Accounts Receivable Lead - Hastings, MI

The Accounts Receivable Lead is responsible for overseeing daily accounts receivable activities, including invoicing, collections, cash application, customer account maintenance, and dispute resolution. This role partners with internal and external customers, the sales team, and finance leadership while supporting accurate financial reporting.

• Lead and coordinate daily accounts receivable activities to ensure work is completed accurately and on schedule.
• Ensure timely and accurate processing of customer invoices, credit memos, and debit memos.
• Monitor customer account balances, aging reports, and account activity for accuracy and completeness.
• Maintain accurate customer account records and support customer master data updates.
• Review and resolve billing discrepancies, customer deductions, short-pays, and account disputes.
• Generate and review sales commission reports to ensure accurate commission payments.
• Manage collection efforts to minimize past-due balances and improve Accounts Receivable past due.
• Contact customers regarding overdue balances, payment status, and payment commitments.
• Maintain professional customer relationships while ensuring collection expectations are met.
• Escalate high-risk accounts and recommend appropriate actions, including credit holds or write-off review.
• Coordinate with Sales Customer Service to resolve payment delays, pricing issues, returns, shortages, freight claims, and other disputes.
• Oversee daily cash application activities and ensure timely posting of customer payments.
• Investigate and resolve unapplied cash, payment discrepancies, and remittance issues.
• Reconcile accounts receivable subledger activity to the general ledger as required.
• Assist with customer account reconciliations and support documentation requests.
• Deliver ongoing guidance and training to Accounts Receivable support personnel.
• Balance workload distribution, prioritize AR activities, and assist with issue escalation.
• Establish, update, and maintain standard operating procedures for AR processes.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, controls, reporting, and automation.
• Support ERP enhancements, customer portal requirements, and process improvement initiatives.
• Prepare AR reports, aging analyses, and other ad-hoc reports as may be required.
• Assist with period-end and year-end closing activities.
• Support external audit requests by providing accurate documentation and explanations.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, accounting standards, and internal controls.
• Assist with bad debt reserve analysis.
• Maintain reliable attendance and punctuality, ensuring consistent leadership presence, team support, and timely completion of critical AR activities.
• Maintain accurate and timely cash application to ensure customer accounts are current and reconciled.
• Reduce past-due receivables by effectively managing collection activities and follow-up efforts.
• Ensure accuracy of AR aging reports and account reconciliations to support sound financial reporting.
• Collaborate effectively with Sales, Customer Service, and Finance to address payment issues and strengthen customer relationships while achieving collection goals.

• Associate’s degree in accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field required – bachelor’s degree preferred
• 5 years of progressive accounts receivable experience – with manufacturing experience preferred
• Experience with ERP systems, electronic payment platforms, customer portals, and Microsoft Excel required.
• Strong understanding of accounts receivable, collections, cash application, credit practices, and customer account management.
• Working knowledge of GAAP, internal controls, account reconciliations, and month-end close activities.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and ability to analyze aging, deductions, payment trends, and collection metrics.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and follow-through skills.
• Excellent verbal and written…