The Associate – Collections / Accounts Receivable is responsible for managing a portfolio of customer accounts, reducing past-due receivables, and improving overall cash flow while providing a professional and customer-centric experience. This role involves proactive follow-up on outstanding invoices, resolving billing/payment issues, and partnering closely with internal stakeholders (Sales, Finance Customer Support, Accounting, ARA, etc.) to ensure timely collection and accurate account status.
In This Role, You Will:
Collections & Customer Outreach
- Manage a defined portfolio of customer accounts and drive timely collection of open invoices as per SLA and aging targets.
- Perform structured follow-ups (emails and calls) based on aging buckets (current, 1–30, 31–60, 61+ days past due) in line with the collection’s playbook.
- Send dunning/payment reminder emails and make collection calls to obtain payment commitments, expected payment dates, and remittance details.
- Maintain a professional yet firm approach to secure payments while preserving long-term customer relationships.
Dispute Management & Issue Resolution
- Identify and document reasons for non-payment (disputes, billing errors, contract issues, PO requirements, etc.) and drive resolution with internal teams.
- Coordinate with Finance Customer Support, ARA, Sales/Account Management, Contracts, and Billing to resolve invoice/contract discrepancies, credit memos, and account issues.
- Track all open disputes, follow through on agreed action items, and close out cases once issues are resolved and payments are applied.
Portfolio, Risk & Escalation Management
- Monitor AR aging for assigned accounts, prioritize high-risk and high-value items, and ensure timely action on each bucket.
- Flag accounts requiring escalation (e.g., persistent non-response, 60+ / 90+ aging, possible write-off or third-party collections) to the Manager/Team Lead with clear case history.
- Support execution of collection strategies such as demand letters, account suspension recommendations, and settlement proposals in line with policy.
Systems, Documentation & Reporting
- Work daily in collections/AR systems (e.g., collections platforms, CRM, ERP, and internal tools) to review account status, log activities, and update notes.
- Ensure all customer interactions, promises-to-pay, disputes, and escalations are accurately documented in the relevant systems.
- Provide periodic reporting/updates on portfolio health, collection status, key risks, and expected cash inflows to the Manager/Team Lead.
- Review and reconcile payments with Cash Application/Accounting to confirm correct application against open invoices and resolve misapplied/unidentified cash.
Compliance, Controls & Process Improvement
- Adhere to internal collections SOPs, escalation matrix, credit & suspension policies, and documentation standards at all times.
- Handle customer data, payment information, and financial records in line with company policies and applicable regulations.
- Proactively identify recurring issues (e.g., invoicing errors, address/PO problems, common disputes) and recommend process improvements to reduce future delinquencies.
- Participate in training, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement initiatives within the Collections / AR team.
Here's What You Need:
- Bachelor’s degree in Commerce, Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field.
- 2–5 years of experience in B2B collections, accounts receivable, order-to-cash, or credit control; internships or strong academic projects in finance will be considered for fresher profiles.
- Experience working with global customers and cross-functional teams is preferred.
- Exposure to ERP/financial systems and CRM tools (e.g., Oracle/EBS, Salesforce, HighRadius or similar collections platforms) is an advantage.
Skills & Competencies- Strong verbal and written communication skills in English; able to draft clear, professional collection emails and conduct effective phone conversations.
- Solid negotiation and persuasion skills with the ability to handle difficult conversations and secure commitments while maintaining customer goodwill.
- High level of attention to detail and accuracy in recording account notes, payment information, and dispute status.
- Good understanding of basic accounting and AR concepts (invoices, credit notes, aging, write-offs, bad debt, unapplied cash, etc.).
- Proficiency in MS Excel and comfort working with multiple systems and reports simultaneously.
- Demonstrated ownership, urgency, and bias for action in driving results on assigned accounts.
- Strong organizational and time-management skills; able to prioritize a high volume of accounts and tasks.
- Collaborative mindset with the ability to work effectively with Sales, Finance, Operations, and Customer Support teams.
- Preferably have knowledge of AI, agentic AI, usage of Glean
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Shift & Work Conditions
- Willingness to work in shift-based schedules aligned to supported regions (e.g., US/EMEA time zones), including late evening or night shifts as required.
- Flexibility to extend or adjust hours during month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close cycles, or during peak collection periods.
