Senior Finance Associate (Collections Specialist)

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We are Aspire Living & Learning, a non-profit human services agency making a meaningful difference in the lives of adults and children with autism and other disabilities. We are currently seeking a Senior Finance Associate (Collections Specialist) to be responsible for processing Collections in addition to other financially related tasks on an as needed bases.
The Senior Finance Associate at Aspire Living & Learning plays a vital role on the finance team resolving and collecting overdue accounts receivable and following financial management best practices.
Key Responsibilities:

• GENERAL AREAS
  • Accurately and efficiently performs a wide variety of finance duties
  • Ensures the accurate and timely entry of financial transactions
  • Gathers, tracks and analyzes financial data
  • Maintains supporting files and schedules for financial data
  • Prepares account reconciliations
  • Prepares and maintains documentation of procedures and policies
  • Assists with the preparation, maintenance and review of files and supporting documentation for various audits
  • Works closely with finance and other personnel throughout the organization's various state offices
  • Participates in efficiency planning and implementation
  • Performs research on various accounting topics upon request, presents findings and makes recommendations
  • Maintain positive and productive working relationships
  • Training as required
  • Other duties and projects as assigned
• FOCUS AREAS
  • Collections Specialist
  • Manages the full cycle of the collections process
  • Monitors accounts and detects overdue payments
  • Follows-through with the review of aged accounts receivable balances and pursues collection for any unpaid balances
  • Works closely with finance associates, accountants and other personnel to maintain proper documentation to support related billing, revenue, and collections
  • Facilitates and negotiates payment arrangements, promissory agreements, and settlements to ensure account payment
  • Reviews and responds to funder issues, requests and inquiries
  • Maintains clear and consistent communication with funders
  • Reconciles and resolves account disputes, bringing resolution to unpaid accounts
  • Adheres to all legal processes necessary to collect payments owed and reports delinquent accounts to appropriate parties as necessary
  • Achieves set collection targets and sets payment standards
  • Provides statistics, data analysis, and reports on the progress of collections
  • Prepares correspondence with funding agencies in conjunction with Finance Director
  • Adheres to finance policies and procedures and ensures compliance
  • Provides training to new and existing employees handling collections
  • Ensures data is kept up to date in various software and document filing systems; maneuvers through various applications such as funder, billing and contract portals
  • Assists with the collection of various supporting financial documents to satisfy internal and external audit requirements
  • Identifies areas for improvement and/or enhancement to ensure greater accuracy in collections processing and greater compliance with policies and procedures across the organization
  • Assists with analyzing complex problems, implementing changes and new policies and procedures, and participates in problem-solving brainstorming sessions

Qualifications:

• Previous experience handling collection letters, phone calls and emails in a timely manner.
• A solid understanding of financial management; demonstrated competency of Microsoft Outlook, Excel and Word skills; demonstrated competency of accounts receivable processing systems.
• Detail oriented; strong analytical, organization and time management skills; strong verbal and written communication skills; strong interpersonal skills; ability to work as a team member; ability to prioritize and work independently.
• Thinking analytically; analyzing and interpreting data; organizing and coordinating; problem solving; communicating verbally; creating written communication; effectively manage stress levels and emotional responses within the work environment.
• Minimum of seven years' experience in a finance role required. Experience with financial software and systems required, Great Plains preferred.
• Minimum of an Associate's degree in Finance, Accounting or Economics required, Bachelor's degree preferred.

Working Conditions:

• This position operates in a professional office environment.
• Some infrequent day and/or overnight travel possible.
• Some holiday work required to meet scheduled payday processing deadlines.
• These physical and mental demands are representative of the physical and mental requirements necessary for an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the finance position. Reasonable accommodation can be made to enable qualified people with disabilities to perform the described essential functions of this position.
• Lift/carry up to 10 pounds; speaking; standing; sitting for long periods of time; reaching; bending; walking; reaching with arms and hands, balancing; using fingers to handle or feel. Vision abilities required by this job include close vision.
• This position requires the routine use of standard office equipment such as computers, phones, copiers, fax machines, audio/visual equipment, etc.

**This position has the ability to work mostly remotely; however, must be within commuting distance of an Aspire Living & Learning office.
Our employees enjoy working with a fun team of dedicated professionals and believe in a healthy work/life balance. In addition, eligible employees will receive:

• Full health, dental, and vision insurance
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for medical and dependent care
• 403(b) retirement plan and employer matching contribution
• Paid sick and personal days
• Focus on ongoing professional development
• Opportunities for advancement
• Life insurance
• Short and long-term disability

If you want to join us in making a difference and positively impact the lives of others while charting your own path of development, then we at the Aspire team would love to hear from you.
Aspire believes it must play an active role in creating a community of employees that is diverse, inclusive and equitable. Our work benefits greatly from the contributions of people of color, people from working class backgrounds, women, LGBTQ people, and individuals with disabilities. Hence, we strongly encourage applications from people with these identities or who are members of other marginalized communities.