Accounts Receivable Manager

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Who we are

The Stark Group is a fast-growing technology-based business and has built a market leading position in the provision of energy data and services with a proven track record for constant innovation. Stark helps businesses understand and manage their electricity, gas, and water usage, so they can reduce their energy costs and minimise their carbon emissions. We are a passionate, and friendly team who thrive on solving problems and with data integrity at the heart of everything we do.

The role

• Lead the accounts receivable team, ensuring day-to-day billing and credit control functions are being promptly and effectively delivered.
• Ensure that appropriate KPI's are defined, measured and reported on a regular basis. This includes defining targets and measuring each individual team member's performance against them.
• Work pro-actively with the other members of the financial leadership to ensure that the requirements of the finance department are achieved.
• Take ownership of AR processes to ensure these are being followed and where necessary amended in line with business needs and Stark corporate policies and procedures.

Responsibilities & accountabilities

• Preparation of monthly management accounts and financial accounts and forecasts to agreed timescales.
• Plan, organise, and manage the operations and activities of the Accounts Receivable and Billing function.

• Gain deep understanding of current billing process and suggest and take lead on identified improvements.
• Oversee and monitor the team's performance by performing quality control checks to ensure invoice processing is being done correctly and in compliance with Stark standards.
• Maintain an excellent working relationship with anchor internal and external customers becoming a business partner within the organization.
• Oversee reporting to ensure key insights are clear, collection priorities are defined, and policies are followed.
• Present in monthly business reviews and other executive meetings.
• Analyse KPIs and identify trends to measure overall financial performance and provide forecast guidance including sensitivity analysis.
• Plan and execute external audit activities to meet deadlines.
• Optimise cash collection by proactively tracking past due accounts and recommending next steps to the Group Controller and Business Leadership
• Own Accounts Receivable budget and forecast including Non-Cash Working Capital reporting.
• Management of the AR team (15+ team members)
• Day to day management, coaching and motivation of the teams and resolving issues as they arise.
• Create and implement employee development plans.
• Motivate and lead the team in developing processes and efficiencies.
• Ensure that training needs of the team are identified, communicated and followed-up accordingly.
• Integrate any new employees in the team into the business successfully.
• Perform periodic evaluations.
• Ensure that the AR team successfully achieves its work requirements and objectives, specifically non-cash working capital (NCWC) and days of Sales Outstanding (DSO) measures.
• Ensure the successful implementation of standardised Stark AR processes at new locations in conjunction with other relevant departments and staff, and customers.
• Ensure appropriate governance models are implemented and tracked whereby action items are agreed and followed-up on with all stakeholders.
• Prepare for and attend periodic AR status meetings with Business leadership and ensure necessary reports are provided on a regular and timely basis (weekly KPI reporting; weekly updates; monthly regional review; etc)
• Ensure that corporate AR and customer invoicing policies and procedures are standardised and implemented on a commercially successful basis across the customer base.
• Resolve customer queries, including the recommendation and implementation of any agreed improvements.
• Participate in regular training/ learning activities to maintain and develop skills and knowledge.
• Adhere to all Stark policies, procedures and working practices.
• Ensure the health and safety of yourself and others who may be affected by what you do; use work equipment provided safely and co-operate with managers to provide safe systems of work.
• Any other reasonable duties as required.

Person specification, competencies & skills

Behaviours:

• Consistently professional, confident, and calm even in challenging situations.
• Demonstrate a customer focused approach; and an expectation of others to do likewise.
• Supportive and helpful team player with a flexible and positive attitude.
• Proactively share knowledge, skills, and experience with others to increase team performance.
• Deliver a high volume of quality work on time.
• Strive to get things right first time.
• Strive to meet objectives and improve performance.
• Highly organised with good attention to detail
• Prioritise work well.
• Work effectively and responsibly without close supervision.
• Reflect and evaluate own performance in order to identify areas for improvement; maintain a learning and development plan.

Communication & Interpersonal Skills:

• Articulate, professional and clear verbal communication skills.
• Present information clearly and in an engaging way.
• Good interpersonal and rapport-building abilities.
• Precise and appropriate written communication skills.
• Good telephone manner
• Good listener; can understand the needs of customers and colleagues.

Technical Skills & Knowledge

• University degree in Finance or Accounting or related qualifications (MICM, etc)
• Proven record of leadership and confidence to make decisions.
• Proven record of working in a similar role
• Proven ability to implement "best practice" in a rapidly expanding business.
• Proven ability to communicate effectively with senior management.
• Proven ability to work to tight deadlines and prioritise under pressure.
• Experience of people management including development and mentoring of team members.
• Computer skills - advanced knowledge in the use of financial software applications (ERP), databases, spreadsheets, word processing and presentations.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical abilities
• Keep up to date with advances in business area, new methods and ways of working.
• Strong administrative and organisational skills.
• Intermediate knowledge of Excel, Word and Outlook.
• Confident and accurate use of departmental computer systems/databases.

Apply today. Successful candidates will hear from us within 10 days.

Stark Group are an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to a working environment that is free from all types of discrimination, is inclusive, champions diversity and empowers our people so that everyone can bring their whole self to work and is valued for their specific skills, experience, and vision. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees, creating a progressive, open, and inclusive workplace.