Published: September 10, 2024 - The Credit and Collections Analyst meticulously maintains updated records on all invoices for accurate follow-up reporting and dispute tracking, and prepares regular statements for customers detailing outstanding receivable balances. This role involves monitoring various financial reports related to receivables, cash collections, and invoice discrepancies while managing communications across multiple business units and handling customer queries regarding accounts and payments. Additionally, the analyst supports projects aimed at system enhancement and process improvements for credit management and collaborates with retained organizations to manage provisions for doubtful debts.
An Introduction to Professional Skills and Functions for Credit and Collections Analyst with a Cover Letter
1. Details for Credit and Collections Analyst Cover Letter
- Collection for current/overdue balances per customer
- Usage of SAP´s FSCM tool to manage and follow up on pending AR issues (disputes, chargebacks, short payments, deductions, rebills, payment allocation, etc.)
- Monthly collection forecast (and follow-up to it) based on corporate targets
- Ensure the OTC process is handled according to policies and procedures
- Obtain payment remittance/allocation either by contacting customers through traditional means and/or Internet portals
- Create and maintain strong relationships with internal/external customers to leverage on them in order to achieve results
- Customers visit on regular basis to address AR-related issues
- Communicate and escalate situations in a timely manner according to SSC policies and procedures
- Engage with and influence other areas involved in the OTC process to resolve issues (Sales / Sales Admin / Finance / Customer Service / Supply Chain / Legal)
- Collections of set account base comprised of US accounts, utilizing DNB Collection Manager workflow
- Utilizing the DNB decision-maker tool along with credit decision knowledge
- Reconcile account to maintain cleanliness, and ensure credits/cash are applied in a timely matter
Skills: Accounts Receivable Management, SAP FSCM Proficiency, Collection Forecasting, OTC Process Adherence, Customer Relationship Building, Effective Communication, Cross-Departmental Collaboration, DNB Tools Utilization
2. Roles for Credit and Collections Analyst Cover Letter
- Perform credit checks on prospects and existing customers to settle appropriate credit limits and payment terms within policy.
- Review and handle order holds on a daily basis and approve orders in accordance with established SLA process and corporate credit policy.
- Supervise credit exposure and performance of AR aging in order to facilitate proactive management of risks.
- Provide support and guidance to shared service credit & collection team members.
- Develop positive relationships with daily business contacts within client portfolio.
- Proactively connect with customers for any AR inquiries, outstanding invoices, or reconciliation matters.
- Record collection activities in internal system for record keeping and tracking.
- Effectively coordinate with other departments (sales, tax, legal, billing, etc.) to resolve inquiries or disputes.
- Assist with financial reporting such as days sales outstanding (DSO), bad debt revenue reserves, cash collection forecasting, and AR adjustments.
- Assist with system or operational improvements for the credit and collection functions.
Skills: Credit Risk Assessment, Order Hold Management, AR Aging Supervision, Team Support and Guidance, Relationship Development, Customer Follow-Up, Collection Activity Recording, Cross-Departmental Coordination
3. Responsibilities for Credit and Collections Analyst Cover Letter
- Work with customers to proactively identify discrepancies before invoices are due
- Coordinate with customer accounts payable and internal sales teams to resolve discrepancies
- Work to recognize patterns in discrepancies so that the root cause can be identified, and process changes made to reduce payment delays
- Collaborate with internal & external teams to resolve disputes and submit credit/rebill documentation where necessary to allow timely payments
- Escalation assistance for offshore team(s) where real-time connections
- Help Collections efforts in locating customers who are past due or when Email is returned
- Use the tools provided by the Oracle Collections to locate phone numbers & Email Id’s
- Ascertain escalation point of contact in the client’s location in case of missing individual details
- Maintain accurate and timely information and records in Collections systems
- Ensure Oracle compliance, internal policies, procedures, and guidelines for the purpose of the audit
- Review and release sales orders, following documented requirements for each customer
Skills: Discrepancy Identification, Discrepancy Resolution Coordination, Pattern Recognition, Dispute Resolution, Escalation Assistance, Customer Location Support, Oracle Collections Tools Utilization, Compliance and Record Maintenance
4. Functions for Credit and Collections Analyst Cover Letter
- Review, document and maintain records of customer terms of sale and allowances, ensure the customer set up in SAP is correct
- Identify, investigate and recommend action concerning overdue accounts
- Communicate with Customer Service/Sales departments concerning resolution of accounts outstanding after a predetermined period following invoicing
- Investigate and secure payment arrangements with customers which are suitable and realistic to both parties
- Reconcile major customer accounts on a regular basis
- Review and resolve issues relating to customer deductions/short payments, issuing of credit notes
- Follow up promptly on A/R inquiries from other areas of the company
- Perform routine credit checks on new accounts and obtain supplementary information
- Approve sales orders in accordance with company guidelines
- Report AR aging and Cash application in SAP
- Answer all accounts receivable-related inquiries promptly and efficiently
Skills: Accounts Receivable Management, Credit Risk Assessment, Collections and Payment Arrangements, Reconciliation Expertise, Issue Resolution, Cross-Departmental Communication, SAP Proficiency, Customer Service
5. Accountabilities for Credit and Collections Analyst Cover Letter
- Manage and control the portfolio of the company in all its businesses to maintain an average of portfolio days.
