What are the responsibilities and job description for the Accounts Receivable Specialist - Lansing MI position at Smurfit Westrock?
Description & Requirements
Smurfit Westrock (NYSE:SW) is the go-to leader and partner of choice in sustainable packaging. We are dedicated to creating efficient and scalable paper and packaging solutions to help solve complex packaging challenges. Guided by our values of safety, loyalty, integrity and respect, we are committed to delivering meaningful value for shareholders, customers, employees and the communities where we operate.
The Accounts Receivable Specialist plays an important role in supporting the financial health of the business by managing accounts receivable activities for assigned facilities and helping ensure customer accounts remain in good standing.
In this role, you will process and apply customer payments, monitor account balances and past-due accounts, reconcile account activity, and work directly with customers to resolve payment and credit issues. You will also partner closely with Sales and Customer Service to research and resolve account discrepancies and support positive customer relationships.
Day to day, you can expect to review account activity, communicate with customers regarding outstanding balances, investigate payment issues, process credit applications, establish appropriate credit limits, and maintain accurate account records. Success in this role requires strong attention to detail, analytical skills, professional communication, and the ability to balance customer needs with the financial interests of the company.
How You Will Impact Smurfit Westrock
What You Need to Succeed:
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by state or federal law.
Smurfit Westrock (NYSE:SW) is the go-to leader and partner of choice in sustainable packaging. We are dedicated to creating efficient and scalable paper and packaging solutions to help solve complex packaging challenges. Guided by our values of safety, loyalty, integrity and respect, we are committed to delivering meaningful value for shareholders, customers, employees and the communities where we operate.
The Accounts Receivable Specialist plays an important role in supporting the financial health of the business by managing accounts receivable activities for assigned facilities and helping ensure customer accounts remain in good standing.
In this role, you will process and apply customer payments, monitor account balances and past-due accounts, reconcile account activity, and work directly with customers to resolve payment and credit issues. You will also partner closely with Sales and Customer Service to research and resolve account discrepancies and support positive customer relationships.
Day to day, you can expect to review account activity, communicate with customers regarding outstanding balances, investigate payment issues, process credit applications, establish appropriate credit limits, and maintain accurate account records. Success in this role requires strong attention to detail, analytical skills, professional communication, and the ability to balance customer needs with the financial interests of the company.
How You Will Impact Smurfit Westrock
- Process customer payments accurately and timely and apply payments to the appropriate customer accounts.
- Monitor customer accounts and proactively identify overdue balances and potential collection concerns.
- Reconcile customer account activity and research discrepancies to maintain accurate account balances.
- Partner with customers to understand reasons for overdue payments and identify appropriate actions to bring accounts current.
- Collaborate with Sales and Customer Service to resolve account issues, particularly accounts that are more than 30 days past due.
- Review customer credit applications and establish appropriate credit limits that balance customer needs with the financial interests of the company.
- Develop and maintain positive customer relationships that support timely payment and mutually beneficial business partnerships.
- Communicate professionally with customers regarding payment expectations, credit terms, outstanding balances, and repayment strategies.
- Maintain accurate customer account documentation and records within applicable accounts receivable systems.
- Identify account trends, discrepancies, or potential risks and escalate issues appropriately.
- Support continuous improvement and accuracy within accounts receivable processes and procedures.
- Contribute to overall Finance team objectives by providing timely, accurate account information and responsive support to internal and external customers.
- During the first six months, the focus will be on developing a strong understanding of assigned customer accounts, internal processes and systems, establishing relationships with key internal and external partners, and ensuring accuracy and consistency in payment application, account reconciliation, credit management, and collections.
What You Need to Succeed:
- High school diploma or GED.
- Minimum of three years of related experience and/or training.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications, including Excel and Word.
- Ability to accurately review, interpret, and maintain customer and financial account information.
- Demonstrated reliability, accountability, and strong work ethic.
- Previous accounts receivable, collections, credit, or related finance experience.
- Experience working with accounts receivable or financial software systems.
- Experience supporting multiple facilities, business units, or customer accounts.
- Experience working directly with customers to resolve payment, credit, or account discrepancies.
- Intermediate Microsoft Excel skills.
- Key competencies include customer focus, accountability, analytical thinking, attention to detail, communication, collaboration, problem solving, organization, sound judgment, and relationship building.
- Corporate culture based on integrity, respect, accountability and excellence.
- Comprehensive training with numerous learning and development opportunities.
- An attractive salary reflecting skills, competencies and potential.
- A career with a global packaging company where Sustainability, Safety and Inclusion are business drivers and foundational elements of the daily work.
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by state or federal law.