Collections Specialist

[Tasks and Responsibilities] Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Follow up on an assigned portfolio accounts based on experience and skill. This includes collection calls, customer deductions and customer reconciliations.
• Review daily credit holds through review of customer history, industry credit reports, to ensure timely release of orders. Escalate to Credit Analysts for review when necessary.
• Run and analyze weekly aging, deduction and top account past due reports finding root cause of issues that delay payments and cause deductions.
• Perform ongoing cash collections.
• Correspond with assigned sales reps and customer accounts on a regular basis to pro-actively resolve collection issues.
• Represent the brand and utilize the PUMA 4Keys (Fair, Honest, Positive, Creative) in all decisions, actions, processes and practices.

WHAT MAKES YOU A GAMECHANGER [Qualifications]:

• 1+ years of experience
• Knowledgeable with Microsoft Office applications including Excel, Word, and Outlook
• Negotiation and problem-solving skills
• Effective phone/email communication skills
• Basic understanding of Billing, AR, and Credit and Collections procedures

Must Have

• Experience: At least 1+ year of experience in billing, accounts receivable (AR), or credit and collections.
• Technical Skills:
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel, Word, and Outlook.
• Basic understanding of billing processes, AR principles, and credit and collections procedures.
• Communication Skills:
• Effective phone and email communication skills to correspond professionally with customers and internal teams.
• Problem-Solving & Negotiation: Proven ability to negotiate effectively and resolve payment or deduction issues with customers.
• Customer Management: Experience working with assigned portfolios of customer accounts, including performing collection calls and reconciliations.
• Analytical Abilities: Ability to run and analyze reports (e.g., aging reports, deduction reports) to identify root causes of delays and deductions.

Nice to Have:

• Industry Knowledge: Previous experience working in the sportswear, retail, or fashion industries.
• Software Proficiency: Experience with specialized credit management, AR, or billing software beyond Microsoft tools.
• Reporting Skills: Advanced knowledge of Excel, such as creating pivot tables or using complex formulas, would be an advantage.
• Team Collaboration: Previous collaboration with sales teams to proactively resolve collections and credit-related issues.
• PUMA 4Keys Alignment: Familiarity with values-driven work environments or companies with sustainability-focused initiatives.
• Languages: Proficiency in multiple languages, especially if dealing with international customers.