- Ensure payment by the client to maintain a cash flow in the company.
- Use and master the use of mainly self-service customer portals.
- Analyze and apply payments.
- Follow-up to the recovery of collection.
- Debug charges along with sales.
- Prepare and follow up on clarifications.
- Monitoring and debugging of returns.
- Reconciliations of liabilities vs invoicing.
- Monitoring of electronic invoicing.
- Monitor receivable balances to identify disputes and billing issues promptly
Skills: Portfolio Management, Cash Flow Management, Customer Portal Proficiency, Payment Analysis, Collections Follow-Up, Charge Debugging, Reconciliation, Electronic Invoicing Monitoring
6. Tasks for Credit and Collections Analyst Cover Letter
- Knows and masters the process and requirements of the clients to make the payments of the invoices.
- Know the tax rules that apply to the Credit and Collection area.
- Manage customer portals for the exchange of information.
- Integration of balances, account statements and customer histories.
- Management of payments directly with the client.
- Review and registration of clients in the system.
- Manage the cancellation of the fiscal invoice with the client and in the system.
- Preparation of collection forecast and weekly and monthly reports.
- Printing and mailing of all customer invoices on a daily basis, ensure transmission of invoices via customer web applications
- File all related documentation
- Responsible for the full accounts receivable ledger for customers including monthly closing activities and accruals posting
Skills: Invoice Payment Process Mastery, Tax Rules Knowledge, Customer Portal Management, Balance Integration, Direct Payment Management, Client System Registration, Fiscal Invoice Cancellation, Collection Forecasting and Reporting
7. Expectations for Credit and Collections Analyst Cover Letter
- Maintain updated notes on all invoices for follow-up reporting & dispute tracking
- Prepare and provide regular customer statements of outstanding receivable balances
- Monitor various reports relative to receivables, cash collections, and invoice discrepancies
- Communicate with multiple business units
- Manage collections including past due and reviewing accounts
- Extend credit by reviewing credit history and credit reporting
- Answer questions from customers regarding accounts and payments
- Receive and post payment to the customer's account
- Advise and follow up with customers on unpaid accounts
- Keep records and status of customer's account
- Working with retained organizations to decide on provisions for doubtful debts and maintaining information regarding bad debts
- Supporting cash applications executive for cash apps
- Supporting any projects related to system enhancement, process improvement for credit management
Skills: Accounts Receivable Management, Credit Analysis, Customer Communication, Financial Record Keeping, Cash Application Support, Process Improvement, Problem Resolution, Reporting
8. Competencies for Credit and Collections Analyst Cover Letter
- Initiate collection process on all overdue accounts and address ongoing customer concerns regarding billing and services rendered
- Responsible for tracking all payments and notifying finance management upon identifying any posting issues
- Review collection reports and provide an overview of collections efforts to finance leadership.
- Propose solutions to address outstanding accounts
- Perform analysis and review delinquent accounts to ensure proper actions have been taken before proposing bad debt approval
- Investigate delinquent accounts, send collection letters, and call customers regarding collections status.
