Credit & Collections Specialist

Perform credit and/or collection tasks according to company policy and procedures that primarily include collecting delinquent account balances, resolving disputes and/or discrepancies, processing credit applications, and working with various departments to resolve customer payment issues. Contact existing customers to complete credit applications. This includes ensuring contact information is accurate, completing reference requests, and reporting. Handle multiple files at one time. Work with key customers and cross-functional teams to understand and resolve issues independently, even those with moderate difficulty level; refer more complex issues to higher-level staff.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Compile and maintain credit information
• Contact existing customers via fax, email, or phone in order to have them complete a credit application as part of routine re-evaluation of existing accounts. Confirm the accounts payable contact information
• Perform general organizing, maintaining, filing, and scanning of various documents
• Send out reference request forms to both bank and trade customers listed on the credit application once the credit application is received
• Run ad-hoc and regular reports (e.g., customer credit reports)
• Gather all required documentation (i.e., the credit application, bank reference, trade references, credit reports, and/or financial statements) and transition the customer to another member of the credit team so that credit limit decisions can be made
• Develop awareness of the customer's business and financial standing to support the credit review process
• Review and analyze historical data to spot trends and problem areas that can be communicated to appropriate individuals that will aid efforts to improve business processes and contract negotiations
• Identify accounts that have become delinquent and, depending upon multiple factors (tenure of the account, the number of past due invoices, the total dollar amount owed and/or the past payment history of the customer, etc.) and contact customers with past-due accounts
• Recover delinquent accounts; evaluate and adjust delinquent accounts
• Assist customers with terms to secure payments for the past due amount or establish an alternative payment plan
• Document activity within our collection software, and subsequently, follow up to ensure the customer followed through on their payment commitment; bring to the attention of the supervisor accounts that did not follow through as promised
• Recommend accounts for charge-off
• Resolve routine to moderately difficult customer service and routing problems with minimal supervision; perform root cause analysis and escalation
• May perform and assume responsibility for some cash application (applying payments against open invoices)
• The requirements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employee, but is not a complete list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required. Other duties may be assigned as required

Education and Experience

• High school diploma or equivalent
• 1 to 3 years credit/collection, general accounting, or related experience
• Experience with software applications (SAP, Microsoft, etc.)
• Certification and/or License - may be required during course of employment

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of and skill with Microsoft Office Suite and company computer systems
• Basic analytical skills
• Able to problem solve
• Able to work with accuracy and detail oriented
• Able to handle multiple tasks simultaneously
• Able to organize time, energy, and resources effectively to achieve goals (i.e., organizational skills)
• Able to communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing
• Able to interact positively and work effectively with others (interpersonal skills)
• Able to be a team player willing to help others through training and sharing of knowledge and information
• Must be able to read, write and speak English

An Equal Opportunity Employer