Cash Applications Analyst - Manufacturing Environment

Position Summary

The Cash Applications Analyst in a manufacturing environment ensures the timely and accurate application of incoming payments to customer accounts. This role requires a thorough understanding of payment processing, accounts receivable principles, and ERP systems commonly used in manufacturing. The ideal candidate will play a key role in maintaining the company’s financial health by reconciling transactions and supporting cross-functional teams to resolve payment-related issues.

Responsibilities

• Payment Processing:
  • Apply incoming payments (e.g., checks, ACH, wire transfers) to customer invoices using the company’s ERP system.
  • Process electronic remittances, lockbox payments, and manual payment adjustments.
  • Address unapplied or unidentified payments in a timely manner.
• Reconciliation and Allocation:
  • Reconcile daily bank deposits with customer accounts.
  • Collaborate with finance and sales teams to resolve discrepancies between customer invoices, payments, and deductions.
  • Investigate and clear unallocated or over-allocated funds.
• Customer Interaction:
  • Work directly with customers to obtain payment remittance details.
  • Communicate effectively to resolve disputes related to payment allocations, deductions, or short payments.
  • Act as a liaison between accounts receivable, credit, and collections teams.
• Reporting and Analysis:
  • Generate daily, weekly, and monthly reports on cash application activities, aging balances, and deductions.
  • Perform root-cause analysis on recurring issues with payments and propose actionable solutions.
• Process Optimization:
  • Identify inefficiencies in the cash application process and propose enhancements, including automation where applicable.
  • Contribute to system testing during updates, system migrations, or implementations in alignment with manufacturing operational needs.
• Compliance and Internal Controls:
  • Ensure compliance with company policies, accounting standards, and SOX requirements specific to manufacturing operations.
  • Maintain thorough documentation of processes for audit readiness.

Required Qualifications

• Education:
  Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• Experience:
  • 5 years of experience in cash application, accounts receivable, or accounting, preferably in a manufacturing setting.
  • Familiarity with manufacturing ERP systems like SAP, Oracle, or JD Edwards.
• Technical Skills:
  • Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, VLOOKUP, and data analysis).
  • Experience with electronic payment systems, banking portals, and reconciliation tools.
  • Knowledge of ERP and accounting software.

Key Competencies

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to handle high volumes of transactions.
• Detail-oriented with a focus on accuracy and efficiency.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet strict deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Collaborative and adaptable to a dynamic manufacturing environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with manufacturing industry processes, including order-to-cash cycles and freight/deduction handling.
• Knowledge of lean practices or process improvement methodologies in accounts receivable.

Work Environment

• Location: Hybrid/On-site based on manufacturing plant or corporate office location.
• Schedule: Full-time; may require extended hours during month-end or quarter-end closures.
• Tools: ERP systems, banking platforms, and financial reporting software tailored to manufacturing operations.

It is the policy of Case Paper to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and employment applicants without regard to unlawful considerations of race; color; religion or creed; physical and mental disability; sex, including pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation, and related medical conditions); sexual orientation; gender; gender expression, including transgender; national origin; ancestry; marital status, including domestic partnership; veteran status; age; ancestry; genetic information; and military and veteran status, or any other classification protected by applicable local, state, or federal laws. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state, and local law.

Case Paper is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to applicants with physical and mental disabilities. Case Paper is a drug-free workplace.