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.
As a Sphera Accounts Receivable Coordinator, you will have the opportunity to be part of a global accounts receivable team while working closely with our revenue, sales, account managers, and accounting teams.
The primary responsibility of this role will be managing collection efforts for customers utilizing portals. This role will also perform other accounts receivable tasks including collections for non-portal customers, cash applications and special projects.
The position is in our Chicago office and will be a hybrid work from home schedule with three days in the office.
Responsibilities :
Portals

• Manage collections efforts for customers utilizing web portals.
• Set up company accounts and new portal connections and collaborate with Sphera sales, operations, and legal teams when their input is needed.
• Upload daily and monthly invoices to customer specific EDI systems and web portals, including understanding submission requirements of each customer.
• Track invoice submission and payments.
• Resolve discrepancies between invoices and customers' purchase orders (POs).
• Answer customer requests for vendor documentation - providing company and billing information as appropriate.
• Work closely with billing and sales teams to resolve issues, such as missing or incorrect customer data, lack of POs, expired POs etc.

Collections

• Manage collection activities, including but not limited to, sending follow-up email inquiries and making 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.
• Provide customers with statements, invoices, and assistance as needed to facilitate payments.
• Investigate and resolve internal and external customer inquiries related to invoice status and issues.
• Work closely with Sphera teams within the order-to-cash cycle, along with customers to ensure accounts are accurate and up to date.
• Timely escalate accounts for assistance when issues are identified or where appropriate.
• Notify the appropriate internal parties of delinquent accounts and any actions being taken.

Cash Receipts

• Follow up with customers to obtain sufficient remittance advice to accurately post cash received.
• Review and reconcile customer overpays, short pays and discrepancies.
• Communicate with accounting and billing teams to make sure entries are posted correctly.
• May be asked to step in to assist with cash applications by reviewing daily bank activities and posting cash receipts to customer invoices.

Other

• Data entry, filing and general administrative tasks.
• Support and manage various shared email inboxes.
• Understand, analyze, and suggest process improvements.
• Assist in audits and accounting projects as needed, including but not limited to, month-end close, year-end close, and account reconciliation processes.

• Perform other duties as required.

Previous Experience and Skills:

• 1-5 years of cash collections or Accounts Receivable experience.
• Previous experience with Ariba, Coupa and other vendor portals.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite, in particular Excel, Word, and Outlook
• Experience with NetSuite, Salesforce, Tesorio and AR automation tools is helpful; if not, individuals should be comfortable with new technology and ERP systems.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with focus on customer service.
• Positive attitude and strong teamwork skills with ability to establish and maintain collaborative and effective working relationships.
• Ability to quickly understand customer issues and resolve them in a professional manner.
• Work independently and able to prioritize and manage daily tasks while meeting monthly deadlines with little oversight.

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Sphera is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope of the job and the general nature and level of work performed by job holders within this job. This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of qualifications, skills, efforts, duties, responsibilities or working conditions associated with the position.