Account Receivable Analyst at ABB

• You will be working as Account Receivable Analyst and will be the part of Global Business Services business area for Finance Operations Services division based in Longmeadow, South Africa. In this role you will be reporting to GBS Finance Front Office Manager and will be responsible to drive the collection of outstanding money owing to ABB South Africa, development and implementation of collection strategies, tracking and optimizing the strategies to make sure they are relevant and effective, liaise between customer and business and resolve any queries to collect the money owing, process accounting transactions for accounts receivable (AR), credit management and customer master data in a complete, accurate and timely manner while ensuring compliance

Your responsibilities

• Advanced knowledge of customer and balance sheet accounts reconciliation, including complex account reconciliations (excel based), drive the collections of outstanding debt from customers
• Have an in-depth knowledge of the assigned customer base which would result in thorough preparation of the sub ledger comments and hence debt reviews (including facilitating query resolution), maintain and update promise to pay / payment forecast schedules from customers to better manage forecasted cash flow and net working capital
• Investigate circumstances of non-payment from customers and make every effort to reduce overdue balances through follow-ups, advanced knowledge and understanding of cash application process. Ensure all allocation of funds are performed in a timely manner and follow up and resolve unallocated receipts
• Implement and comply with the collections strategy to reduce the past due, research and resolve issues in a manner to expedite all queries in order to avoid any adverse customer impact, issue client with payment reminders and dunning letters as necessary.
• Responsible to respond to email /phone queries related to disputed invoices, providing customers with required documentation (e.g. supporting docs, copies of invoices, etc.) to support the receipt process, assist customers with resolving billing issues, through leading liaison with business, to resolve issues within a timely manner to ensure payments are still made on time
• Ensure customers are not trading over their credit limits, flag high risk customer accounts which are close to credit limits with respective business to avoid blocked sales orders and regular review of client credit risk is required, where required make recommendations on credit limits
• Timely release of sales orders, analysis of customer account and outstanding balances, where necessary propose provision for bad debts or write offs after all avenues for investigation has been exhausted, assist with ad hoc reporting request and maintain accurate records of all AR reporting and related controls
• Build and maintain strong professional relationships with business, GBS Bangalore and customers and ensures all relevant stakeholders are aware of progress and/or issues to maximize customer satisfaction
• Maintains open communication channels with customer and business to maximize cash collections, through customer visits and regular calls and interaction with the customers, sales, key account managers, controllers, order handlers, GBS Bangalore (business stakeholders)
• Ensure the on-time delivery of quality service as per business requirements, daily, weekly, monthly reporting of individual portfolio to track and monitor the past dues, demonstrates a strong understanding of financial accounting, reporting, planning, controlling, assurance and internal control (Customer Retention and Advances understanding is an advantage)
• Finds opportunities and recommend solutions for process and automation improvements, manages personal performance in line with assigned KPIs, assist with internal and external audit requirements
• Complies with and assists achieve Internal Control over Financial Reporting compliance in Accounts Receivable for applicable templates and participates in internal control testing and prepare relevant documentation (including the supply of evidence on Audit requests)

Your background

• B.Com Accounting and/or credit management studies
• Minimum experience of 4 years in financial accounting experience specifically in accounts receivables
• Sound understanding of the NCA and applicable legislation related to debt review and collections
• Strong reconciliation and MS excel skills, strong SAP experience, strong interpersonal skills, strong customer service orientation and strong user knowledge of Microsoft Office and Excel skills
• Deadline driven and ability to work with team and independently, self management capability
• Good organization and coordination skills, process orientated and attention to detail and strong analytical and problem solving ability
• Fluency in English language is mandatory