- Partner with the Customer Service, Field Service and Sales teams to adhere to processes and policies, obtain information and report unresolved payments
- Lead preparation of documenting all processes and procedures related to collection efforts
- Provide feedback and insight to Management regarding trends in delinquency, collectability, and field service contract cancellation of customer accounts that will impact the financial performance of the company
- Recommend and implement improvements for streamlining internal processes across organizational functions with the goal of improving delinquency rates, early cancellation recovery and bad debt recovery
- Primary contact for all activities and requests to come into the credit and collections department
- Oversees the processing and verification of applications for credit for new and existing accounts
Skills: Accounts Receivable Management, Collections Strategy Development, Customer Communication, Cross-Functional Collaboration, Process Documentation, Analytical Insight, Credit Processing Oversight, Process Improvement Implementation
9. Capabilities for Credit and Collections Analyst Cover Letter
- Monitor customer transaction aging activity
- Continually strive to improve accounts receivable DSO while also building and cultivating customer relationships
- Maintain ERP database on collection activity and customer interactions
- Ensure customer account information remains accurate and current
- Ensure customer accounts are reviewed in accordance with Legrand audit requirements
- Assist in the credit approval process, analyze credit reports, obtain and check credit/banking references, examine financial statements
- Manage international account sites to include approving and releasing orders, and letters of credit and ensure collection activity is timely
- Work closely with Customer Support, Sales Managers and Sales Representatives to foster trust while ensuring compliance with Credit Department initiatives
- Address and resolve differences between customers and the Company with practiced diplomatic and decision-making skills
- Secure the Company’s interests by arranging Notices of Lien
- Advise and assist in the approval process of credit/debit memo issuance to customer accounts
- Resolve, with assistance from the Sales and Logistics Departments, disputes/discrepancies in Return Materials Authorizations (RMA’s)
- Advise and assist the Sales and Logistics Departments with respect to open freight claims
Skills: Accounts Receivable Management, ERP System Proficiency, Credit Analysis, International Accounts Management, Customer Relationship Management, Dispute Resolution, Audit Compliance, Cross-Functional Collaboration
10. Performance Metrics for Credit and Collections Analyst Cover Letter
- Conduct periodic reviews of customer credit limit and customer terms upon request and as per defined timelines
- Consult Retained Organization Finance teams for past payment and interaction history
- Conduct a thorough investigation of company performance and annual reports through online sources
- Consult Sales teams for the expected value of the business for the relevant period
- Provide recommendations for credit term and credit limit revisions based on analysis conducted and rationale based on own judgment and experience
- Answering queries from retained org regarding the recommendations
- Updating and maintaining customer credit and financial information in SAP
- Managing collections from customers
- Following up for Collections with customers for unpaid and partially paid invoices through emails in consultation with customer service
- Implementing appropriate collections strategies to meet targeted collections in consultation with AR Supervisor, Sales and Customer Service
- Monitoring payments in collaboration with cash applications executive and identify risk of delayed payments
- Supporting with month-end credit management and collections-related activities
Skills: Credit Risk Assessment, Financial Analysis, Interdepartmental Consultation, SAP Expertise, Collections Management, Risk Monitoring, Communication Skills, Month-End Reporting
What Are the Qualifications and Requirements for Credit and Collections Analyst in a Cover Letter?
1. Knowledge And Abilities for Credit and Collections Analyst Cover Letter
- Knowledge of collection rules and regulations, and credit decision-making
- Knowledge of commercial credit analysis and/or secured lending
- Strong credit and analytical skills to analyze various financial data and make critical credit decisions
- Highly developed negotiation and customer service skills Knowledge of accounting and accounts receivable processes
- Ability to operate in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to work effectively with a diverse group of customer
- Experience with DOA collections or credit analysis, or similar related
- Strong Data entry skills and hands-on experience in operating spreadsheets and accounting software
- Ability to utilize MS Office.
Qualifications: BA in Accounting with 3 years of Experience
2. Experience and Requirements for Credit and Collections Analyst Cover Letter
- Fluent in English and Spanish, with Portuguese being a plus.
- Experience working in AR, Collections or Finance in a business-to-business setting.
- Experience with major ERP and CRM systems
- Ability to accurately work in a rapidly growing, flexible and constantly evolving environment.
- Demonstrate strong attention to detail and excellent follow-through skills.
- Willing to streamline processes and adapt to changes.
- Effective problem solver with suggestions for improvement.
- Able to work effectively in a cross-functional team environment.
- Be an experienced credit analyst with the ability to work independently within the Credit and Collections Department.
- Must possess outstanding leadership capabilities, be a decision-maker and be able to effectively manage assigned accounts and drive results.
- Be proficient in a Microsoft products operating environment.
- Be detail-oriented with strong analytical, communication and interpersonal skills.
Qualifications: BS in Finance with 4 years of Experience
3. Skills, Knowledge, and Experience for Credit and Collections Analyst Cover Letter
- Experience with customer charge-back reconciliations
- Good analytic skills, mathematical and verbal abilities
- Working knowledge of state and federal laws applying to collection activities
- Excellent communication skills
- Advanced Excel/reporting skills
- Strong communication skills and the ability to work with diverse groups cross-functionally and globally
- Flexible time schedule as this function requires some evening meetings and quarter-end credit activities
- Excellent level of English
- Knowledge of collections and payment process
- Basic accounting knowledge
- Strong PC skills including MS Excel
- Ability to deal tactfully, confidently, and ethically with both internal and external customers
Qualifications: BA in Business Administration with 5 years of Experience
4. Requirements and Experience for Credit and Collections Analyst Cover Letter
- Strong credit control experience gained in a B2B environment
- Resiliency and ability to adapt in an evolving environment towards new strategic ways of working
- Excellent stakeholder management skills
- Experience in dealing with multi-currency payments and multi-currency sales ledger customer accounts
- Understanding of how a sales ledger and its transactions work and impact on the wider business
- Ability to make high-quality, commercially focused credit decisions
- Capability to communicate confidently & professionally at all levels with a diverse audience
- Ability to prioritize own workload and that of other team members
- Good analytic and problem-solving skills
- Knowledge of financial systems e.g. ASW and proficient use of MS packages
- Ability to possess ACICM qualification
Qualifications: BS in Economics with 4 years of Experience
5. Education and Experience for Credit and Collections Analyst Cover Letter
- Strong ability to read, analyze and interpret financial reports and, to a degree, legal documents.
