SUMMARY:
A leading global retail marketing company based in La Mercy is seeking an experienced Accounts Receivable Lead to join their finance team.
This role will focus on driving collections, managing cash flow, leading a small debtors team, and ensuring accurate, timely invoicing and payments while improving processes and customer relationships.
POSITION INFO:
Responsibilities:
Team Management:
- Guide and support a small team of debtors clerks.
- Provide on-the-job training and mentorship to junior team members.
- Foster a collaborative and supportive work environment.
- Through effective planning, delegate tasks effectively and ensure workload is balanced within the team.
Credit Control and Collections:
- Oversee the entire AR process, from invoice generation to payment collection.
- Develop and implement credit control policies and procedures to minimise credit risk and optimise cash flow.
- Monitor customer credit limits and payment terms, flagging potential issues proactively.
- Perform credit and other checks on new and existing customers, ensuring the recoverability of future receipts.
- Ensure timely collection of payments and minimise outstanding debt.
- Proactively contact customers with overdue accounts and negotiate payment plans.
- Investigate and resolve customer queries and disputes promptly.
- Escalate complex issues to relevant stakeholders, such as sales or management.
Invoice Processing and Reconciliation:
- Ensure accurate and timely processing of customer invoices, identifying opportunities to accelerate invoicing.
- Collaborate with the sales and procurement teams ensuring timely processing of invoices.
- Review and verify invoices for accuracy and completeness.
- Ensure proper authorisation and adherence to company policies for all invoices.
- Match invoices to sales orders and supporting documentation.
- Investigate and resolve invoice discrepancies, escalating complex issues to the sales team or relevant stakeholders.
- Ensure accurate General Ledger (GL) allocations and dimensions for all AR transactions.
- Reconcile customer accounts regularly and resolve any discrepancies promptly.
- Review and sign off on the validity and accuracy of reconciliations.
- Prepare and submit customer statements regularly and timeously.
- Ensure timely upload of invoices and supporting documents to customer portals.
- Reconcile customer portals to our system ensuring accuracy on a monthly basis.
Customer Relationship Management:
- Assist with the preparation of customer applications, ensuring timely completion.
- Add new customers to the various systems once all requirements are met.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with key customers.
- Proactively address and resolve complex or aged debtor queries.
- Collaborate with the sales team on clearing work completed but not invoiced and purchase order queries.
- Communicate effectively with customers regarding invoices, payments, and account status.
- Provide excellent customer service and ensure customer satisfaction.
Reporting and Analysis:
- Monitor and analyse key AR metrics, such as Debtor Age Analysis, DSO, and bad debt provision.
- Prepare and present regular reports on AR performance to management.
- Identify trends and areas for improvement in AR processes.
- Prepare cash flow forecasts for receipts.
- Assist in the collation of revenue forecast information.
Month-End Responsibilities:
- Ensure month-end close procedures are completed on time and error free.
- Prepare and post journal entries for revenue recognition and bad debt provisions.
- Prepare and post journal entries for client rebates and discounts.
- Reconcile AR sub systems and reports to the general ledger and trial balance.
- Reconcile non system schedules and reports to the trial balance.
- Prepare and analyse monthly AR ageing reports.
- Assist with other month-end reviews and queries as may be required.
Compliance and Process Improvement:
- Ensure compliance with all relevant accounting standards, tax regulations, and internal controls.
- Assist in the preparation and submission of audit queries and files.
- Formulate policies and procedures to ensure timely collections.
- Drive automation and the application of best practices within the team.
- Identify opportunities to optimise AR processes and improve efficiency.
Proactively identify and address challenges within the department, contributing to solutions and process
improvements. This includes undertaking ad hoc tasks and projects as assigned or required, demonstrating
flexibility and a strong commitment to supporting the overall success of the
finance function.
Requirements: - Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field (advantageous).
- Completed bookkeeping qualification.
- Minimum 3 years of experience in a similar role.
- High level of accuracy and attention to detail.
- Strong understanding of accounting principles and practices related to Accounts Receivable.
- Proficiency in accounting software (e.g., Sage X3), Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets.
- Excellent communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Ability to perform under pressure and meet deadlines.
- Strong work ethic and commitment to ethical conduct.
Should you not receive a response within the next 2 weeks, please consider your application unsuccessful. Vacancies are advertised on our website, should you wish to keep abreast with our active roles.
IMPORTANT NOTICEBy applying to this advert you hereby acknowledge that you have read and accept the following Protection of Personal Information ACT (POPIA) disclaimer:I hereby consent for Talented Recruitment to process my personal information as part of the recruitment process. Talented Recruitment shall take all reasonable measures to protect the personal information of applicants and for the purpose of this disclaimer “personal information” shall be defined as detailed in the Protection of Personal Information Act, Act 4 of 2013 (“POPIA”).
