Accounts Receivable & Credit Specialist

Vanderbilt Minerals is an American manufacturing and mining company with facilities across the United States, including New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Nevada, Arizona, and California. The company specializes in smectite clays that provide natural rheology control, emulsion stabilization, and suspension stabilization for pharmaceutical, personal care, animal care, agricultural, and industrial applications. Vanderbilt Minerals also produces wollastonite, pyrophyllite, and kaolin clay products for ceramics, coatings, construction, and plastics.

In addition, the company supplies chemical products such as xanthan gum, dispersing agents, and drier stabilizers and accelerators. Vanderbilt Minerals is committed to delivering high-quality ingredients and expert technical support to help customers succeed in their respective markets.

The Accounts Receivable & Credit Specialist is responsible for managing customer billing, cash application, collections, and credit risk activities across Vanderbilt Minerals, High Divide Minerals, and their affiliated entities. This role ensures the timely and accurate collection of receivables, evaluates and monitors customer creditworthiness, and works cross-functionally with sales, customer service, and site personnel to minimize past-due balances and credit risk exposure across a multi-site, multi-entity organization.

• Manage the end-to-end accounts receivable cycle, including invoicing, cash application, and account reconciliation across multiple entities and sites.
• Monitor customer accounts for past-due balances; perform proactive collection calls and correspondence to resolve outstanding invoices.
• Evaluate new and existing customer creditworthiness, including reviewing credit applications, trade references, and credit reports to establish or adjust credit limits and payment terms.
• Maintain and administer the company's credit policy, escalating high-risk accounts and recommending credit holds or terms changes as needed.
• Reconcile customer accounts and resolve billing discrepancies, short pays, and disputed invoices in coordination with sales and site teams.
• Apply cash receipts, including checks, ACH, and wire payments, ensuring timely and accurate posting to customer accounts.
• Prepare and distribute AR aging reports, DSO metrics, and collections status updates to finance leadership on a regular basis.
• Partner with site-level and sales personnel to resolve customer disputes and support timely collection of receivables.
• Support month-end close activities, including bad debt reserve analysis and AR account reconciliations.
• Coordinate with banking partners (CIBC, Wells Fargo, JPMorgan) on incoming payment activity, lockbox processing, and related reconciliations as needed.
• Support the ongoing implementation and optimization of the IFS ERP system as it relates to accounts receivable and credit workflows.
• Ensure compliance with internal controls, company credit policy, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Assist with internal and external audit requests related to accounts receivable, credit, and cash receipts.
• Identify opportunities to standardize and improve AR and credit processes across a multi-site, multi-entity organization.
• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.

• Associate or bachelor's degree in accounting, Finance, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience will be considered.
• 3+ years of accounts receivable and/or credit experience, ideally within a multi-site or multi-entity organization.
• Demonstrated experience evaluating commercial credit risk and administering credit terms.
• Experience with ERP systems required; experience with IFS is a plus.
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Excel and general accounting principles.
• Experience in manufacturing, mining, or a similarly regulated industry is a plus.
• Strong negotiation and communication skills, with the ability to manage collections professionally while maintaining customer relationships.
• Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a lean, growing finance team.

This position is based in the Nashville, TN corporate office and works primarily in a standard office environment. Occasional coordination with site locations across multiple states may be required by phone, video, or, on a limited basis, travel.

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed and is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.