- Good ability to respond to common inquiries and/or concerns from customers, regulatory agencies, members of the business community and peers.
- Pass post-offer employment drug screen, Fit for Work physical and criminal background check.
- Essential functions include walking, sitting, kneeling, squatting, standing, bending and lifting up to 25 pounds regularly.
- Regular, reliable and dependable attendance is an essential function of this position.
- Able to provide valid documentation for the 1-9 Employment Eligibility Verification document.
- Display a professional and courteous attitude to co-workers, supervisors and the general public at all times.
- Devote appropriate time and effort to accomplish job tasks.
- Strictly adhere to the safety requirements and procedures as outlined in the Employee Handbook.
- Wear personal protective equipment (PPE) in designated operations and production areas as stated by OSHA and/or MSHA.
Qualifications: BA in Mathematics with 5 years of Experience
6. Professional Background for Credit and Collections Analyst Cover Letter
- Ability to take initiative, prioritize and problem solve.
- Able to be a team player and work in a team atmosphere
- Excellent customer service skills.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to communicate effectively with internal and external customers.
- Ability to work effectively under deadlines.
- Ability to understand financial relationships.
- Analytical, mathematical, technical and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to use MS Office skills (Excel, Word, Outlook)
- Knowledge of processes and systems utilized, including JD Edwards, SAP, Great plains, Onguard would be helpful
Qualifications: BS in Financial Management with 3 years of Experience
7. Education and Qualifications for Credit and Collections Analyst Cover Letter
- Ability to solve problems and carry out responsibilities with little supervision.
- Strong organizational and member service skills.
- Ability to work across organizational lines to foster teamwork, trust, and quality execution.
- Ability to work independently in a changing environment.
- Ability to interact effectively at all levels and under trying situations.
- Ability to adapt as the credit union evolves and workloads increase.
- Exposure to collections policies and procedures.
- Working knowledge of related computer applications including Microsoft Word and Excel.
- Experience in fraud mitigation and risk analytics in deposits, loans, and cards.
- Strong analytical skills to identify and quantify problems and provide effective solutions.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Qualifications: BA in Statistics with 4 years of Experience
8. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities for Account Manager Credit and Collections Analyst Cover Letter
- Experience working with payment plans, customer negotiations and dealing with high volume discrepancies that warrant investigations that warrant in-depth investigations and process improvements.
- Be energetic, eager to learn, process improvement driven, work well with others, self-initiated, and have a level of experience in dealing with large customers on a commercial level.
- Ability to maintain regular, predictable, and punctual attendance.
- Computer usage and typing skills are essential.
- Excellent verbal and written communication, including the ability to effectively communicate with internal and external customers.
- Bilingual applicants are strongly encouraged to apply (Spanish, English)
- Able to work under pressure and meet deadlines, while maintaining a positive attitude and providing exemplary customer service.
- Ability to work independently and to carry out assignments to completion within parameters of instructions given prescribed routines, and standard accepted practices.
- Communicate effectively including conveying facts and information clearly both verbally and orally.
- Collaborate well with others including proactively contributing to group objectives, volunteering to help others.
- Working knowledge of SAP business system software is strongly preferred
- Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (word processing and spreadsheets, PowerPoint)
- Knowledgeable and comfortable with creditworthiness
- Exposure to domestic and international collections
Qualifications: BS in Risk Management with 5 years of Experience
9. Accomplishments for Account Manager Credit and Collections Analyst Cover Letter
- Strong written and oral communication skills
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Office with intermediate to advanced Excel skills
- Solid data mining and analysis skills
- Detailed-oriented with strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Excellent time management and organizational skills
- Ability to multi-task and adhere to deadlines
- Results-oriented and strives for continuous improvement
- Ability to work well and collaboratively in a team environment
- Knowledge of liens and other security instruments
- Familiarity with analyzing financial statements
Qualifications: BA in Supply Chain Management with 2 years of Experience
10. Key Qualifications for Credit and Collections Analyst Cover Letter
- Vast understanding of credit reporting
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to manage relationships both internally and externally
- Strong audit background, problem-solving and customer service skills
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
- Experience with ERP System
- Ability to be proactive and work independently in assuming responsibility for managing multiple priorities.
- Positive, enthusiastic demeanor with a passion for customer service.
- Excellent computer skills, including intermediate/advanced experience in MS Excel (Power Query, VLOOKUP's, Pivot tables).
- Ability to learn processes and systems quickly, and collaborate with various teams
Qualifications: BS in Information Systems with 3 years of Experience