Accounts Receivable - Credit Specialist - Springfield

At Springfield Electric, we take great pride in our associates’ passion, knowledge and experience. As a company with local roots and global reach, we thrive on the diversity of our associates and the different ways each of us contributes to our success. Whether you’re just starting your career or have built up your expertise over the years, we trust our people’s skills and give them the tools they need to reach their full potential.

Since 1929, Springfield Electric has focused on providing value to each customer throughout the electrical supply chain. The company has strategically expanded to include distribution centers throughout the Midwest, including Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and Missouri, to better serve all customers locally and internationally. Today, Springfield Electric strives to continue the legacy of delivering exceptional customer service and value to the markets we serve.

As a part of Sonepar, a worldwide leader in electrical distribution, we have a global reach that allows us to offer excellent benefits and develop innovative solutions, while maintaining our strong local roots and close-knit culture. 

 

Primary Function

The Accounts Receivable - Credit Specialist prioritizes and collects accounts receivables, works with the credit manager in support of company goals, and provides excellent customer service.  Additional tasks include gathering documentation, recordkeeping, being organized and having a good follow-up routine. 

 

Essential Functions

A/R Reconciliations

• Prioritize and collect outstanding AR via phone, letter, or occasional customer meeting.
• Utilize Get Paid collection software routinely and consistently; specifically notating all collections activity and other important action in Get Paid (our system of record).
• Initiate anticipatory collection calls done at month end to ensure timely collections.
• Monitor receivables and collection of overdue balances and account reconciliation.
• Recommend customers’ credit privileges be withdrawn (put account on hold), based on criteria provided. With Manager’s approval place account on hold, advise both external and internal customer, and notate on account.
• Recommend an account be placed with an attorney and prepare file with Manager’s approval.
• Timely resolution of disputed items, including escalating the matter to upper management when the situation has stalled.

 

Credit Limits & Credit Holds

 

• Review credit documentation and approve new accounts within guidelines.
• Daily review of override report – take actions as appropriate with Manager’s approval, including updating credit files to ensure an appropriate credit limit is in place, and calling customer for payment bringing the account within the credit limit.
• Notify the customer and sales team of orders that will be held and release orders once credit standing is resolved.
• Review orders in approval queue and release or advise applicable parties that the order will be held.
• Process new accounts accurately, including account set up, reference checks, etc.

 

Job Accounts

 

• Compile documents and provide preliminary approval for job accounts, including updated credit file information, obtaining payment bonds, maintaining mechanic’s lien rights, processing joint check agreements, etc.
• Monitor lien deadlines and complete line documents for job accounts.

 

Clerical

 

• Regularly follow-up with appropriate parties to prevent tasks getting delayed or unresolved.
• Conduct administrative support work, such as general office tasks and filing.
• Process sales tax exemptions by obtaining certificates, obtaining preliminary certificate approval and other related tasks.

 

Communication

 

• Answers and manages incoming phone calls, including checking and responding to voice messages.
• Monitors and responds to electronic messaging (Outlook & operating system) in an appropriate and timely manner.
• Uses appropriate forms of written communication both internally & externally.
• Maintains a working knowledge of required software applications and utilizes software for appropriate means of communication.

 

Customer Service

 

• Provide excellent customer service to both internal and external customers.
• Quickly finds common ground and solves problems for the good of all.
• Easily gains trust and support of others.
• Maintains an accurate follow-up system for actively tracking promises made to customers and expediting deliveries to assure that materials are delivered as scheduled.
• Provides customer with appropriate product and substation information to assure customer is equ