with three days per week in the Burnsville office, with reasonable flexibility, and supports a professional, team-oriented atmosphere focused on continuous improvement and partnership across departments.Job Type & Location:This is a Contract position based out of Burnsville, MN.Pay and Benefits:The pay range for this position is $30.00 - $35.00/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)Workplace Type:This is a hybrid position in Burnsville, MN.Application Deadline:This position is anticipated to close on Sep 18, 2026.