Credit & Collections Manager

Dole Fresh Fruit North America (DFFNA) is seeking an experienced Credit & Collections Manager to lead the credit and accounts' receivable function. This position manages a team of six A/R Specialists located across Charlotte, NC and Westlake Village, CA. The Credit & Collections Manager is responsible for credit risk management, accounts receivable, collections, cash application, customer deductions and disputes, bad debt management, cash forecasting, financial reporting, and internal controls.

This position plays a critical role in protecting working capital, minimizing credit exposure and bad debt, and maintaining SOX-compliant processes. The successful candidate will partner closely with Sales, Treasury, Accounting, Corporate Finance, IT, Customer Service, and regional Finance teams to resolve customer and credit issues and drive continuous improvement and automation throughout the order-to-cash process.

Dole Fresh Fruit North America (DFFNA) is seeking an experienced Credit & Collections Manager to lead the credit and accounts' receivable function. This position manages a team of six A/R Specialists located across Charlotte, NC and Westlake Village, CA. The Credit & Collections Manager is responsible for credit risk management, accounts receivable, collections, cash application, customer deductions and disputes, bad debt management, cash forecasting, financial reporting, and internal controls.

This position plays a critical role in protecting working capital, minimizing credit exposure and bad debt, and maintaining SOX-compliant processes. The successful candidate will partner closely with Sales, Treasury, Accounting, Corporate Finance, IT, Customer Service, and regional Finance teams to resolve customer and credit issues and drive continuous improvement and automation throughout the order-to-cash process.

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of six A/R Specialist across Charlotte, NC and Westlake Village, CA.
• Establish performance expectations, assign account portfolios, and manage workloads and scheduling.
• Evaluate new customer credit applications by analyzing financial statements, trade references, Blue Book ratings, payment history, and credit agency information.
• Recommend customer credit limits and continuously monitor portfolio credit risk and exposure.
• Administer customer credit holds and releases in accordance with company policies and SOX requirements.
• Serve as the primary escalation point for Sales regarding credit holds, customer credit exposure, past-due balances, and account issues.
• Direct accounts receivable collection activities, including AR aging reviews, past-due account management, and prioritization of high-risk accounts.
• Determine when delinquent accounts require escalation to third‑party collection agencies or legal counsel.
• Oversee customer deductions, disputes, short payments, and over payments through resolution, including root‑cause analysis.
• Manage PACA trust claims, bad debt, recoveries, and collection litigation support.
• Maintain the allowance for doubtful accounts and required PACA and DRC licensing and respond to USDA inquiries.
• Own the accounts receivable month‑end close process, including cash cutoff, AR module close, and monthly AR‑to‑general‑ledger reconciliations.
• Perform daily cash posting and oversee bank reconciliation activities.
• Coordinate customer ACH payment setup and payment verification processes.
• Prepare and deliver weekly cash forecasts to Treasury, including projections for customer receipts and collections.
• Prepare corporate, lender, and credit agency accounts receivable reporting and provide analysis of key variances.
• Maintain management reporting and dashboards covering DSO, accounts receivable aging,…