Sr. Collections Specialist

Sphera is a leading global provider of enterprise software and services that enables companies to manage and optimize their environmental, health, safety and sustainability. Our mission is to create a safer, more sustainable and productive world.

Sphera is a portfolio company of Blackstone, a U.S.-based alternative asset investment company that focuses on private equity, technology and innovation, and more. Blackstone businesses succeed through strong partnerships, a personalized approach and a commitment to exceptional performance with uncompromising integrity. Sphera and Blackstone are leaders in the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) space.

We are guided by our core values of Customer Centricity, Accountability, Bias to Action, Innovation, and Collaboration. These values help us recruit the right talent to join our rapidly expanding team of around the globe. It is important to us that each and every Spherion is not only eager to challenge themselves and knows how to get work done but is an awesome addition to our company culture.

Sr. Collections Specialist

As the Sr. Collection Specialist, you will have the opportunity to be part of a global accounts receivable team while working closely with our order management, revenue, sales, and account managers teams. The primary responsibility is to ensure that debts are collected efficiently and effectively, while also maintaining positive relationships with customers and stakeholders.

The position is in our Chicago office and will be a hybrid work from home schedule with 2 days in the office. 

Responsibilities:

Collections

• Assist the manager in leading a team of collection specialists, providing guidance, training, and coaching to ensure successful account management and team performance
• Collaborate with the manager to develop and implement effective collection strategies to minimize bad debt and optimize cash flow
• Work closely together with the different departments within the order to cash cycle, along with customers to ensure accounts are accurate and up to date
• Manage collection activities such as sending follow-up email inquiries and phone calls regarding outstanding customer account balances
• Keep detailed records of correspondence with customers on overdue items to ensure evidence of actions taken is always available
• Investigate and resolve internal and external customer inquiries related to invoice status and issues

• Provide customers with statements, invoices, and assistance as needed to facilitate payments

• Notify sales team of delinquent accounts and any actions being taken 
• Timely escalate accounts for assistance when issues are identified or where appropriate
• Coordinate with the sales team to resolve billing issues

Cash Receipts

• Review daily bank activity and apply cash receipts to customer invoices
• Review and reconcile customer overpays, short pays and discrepancies
• Follow up with customers to obtain sufficient remittance advices to accurately post cash received

Portals

• Uploading daily/monthly invoices to customer specific EDI Systems and web portals, including understanding submission requirements of each customer
• Tracking invoice submission/payments
• Manage collections efforts for customers utilizing portals
• Resolve customers request for vendor documentation – providing company information as required
• Resolve discrepancies between invoices and purchase orders
• Work closely with Billing team to resolve issues, including missing or incorrect customer data, lack of POs, expired Po's etc.

Other

• Support shared mailbox
• Understand, analyze, and suggest process improvements
• Assist in accounting projects as needed
• May be asked to assist in month and year-end close and account reconciliation processes
• Performs other duties as required

Previous Experience and Skills:

• 5+ years of experience in debt collection (B2B) or related field
• Previous experience with NetSuite and Salesforce is preferred, otherwise, able to learn new ERP systems quickly
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite, in particular Excel, Word, and Outlook
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with focus on customer service
• Positive attitude and strong teamwork skills with ability to establish and maintain positive and effective working relationships
• Ability to quickly understand customer issues and resolve in a professional manner
• Works independently and as part of the team

#LI-CS1

Sphera is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate d