Job Description

Summary: Provides administrative support in the collections process. Prepares outstanding accounts reports and gathers credit and/or reference information. Maintains database by entering, updating, and retrieving data, as well as formatting and generating reports. Assists in resolution of outstanding invoice problems from past due accounts. Responds to inquiries from customers or external collection resources. May place calls or send messages to those with unresolved issues.
Duties & Responsibilities:
Overview
Finance at Viavi Solutions is beyond numbers. The Financial analysis that you do will serve as a sound backing for various financial functions and business initiatives taken by key stakeholders. You will also be working with business leaders and cross-functional teams to identify key opportunities for process improvement and propose viable solutions using your financial expertise.
The Opportunity
AR Accountant is responsible for management of accounts assigned by the Accounts Receivable Manager. You will administer portfolios of client relationships and as such will be the primary relationship point between the business and the client and thereby the primary manager of risk. Collect past due payments while exhibiting professional and effective communication skills for optimal outcome. Should possess the ability to swiftly obtain and analyze complex financial data with complete accuracy from multiple available sources. As a part of this process, the role will manage a variety of challenges and obstacles to a successful collection outcome and performance guidelines as directed by management.
The role may also have additional assigned responsibilities for the department's reporting analysis to internal or external sources, including maintenance of Credit status on customers, regular coordination of internal and external communications with sales associates, CSRs and operations buyers. Supports both individual and team projects to completion.
This role will regularly encounter ambiguity requiring the ability to calmly respond and logically address complaints and concerns that may arise in the performance of these responsibilities. As appropriate, the position will be expected to raise concerns to the immediate manager in a timely fashion where assistance is needed to correct issues encountered.
This role would support collection activities for North Americas and EMEA region
Responsibilities:
Data Analysis and Reporting

• Provide Daily /weekly reporting (metrics recorded) for:
• All past due balances that are 5, 10, and 15 days past due
• All past due balances that are 30, 60, and 90 days past due
• All debit balances beyond 10 days past due and exceeding $50K
• All credit balances aged beyond 30 days
• Possess analytical skills to quickly and accurately follow information making sound business decisions
• Ensure that reporting is accurate and detailed
• Log all relevant comments/actions for an account into the accounting system on a timely basis
• Investigate and resolve over and short payments, disputed items, and unapplied payments, working with Accounting when needed

Customer Service & Negotiation

• Contact customers regarding debit and credit balances beyond due date
• Contact customers as needed in the event cash in advance arrangements for related sales order details
• Communicate with both the external and internal customer to investigate and resolve debit and credit balances
• If necessary, provide documentation to the customer to assist in the explanation of balances to customers
• Transmit invoices to customers as needed and requested
• Prompt and courteous responses to all requests
• Communicate potential Credit hold to Customer, sales representative and business managers.

Past Due & Balance Management

• Call / Email customers to get payment update on past due invoices
• Notify sales of any accounts with ongoing issues leading to potential credit hold status
• Advise management of any concerns regarding potential cash flow issues
• Know when to apprise management and sales to escalate the collection process and prevent holds
• Report immediately to notices regarding EFT returns, check returns, stop payments, etc.
• Communicate and resolve with operations/sales any invoicing transaction failures
• Ownership of front-line collections with knowledge and understand of the appropriate time to escalate to the AR Manager
• Execute Dunning process for highly delinquent customers

Initiative

• Embrace and execute the vision, goals, and expectations of the department and role
• Recognize when plans should change to achieve goals and execute a process for success
• Understand which goals or tasks can be rearranged to attend to more urgent concerns and execute appropriately
• Recognize when additional training could enhance performance skills and be willing to own personal and professional growth
• Evaluate performance during the day and makes appropriate adjustments to achieve daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly goals
• Develop prevention strategies to eliminate problems before they occur
• Plan before acting to ensure that the most successful process is utilized
• Review work before submitting it
• Focus on team goals and successes, not just individual goals and successes

Additional Responsibilities as Required

• Always communicate clearly with respect and courtesy, both verbally and written, with correct grammatical usage
• The ability to customize communications and processes relative to both internal and external customers
• Willingness to take additional training as suggested by management
• Willingness to invest additional time to achieve goals
• Identify and focus on the actions and steps that are within his/her control to achieve success
• Prioritize work each day so that the most important tasks are completed

Qualifications - External
Position Requirements:
Formal Education & Certification

• A Master’s Degree in Finance

Knowledge & Experience

• Fluency in English Language
• Minimum 5 years collections experience, preferably in a B2B / B2C environment
• Good working knowledge of Oracle 12, SAP Ariba and of Microsoft Office Excel
• Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including vlookups and pivot tables
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite

Qualifications and Characteristics

• Strong customer service mindset with the ability to solve it right the first time
• Strong organization and time management skills, with demonstrated success managing multiple priorities
• Self- starter with a continuous improvement mindset to support best in class process automation
• Strong team player, understanding that you deliver as a team and it is always best when you collaborate to find solutions to problems.
• Demonstrated ability to learn with your peers and others and support a culture of resiliency in a continuously changing environment.
• Attention to detail

Work Environment

• 40-hour work week
• Sitting for extended period as per business requirement
• Last weekend of every month to remain working for month end closing.

Pre-Requisites / Skills / Experience Requirements: