AR Supervisor

About RS Group

RS is a high-service global product and service solutions provider for industrial customers, enabling them to operate efficiently and sustainably.

RS is a high-service global product and service solutions provider for industrial customers, enabling them to operate efficiently and sustainably. We operate in 33 markets, stock over 875,000 industrial and specialist products and list an additional five million relevant for our industrial customers, sourced from over 2,500 suppliers. This extensive range supports our customers across the industrial lifecycle of designing, building and maintaining equipment and operations. We enhance their experience through a tailored service model, leveraging our efficient physical, digital and process infrastructure sustainably. We combine a technically led and digitally enabled approach with an exceptional team of experts; ultimately, it's our people that make the difference. Our purpose, making amazing happen for a better world, reflects our focus on delivering results for people, planet and profit.

About The Role

Role Purpose

The AR Supervisor will oversee and assist AR Analysts employees in the performance of their job duties such as responding to customer inquiries and resolving issues or complaints, billing and collecting. The Supervisor work week being a balanced combination of the following responsibilities, conducting training, auditing procedures or processes, ensuring effective work flow, answering questions and performing the core functions within his/her area. The Supervisor is a process expert within the department, providing critical input to ensure all daily goals are achieved.

Additionally AR Supervisor plays a key role within the Accounts Receivable team by leading and supporting customer-focused initiatives and ensuring adherence to quality standards. This position collaborates closely with all AR members and engages with the continuous improvement team as needed to drive operational excellence and enhance product and process quality.

The role will supervise a team or AR Analysts that support the AR process.

Key Responsibilities

• Investigates and resolves customer payment discrepancies, disputes, and inquiries in a timely and professional manner.
• Initiates and manages corrective actions related to billing errors, and customer complaints impacting receivables.
• Serves as the primary liaison with internal and external auditors regarding AR processes, documentation, and compliance related to Government Accounts
• Updates and maintains the RS Americas AR documentation system, ensuring accuracy and accessibility of financial records.
• Oversees the RS Americas records system related to accounts receivable, including aging reports, payment history, and audit trails.
• Acts as backup for his/her team during absences, ensuring continuity of operations.
• Supervises, trains, and mentors AR Analysts, ensuring adherence to best practices and continuous improvement in receivables management.
• Analyzes AR metrics and dashboards to support monthly financial reviews and cash flow forecasting.
• Maintains and improves work instructions and procedures for invoicing, collections, and dispute resolution in alignment with ISO and company standards associated with Government Accounts
• Act as a point of contact for escalations and resolution of complex cases that need to be resolved with other Support Areas inside the Company.
• Participate/provide input for meetings/sessions with Sales to resolve disputed cases and give follow-up on progress of open items/actions.
• Proactively participate in continuous improvement projects that will allow the Company to enhance AR processes.
• Find root causes of opportunities in Order to Cash processes and work with other Support Areas to improve them.
• Act as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) for training purposes and new employee's onboarding specific to Government Accounts
• Assists in hiring and termination of AR Analysts employees.
• Organizes and oversees the schedules and work of assigned staff.
• Assist with time management (approvals/denials of PTO requests, bi-weekly timecard approvals, schedules, etc.) of team in time keeping system.
• Conducts performance evaluations that are timely and constructive.
• Effectively train staff to the processes, service and core requirements of the job.
• Coach staff to support them in achieving the service expectations for their role.
• Process auditing of staff to ensure compliance with work processes are being adhered to.
• Identify and resolve department process exceptions.
• Monitor workloads within their designated area, ensuring there's effective flow for quick, accurate and timely transactions. Resolving issues and reporting concerns to the appropriate person (manager or other departments), as well as identifying improvement opportunities and other necessary tasks to maintain workflow.
• Expertly perform the core AR tasks within the department, to support the achieving of the departments purpose, productivity, quality and service goals.
• Championing a service excellence belief, striving to make work easy for our customers. Both internally and externally.
• Resolving customer issues: both in the moment and working cross-functionally to close the loop and fix issues at root cause: through direct work or coordinating activity with other departments - regarding product issues, shipping problems, payment issues, and more.

Essential Skills & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field preferred.
• Proven experience as a Collections Specialist or in a similar role (3-4 years).
• Strong understanding of order to cash processes.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to handle difficult conversations and negotiate effectively.
• Proven experience with Collections Management tools.

Desirable Skills & Experience

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Excel.
• Experience with accounting software and databases (SAP).
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.