Collections And Deductions Analyst

About the role

The Collections and Deductions Analyst performs soft collections and payment follow-up while maintaining strong, positive relationships with customers and members. This role focuses on resolving deductions related to short shipments, pricing discrepancies, damaged products, and spoilage claims, and collaborates closely with sales and finance stakeholders to ensure accurate accounts receivable and timely collections.

Responsibilities

• Perform soft collections activities and payment follow-up while preserving strong customer and member relationships.
• Send reminder emails and make occasional follow-up collection calls to customers and members.
• Escalate unresolved collection and payment issues to the sales team when appropriate.
• Investigate and resolve customer deductions related to short shipments, pricing discrepancies, damaged products, and spoilage claims.
• Work closely with the sales team to obtain supporting information and drive resolution for outstanding deductions and balances.
• Attend accounts receivable (AR) aging meetings to review open items and collection status.
• Prepare and present collection updates and outstanding balance summaries in AR aging meetings.
• Communicate professionally with Sales, Finance leadership, and executive stakeholders regarding collection status, deduction issues, and resolution plans.
• Perform accurate data entry and invoice processing related to AR, deductions, and collections.
• Use Excel and Outlook extensively to track, analyze, and communicate collection and deduction information.
• Apply knowledge of purchase orders, invoices, deductions, and collections processes to ensure accurate AR records.
• Provide collections-focused customer service, responding to inquiries and resolving issues promptly and professionally.

Required Skills

• 3+ years of experience in an accounts receivable, collections, or deductions position.
• Strong Excel skills, including vlookups, pivot tables, and basic formulas.
• Strong Outlook skills for professional email communication and follow-up.
• Solid understanding of purchase orders (POs), invoices, deductions, and collections processes.
• Ability to communicate professionally with customers, leadership, and the sales team, both in writing and over the phone.
• Experience with collections customer service and handling collection calls.
• Background in accounting or accounts receivable processes.
• Experience working with ERP or accounting systems such as NetSuite, Oracle, Great Plains, or Microsoft GP.

Preferred Qualifications

• 1+ year of experience in food manufacturing, consumer goods, or big box industry is preferred.
• Experience with Great Plains and/or Oracle or NetSuite is preferred.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, including Sales and Finance.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy in data entry and invoice processing.
• Comfort with presenting collection updates and outstanding balances in meetings.
• Ability to manage multiple accounts and follow up on outstanding items in a structured, organized manner.

Work Environment

This role is based in a cubicle environment, working closely with two other team members on the AR (Collections/Deductions) team. The schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., onsite during the contract period, transitioning to a hybrid arrangement with three days onsite per week upon conversion. The team culture emphasizes a friendly, people-first environment and a soft collections approach, typically using email reminders twice, one follow-up call, and then escalation to sales if needed.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision benefits upon conversion.
• Company events such as golfing outings, happy hours, and team outings.

Pay

$23.00 - $24.00/hr

Schedule

Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.